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First off, my actual choice for a "Kit Gun" would either be a .38 Special or a .22 rimfire, so I don't see using a 9mm semi-auto as being too strange of a choice for such a task.First off I know there are much better choices for this purpose but it's not what I'm asking my Q. is if all you have is a 9mm and you do not do a lot but more than the average trail hiking what would be the best ammo to choose any first hand experience with encounters of four legged nasties would be good also thanks
I just returned from a week in Glacier National Park, where I am legal to carry concealed (outside of federal buildings) and I would have felt much more comfortable with something a little bigger than a 9 mm.In the PNW -- Bear Spray for the critters if it helps you be at ease. HSTs, Ranger Ts (or whatever your desired proven SD pill of choice is) for the 2-legged variety.
Outside of the N. Cascades, one's chances of running into a Brown Bear are essentially nil. The Black Bears around here are not akin to the ones found out East in places like Tennessee, Pennsylvania or further up North in Canada or AK.
Most all of the attacks(non-fatal) that happen out here are hunters that have recently shot(but not dispatched) the bears. Fatal bear attacks are extremely rare in the PNW.
As for cats, the recent fatal attack here in Oregon was the 1st in recorded history, and the one up in WA. a few months back was the 1st in 80 some years IIRC.
Remember where you are. You're not in GNP or YNP, nor are you in Kenai or Katmai.
As suggested in this thread. The biggest concern in the woods around here is coming across some 2-leggeds up to no good.
That all stated, when hiking in the woods around here, I'm packing 340 gr +p+ pills a la BB in my RH. Why? 'cause I can.
I've got no worries when the wife goes out hunting for mushrooms with her 9mm. She's a better shot than I am.
I just returned from a week in Glacier National Park, where I am legal to carry concealed (outside of federal buildings) and I would have felt much more comfortable with something a little bigger than a 9 mm.
Hell I feel that way when I am walking around where I live with a 9mmI just returned from a week in Glacier National Park, where I am legal to carry concealed (outside of federal buildings) and I would have felt much more comfortable with something a little bigger than a 9 mm.
...rechamber to .40 S&W.
No replacement for displacement.
Unless laws have changed since I moved, but cougar hunting is legal almost year round, just get a cheap cougar tag. "I'm hunting for cougar".If you get any weird looks from me it's either during fire season and I know the area is closed, I suspect you are poaching, or I want to know what secret spot you have discovered for target shooting (usually all three by the time I hit the trails).
I'd carry an AR if a rifle, because nobody thinks that's a hunting rifle and thus you won't be considered a poacher. Maybe convince some yuppies that the woods are a dangerous place.
Thanks to Nick's post, above, I got to looking around Underwood's site and noticed they also load the 147 gr. Hornady XTP bullet.
First off I know there are much better choices for this purpose but it's not what I'm asking my Q. is if all you have is a 9mm and you do not do a lot but more than the average trail hiking what would be the best ammo to choose any first hand experience with encounters of four legged nasties would be good also thanks
I like .40 better than 9mm and it does much better with heavy projectiles which in turn do better with penetration against heavy bones/flesh (if the proper projectile and load is chosen) - but if SHTF 9mm is going to be more available in larger quantities - so it is good to have both IMO.
I like .40 a lot better too, but back in 2012 or so when there was the run on ammo, at least in the places I looked in Portland area you could still find .40 on shelves when 9mm, .45 and .38 spcl was gone, perhaps due to those latter calibers' popularity (i.e., so many more people had 9s, so that ammo disappeared first).
Crossbow....if SHTF, you better learn to use a bow and arrow...