Can You Use 9mm Pistols as Handgun Hunting and Trail Guns?

Participating in the shooting sports is not exactly what anyone could call an inexpensive hobby. Therefore, it’s not all that uncommon for enthusiasts to ask: Now that I own this specific gun for that particular reason, I wonder what else I can do with it? This question isn't reserved just for shotguns and rifles either. It's often applied to handguns as well, especially when people have invested a bit of money into them.

These days, one of the most prolific types of handguns in the world is the 9mm semi-automatic. And looking around the Internet you’ll find folks asking if they can use their well-made pistols for outdoor endeavors as well as indoor range sessions. Where do 9mm pistols fit into a handgun hunting line-up? And what about using the pistol you already walk around town with for defense against dangerous game? Let's consider the question from a few different angles and find out.

The Pistols Say: Yes Indeed!

Today's 9mm pistol selection is expansive to say the least. Options include single-stack pocket pistols, long-slide 'race guns' intended for timed target shooting competitions, and the duty-size guns carried by soldiers and law enforcement. But if I was asked to pick out a pistol specifically for handgun hunting, I would go with the competition models. I've worked with a variety of 9mm race guns over the years, including models like the Arex ReX Alpha and the Walther Q5 Match. They sport the same kinds of features folks look for in upper end hunting rifles. This includes well tuned or adjustable triggers, premium barrels, modular features and, of course, the means to mount an optic. 

I've had two of the Century Arms' competition Canik models couched in my bench rest recently that simply ooze handgun-hunting potential. And the prices are impressively fair for the features and accessories they provide. Take a look at the stylish steel-framed Canik SFx Rival-S shown here with a satin-chrome finish. It shoots just as good as it looks. Weighing in at 43.3 ounces with a Swampfox Sentinel II 3 MOA micro green dot installed on the optics-ready slide, it's steady as a rock even with +P ammunition. The five-inch target-grade barrel and the exceptionally clean 4 pounds 3 ounce trigger pull of the smooth-faced aluminum trigger contributed to sub two inch, five-shot groups at 25-yards with some 9mm loads. Better yet, it's among the most enjoyable 9mm pistols to shoot that I've worked with.

If an all-steel gun is not quite your 9mm cup of tea, then consider the more tactically minded Canik TTI Combat. Developed in conjunction with Taran Tactical Innovations (TTI), this polymer-framed pistol is a substantially lighter 29.5 ounces, unloaded. The fluted 4.6-inch barrel is capped off with a proprietary twin-port external compensator along with two different recoil spring assemblies to manage muzzle rise.  This pistol also tapped out some sub-two-inch groups, even with me pulling the trigger.

Therefore, the answer to the question of 9mm pistols for handgun hunting appropriate game is a resounding yes. There are several great options to choose from.

The Ammunition Companies Say: We've Got You Covered!

There was a time when semi-automatic pistol cartridges configured specifically for hunting—or defense against dangerous game—were primarily the purview of the boutique ammunition manufacturers. The first time that I recall seeing this kind of 9mm was on Tim Sundles' Buffalo Bore Ammunition website. Leading the way (and still in production today) are loads like the 9mm +P Outdoorsman, launching a flat-nose, hard-cast 147-grain bullet at a listed velocity of 1,100-fps, for 395 ft-lbs. of muzzle energy when fired from a 4.7-inch barrel. This company also offers the 9 mm +P+ Penetrator. This round is topped with a 124-grain flat-nose full metal jacket bullet with a listed velocity of 1,300 fps for 465 ft.-lbs. of energy. This level of performance was achieved using a pistol with a 4.6 inch barrel, so pistols with longer 5- to 6-inch barrels should be able to squeeze out a bit more performance than that.

In the years since the Buffalo Bore rounds arrived on the market, other companies have gotten on board with their take on 9 mm outdoor adventure loads. You'll find heavy for caliber deep penetrator +P and +P+ loads from companies like DoubleTap  and Federal Ammunition. Other companies, including G9 Defense, Lehigh Defense and Underwood Ammo are offering rounds topped with faster, lighter fluted copper solids which produce wound channel characteristics comparable to expanding bullets without the deformation associated with soft point or hollow point bullets.  

If you choose to carry a 9mm in the woods, is there ammunition for it? The answer is yes, with more options that you might expect. 

Social Media Videos Say: Go For It!

But do folks actually, successfully, handgun hunt with 9mm pistols? If you head on over to the amateur video websites you'll find dozens, if not hundreds of videos that play out something like this:

The video fades up on a scene where the morning sun is breaking across the brown and red leaved tree tops on a crisp, fall morning. We see John Q. Public safely tethered into his tree stand with his time tested bolt-action rifle held in a two-handed ready position. His stand overlooks a cleared field in the forest where a small heard of whitetail deer are feeding.

One deer wanders away from the rest of the herd to a spot just below John's tree stand. After mentally calculating the distance from where he sits, John turns to the camera and gives a knowing nod. He carefully sets aside his rifle, reaches under his hunting jacket and draws a 9mm pistol from its holster. He's patient. He waits. The deer turns into just the right position and it falls to the ground without a twitch with a single shot fired from the pistol. The video fades to black.

Who can argue with results like that, right? Well, your local game warden just might.

The Game Wardens Say: No?

Years ago, my brother went deer hunting with a guy we both knew from High School. This friend worked security and had a permit to carry a handgun on and off duty. He would strap on his service revolver for personal protection when heading out into the field.

In the course of the hunt, he knocked down a good sized mule deer doe with what looked like a well placed rifle shot. She simply dropped where she had been standing. After watching for several minutes, they agreed the deer looked safe to approach. He handed his rifle to another member of the group and walked out to where the deer lay to begin preparing it for the trip home.

But the situation took an unexpected turn. When he was within a few feet of where the doe lay, she popped back up onto her feet. But instead of sprinting away into the tree line, the wounded doe turned towards him, reared up and went to work with her front hooves! As told by those who were there to see this event, it looked as if our friend's security training kicked in right about then. He took a step back, drew his .38 Special, the only firearm on hand at the time, and shot the deer again (I don't recall how many shots were fired). The doe went down again and, this time, it was actually down for the count.

If this wasn't quite enough excitement for one trip, it turns out that there was a game warden who witnessed this scene of Man vs. Nature from not too far away. He rushed over to see how our friend was doing after being clipped about the head and shoulders by a deer in survival mode. Was he okay? Did he need an ambulance? What about a ride out with the warden to the emergency room? No? You're okay? Glad to hear it. That was something to see, wasn't it? That's a story you can tell around the camp fire, alright! Oh, but before I go, here's your citation ...

As it turned out, our friend's .38-caliber revolver didn't meet the power factor requirements for deer hunting in that area. Since it was the revolver that finished the deer, and not the rifle shot he made, he was in violation and would have to appear in court to argue his case. 

I included this story here because it illustrates a key point about hunting-handgun selection, namely, its performance potential. Depending on the game being hunted, and the region where the hunt is taking place, it's not uncommon for there to be statutory guidelines in place as to which calibers of ammunition—be it handgun, rifle or shotgun—can or cannot be used when harvesting the game in question.

Although proper shot placement will always be the responsibility of the hunter, the goal of these regulations is to ensure the use of gun and ammunition combinations capable of an ethical kill at appropriate shot distances. As for defense against dangerous game, the goal is to stop the attack as quickly as possible. In this case, a duty-size .38 Special revolver was not considered enough gun for the hunt, and 9 mm pistols can have comparable performance levels.

So where do 9mm pistols fit on the outdoor handgun performance scale?

Ammunition Performance Data Says: Maybe . . .

When it comes to ammunition performance information, some folks want to grind through piles of comparative data while others would prefer a summary view of the information. The following table is intended to satisfy the curiosity of both types of enthusiasts. Each line summarizes the muzzle energy range for a given pistol that I've evaluated. The gun models at the end of each line are linked to the full reviews for those who want more detailed performance information.

The 9mm results shown include pistols with barrels from 3.2 inches to 5 inches which is fairly representative of the models folks are packing these days. Although this list is by no means exhaustive, it is representative of what 9mm pistols can do: 

The 123-year old 9mm cartridge was originally designed as an antipersonnel round for use in combat pistols and submachine guns. With decades of data behind it as a law-enforcement and self-defense round, close-range bullet energy levels for this caliber tend to hover somewhere in the vicinity 300 ft.-lbs. to 350 ft.-lbs. This bullet energy range seems to meet the performance levels needed for stopping 2-legged threats.

The highest 9mm muzzle-energy average I've encountered in my own testing was 491 ft.-lbs. That's just a bit more energy than the hottest Buffalo Bore round mentioned earlier, which is listed at 465 ft.-lbs. But these bullet energy levels are not common to 9-mm pistols per se. It takes the right gun and ammunition combination to achieve them. Now, let's take a look at a quick sampling of pistols and revolvers in other calibers for comparison. I borrowed the eight-inch Colt Anaconda's results from one of Dick Williams' reviews:

When a 9mm pistol is operating at its highest potential, we see performance that can cross over into .357 Mag. territory, but at the low end of this revolver's bullet energy spectrum. This is not to say that a 9mm pistol is 'as good as' or 'better than' a .357 Mag. On the contrary, when properly loaded, the .357 will outperform a 9 mm by a significant amount. 

In short, a souped up 9mm can take on the handgun hunting tasks suited to a lightly loaded .357 Mag. This could include medium game, such as hogs and whitetail deer, along with similar game if they are within range. But remember that the .44 Mag. often represents the middle ground for handgun hunting and defense against dangerous game with the .357 Mag. representing a minimal, but adequate, option. For those who want to stick with a semi-automatic pistol but want better performance than the 9mm has to offer, a 10mm Auto would be the more potent choice.

Parting Shots

Can you handgun hunt with a 9mm pistol? The short answer is: it depends. The 9mm cartridge has many virtues, but it isn't exactly a top choice where handgun hunting is concerned. It's only useful for a limited range of game animals, and these platforms may not meet the hunting regulation requirements in your region. Other handgun and caliber combinations can provide superior performance with greater game-getting flexibility while operating within the requirements of local statutes.

That being said, there will always be that one guy. You know, the one who has the safari photos and testimonials to prove that he has been successfully harvesting Africa's Big 5 with his service-grade Browning Hi-Power since 1978 using home-rolled lead ball rounds. Fair enough. There are plenty of cases in which a 9mm pistol has certainly gotten the job done. My goal here is not to dissuade or denounce the use of 9mm pistols by experienced hunters who know their way around their particular neck of the woods. If you have your rig sorted out and a freezer full of meat to eat, then by all means, keep on keeping on.

Instead, I would share some advice for those who are new to 9mm pistols, to handgun-hunting, or both. Selecting a 9mm as your very first handgun, for daily concealed carry or for target shooting competitions, is a great choice for a several good reasons. And there are a variety of pistols, from affordably priced to fully tricked out to fill each of these roles effectively. However, even the very best 9mm semi-automatics available are not the optimal option for handgun hunting or defense against dangerous game. If, however, it's the gun you have and you intend to press it into service in the field, then do your homework. Make sure you understand what this platform can and can't accomplish, the legal requirements of your region, and invest in the right ammunition for the job.