Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
I am looking at a Ruger PCC9 as I shoot 9mm a lot and do not own a .22 anymore. Has anyone ever hunted small game with a 9mm and if so what kind of ammo should I be looking at?
FMJ's are pretty worthless for shooting varmints as far as I'm concerned. Back in the day a buddy of mine would scoop up thousands of 55gr FMJ out of a barrel at Northwest Armory for reloading. They were cheap. We'd go to Montana and Wyoming for a week in early summer for P-dogs and ground squirrels. Each of us would have a small spiral notepad in our pocket to record 'confirmed' kills. The problem w/FMJ's is you couldn't easily confirm the kills as they would rarely kill anything instantly. He could poke a hole in a P-dog and it would crawl down the hole leaving a little trail of blood. He'd yell out 'confirmed kill', I'd be like 'right'. Used to P'me off after a while. I saw him punch 3 holes in a badger and it just kept on going until I flattened it out w/a soft point. He only used them one trip and had to admit they were worthless for putting something down quickly. Clean through w/a little hole will not put something down quickly and sometimes not at all unless you get a really good hit.
Talking about a 9mm here. The prairie dog that runs off with a 9mm size hole in him is where I would get out of there. You are hunting zombie dogs.
As for shooting a Prairie dog with a .223 assuming this is what you were loading and it leaves a small trail of blood? That I would have to see to believe. The ones I have seen shot with an AR would often turn to a mist when hit with ball ammo.
Just be sure to check your state game hunting regs for semi auto capacity (in Oregon last I checked it was 5 rounds max in most scenarios) and whether the caliber is legal for a particular small game species.I am looking at a Ruger PCC9 as I shoot 9mm a lot and do not own a .22 anymore. Has anyone ever hunted small game with a 9mm and if so what kind of ammo should I be looking at?
Ok,ok... I stand corrected. After searching Washington Game laws, I can't find anything about FMJ or ball ammo being illegal. I grew up in Texas a half century ago and I'm positive there was, years ago, a law stating it was illegal to use it for hunting.Never heard of such a law?
Must only be for those Close to nowhere?
In Oregon, Grouse is the only Avian game we can pursue with a 22. I wish they would add Turkey to the menu too..I don't consider the 9mm to be accurate enough for Small Game hunting. A .22 Long Rifle Rimfire out of a Quality Target Pistol such as the Smith and Wesson Model 41, with a 7-3/8" Barrel, Scoped and Suppressed, has served me well for the Smaller Critters. Such as Squirrels, Racoons, Grouse and Wild Turkey. I've even taken a Small Coyote with a Single Head Shot.
welcome to the club....just try to find a place to sit down around here with the rest of us....Now that I feel like an old fool
In Washington, there is no max capacity except for shotguns when hunting migratory game birds. Handgun barrel must be 4+ inches.Just be sure to check your state game hunting regs for semi auto capacity (in Oregon last I checked it was 5 rounds max in most scenarios) and whether the caliber is legal for a particular small game species.