Do I really need any other caliber than 9mm?

[Certaindeaf]

Who was that one Scot that got drunk and repeatedly strangled many a leopard?
Didn't come back once upon a time.

 

[NG VI]

It's the only reason I'd want a .45, my wife could never shoot it well among other reasons.

Don't count on that. What your wife can shoot well depends on her ability to follow instructions while learning to shoot, which women often do better than men. Often significantly better than men, sign her up for an NRA basic pistol course and see who shoots better after a couple months of practice, with whatever she wants to use. See www.corneredcat.com for questions.


You are right in your suspicion that 9mm is just fine for people, it's the most efficient defensive pistol cartridge ever made, despite resulting from the German army basically ordering the inventor to just stuff a bigger bullet into an existing case. .45 gives you almost nothing on people, and limits the number of platforms you can get and the number of rounds you can carry conveniently. Also, gun to gun .45s will be larger in the grip and sometimes slide as well than an equivalent 9mm. 9mm is an ideal defensive pistol cartridge.

Neither one, however, is particularly good for use against wildlife. .45 Colt, .41 Magnum, and .357 Magnum are the cartridges that start to be viable for animal defense. 10mm is as good as you can get in a service autoloader without doing something like modifying a .45 Auto for .460 Rowland or I guess .45 Super.

 

[JVaughn]

I have never felt comfortable with 9mm as a sole means of defense on two-legged or four-legged creatures. In the woods, you never know what you might run into; and if it is a female creature of any kind and you are near her young, you are going to have to kill her if you get in a fight. 357, 45, 44, 454... something heavy would be best.

 

[Autolycus]

I would feel fine carrying a 9mm in an urban area. BUt if you can, why not get a 10mm?

 

[Coop45]

Most women who would be considered to be cougars to me are already in nursing homes, so no worries there. You probably need a couple of new guns though.

 

[Panzercat]

Bullet composition matters just as much as caliber. 9mm will do the job; just not the stuff you buy off the shelf at walmart.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

Keep in mind big cats can be FAST. You will shoot at them, and you will miss. Accept it. I hope you're carrying enough rounds. 9mm is pretty good in the "enough rounds" department.

 

[MrDig]

My "assortment" includes 22lr, 9mm, .45, .357 magnum and 44 Magnum. But I have multiple 9mm. That isn't to say I like the caliber better, it just worked out that way.

 

[NG VI]

But I have multiple 9mm. That isn't to say I like the caliber better, it just worked out that way.

Not surprising, it's got the greatest platform availability, cheapest to feed other than rimfire.

 

[AethelstanAegen]

+1 to why in the world could your wife not shoot a .45?

I had some trouble convincing my younger sister to try my 1911 as she thought the recoil would be horrendous over my father's Glock 19. I explained to her that I like .45s because the recoil has more of a push than a snap (that you get from a 9mm). She tried and now prefers to shoot either my XD45 or my 1911 over my father's Glock 19.

So unless you were speaking from experience in that your wife has tried and disliked .45acp...I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that she wouldn't be able to shoot it. Would you also assume that you couldn't?

 

[PabloJ]

Folks - I am looking for some opinions. I have a couple of 9 x 19 handguns, and I take my glock 19 with me into the woods and when I go camping. I also have a tokarev 7.62 x 25 handgun. Mountain lions and bears (Western Wa, so not grizz I don't think but I'm not local) are the biggest thing I will encounter.
I feel that 9mm is enough for 2 legged creatures but I really begin to question it's ability on bigger stuff, but I have nothing to base that feeling on. So for a decent woods/camping handgun do I need to go out and buy a .45 something (not interested in 10mm) or should I be plenty comfortable with a G19.
It's the only reason I'd want a .45, my wife could never shoot it well among other reasons.
Thoughts and opinions, please? If I was way back in the woods, I will more than likely have a rifle on me, this is handgun opinion only.

Thanks -
Scott

Glock in 9x19 is used by many elite anti-terrorist or special operations units throughout the world. I would say you're all set. It should work fine in your crypt just as well. I rely on old S&W .45 compact with alloy frame and no elite soldier in their right mind would pick that yet despite this lil fact I feel fine having it around.

 

[AK_Maine_iac]

When around Big Bears no hand gun is the best thing to have. My vote goes to a good 12ga. with the best slugs you can find. Other wise any caliber from 9mm on up is good. What ever you can shoot with accuracy and ease with.

 

[Justin Holder]

Just bump your carry piece up to a Glock .40 S&W, load some good 180gr. jhps and stop worrying.

 

[Serenity]

Cougars that attack are generally juveniles who are just getting out on their own and haven't learned much about survival and men. They like to drop on hikers and REALLY like to drop on horses. One of my friends has a horse blanket washing/repair business in West OR and had a client call and ask her if she could salvage a blanket that took the brunt of a cougar attack from above. The horse is okay; I think it would make an EXCELLENT advertisement for the blanket. But I digress:

Cougars do attack, although not as often as people do.

[edit to add]

Don't forget unleashed mean dogs.

 

[Tomcat47]

Interesting Thread

Looking at Wa. state laws, I see that it is allowed to hike with concealed weapon! Most states require a barrel length of no less than six inches, but do not see any requirements for Wa. ........

I actually like a 9mm, but understand where you are coming from... When I hiked out west in Utah, Idaho, and Montana (Glacier Park) I carried .41 magnum 4"... I actually debate if 17 9mm hydra shok do not give a greater advantage than 6 .41 magnum???

I know if I connected with each .41 magnum .... it would be a non issue! However with a Mountain Lion chewing on my leg or Grizzly rushing me out of heavy brush....well what are the odds....

But I still carried the .41 in my camera bag!

The advantage has always been the ability to lug a rifle around, I prefer Marlin Levers 30-30 most of time .444/.45/70 in other areas out west.

I do not own what came to my mind when I read this thread, but I have shot one..... A Sig .357 might be a very good contender for this situation. Sigs are nice firearms, however since you are a Glock man.....They answered your prayer with a Glock 31, But the Sig 239 is sweet!

And ballistics are formidable to say the least!
The table below shows common performance parameters for several .357 SIG loads. Bullet weights ranging from 115 to 150 grains have been offered. Loads are available with energies from 488 (ft•lbf) to over 568 (ft•lbf), and penetration depths from 9 inches to over 16.5 inches are available for various applications and risk assessments.

Federal Prem JHP 150gr 1210fps 488ft/lb energy 15" penetration .600 expansion!

Just a thought! Like I said...I have shot one at the range, but I have never owned one personally.

9mm not enough?? 10mm too much?? .357 Sig Just Right???.......

(pic is .357 Sig/10mm/.40 S&W)

 

[TanklessPro]

I carry 9mm for CCW and plinking and thats it.
The only way I would carry a 9mm in the woods, is I had no other ammo and I live in Alabama where bears/big cats are rumors at best. I carry a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 colt loaded with ballistic tips when I go in the woods.

I think the quote is" while a 9mm may expand to .45, a .45 will never shrink to a 9mm"

 

[NG VI]

I think the quote is" while a 9mm may expand to .45, a .45 will never shrink to a 9mm"

Yeah, that's the frequently quoted line. Completely ignores that typical 9mm JHP bullets will easily expand to .65 or .70, and FMJ or solid lead .45 bullets won't leave a .45" wound channel through anything but bone, and the human body isn't all bone. Bone is also more pliable when living than dried out after life, so tests trying to simulate bone are largely useless.

 

[Certaindeaf]

.

BB makes, as can any handloader, a 9 that makes 500 easy.

 

[Mike1234567]

From all I've read a 9mm, especially with higher-cap mags, will defend you against two-legged threats quite well. Wildlife is a different animal. One might need up to a .454 Cassul or more for that.

 

[Certaindeaf]

From all I've read a 9mm, especially with higher-cap mags, will defend you against two-legged threats quite well. Wildlife is a different animal. One might need up to a .454 Cassul or more for that.

Capstick saw the elephant. And shot it in the head with a 9mm. I mean nevermind. Cull that.

 

[sawman1293]

To answer the OP's question...YES. You do need other calibers of guns. Duh! Why? Because, you just do!

 

[micdude]

I bow hunt in Washington and carry a glock 9mm and bear spay. Also grizzly bears still live in our Cascade Mountains, they have learned to lie low. I have on two occasions ran into black bears that came with in ten yards of me. I have also been stocked by a large mountain lion so bear spay a must. Biggest gun you can get is the one between your ears.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Ishi never lived.

 

[amprecon]

I like the 9mm and I love the Glock 19. I also like the idea of only having to buy one caliber of ammunition.

I have no reservations about using a 9mm in the woods, unless you are in griz country, then I wouldn't even rely on any handgun, I'd use a short-barreled 12 gauge with slugs.

I would recommend buying another Glock 19, you and your significant other will not always be together in the outdoors, and if a crisis pops up you don't want to have to rely on the other person to come to your rescue.

The G19 will also be easy for your S/O to learn to shoot well and 9mm is relatively cheap. They are relatively compact, rock solid, reliable and accurate, with 15 rounds in the mag...? Its a very formidable weapon in my book.

Not to mention 9mm can be had in a variety of bullet styles and power levels to accommodate most situations.

BTW, the Glock 19 is my second favorite handgun after my Glock 21.

 

[TanklessPro]

Yeah, that's the frequently quoted line. Completely ignores that typical 9mm JHP bullets will easily expand to .65 or .70, and FMJ or solid lead .45 bullets won't leave a .45" wound channel through anything but bone, and the human body isn't all bone. Bone is also more pliable when living than dried out after life, so tests trying to simulate bone are largely useless.

IMHO, load is the second most important only to shot placement. David did kill Goliath with a sling and pebble, but I'm not hunting Grizzlies with a 22lr
I was just saying that when I'm in the woods with animals that could take me, I tend to error on the size of over kill.
I guess that's why I hunt with a 300 Weatherby mag?

Bottom line is, if your comfortable and confident with 9mm don't get any more calibers.