deer hunting with handgun question

[Ryan_V]

does anyone know off the top of their head what is legal to use for deer hunting in a handgun??? I have a friend that is wondering, because he might want to buy my handgun, but it's a 9mm and we're not sure if that is legal or not. I was going to try and look it up online, but the regs is like 3 mb and I'm stuck on dial up out here!!

just wondering if anyone here would know. Thanks.

[Dave S]

I don't believe the case length of a 9mm meets the minimum requirements for big game hunting.

If I'm not mistaken it's 1.285" in length.

[89Bronco]

From the DNR site:

Legal Big Game Cartridges & Shotgun Shells

At least .23 caliber and case length of at least 1.285 inches

Illegal Cartridges

Caliber is either too small in diameter and or case length is too short.

Illegal Centerfire Rifle Cartridges:

9mm x 18 mm Makarov

9mm Luger

9mm Ultra

9mm Winchester Magnum

Not all legal or illegal cartridges are included as there are many obsolete, foreign cartridges and wildcat cartridges not listed.

Hope this helps....

[Ryan_V]

I got the regs, it's hard to interpret. it doesn't say that 9mm is not acceptable, just goes through some types of ammo that isn't. but I'm leaning twards its not legal!!! thanks for the responses so far!!

guess a call to the local warden is in order for a clarification. I just dont want to sell him the gun thinking he'll be able to use and he can't.

[Dave S]

 Originally Posted By: Ryan_V

I got the regs, it's hard to interpret. it doesn't say that 9mm is not acceptable, just goes through some types of ammo that isn't.

If the case length is shorter than the 1.285" (not including the bullet in total length), then the reg's say this gun is not acceptable for deer hunting.

[Wanderer]

Ryan,

Legal or not, your friend should really look at something bigger than a 9 if he wants to hunt deer with a handgun. JMO.

There really isn't that much power there.

[89Bronco]

 Quote:

If the case length is shorter than the 1.285" (not including the bullet in total length), then the reg's say this gun is not acceptable for deer hunting.

Ditto. There's nothing to interpret there.

 Quote:

Legal or not, your friend should really look at something bigger than a 9 if he wants to hunt deer with a handgun. There really isn't that much power there.

Again, ditto.

[Ryan_V]

so if there is a round for a 9 out there that's over the minimum length, then it's o.k.

I don't think there are any though

thanks guys

[Dave S]

I don't think you're going to find any for a 9mm that will be long enough, nor should you even assume that something longer will fit in your chamber.

One pull of the trigger and the results can be fatal.

Bottom line is a 9mm was never intended to be used for hunting.

[picksbigwagon]

 Quote:

so if there is a round for a 9mm out there that's over the minimum length, then it's o.k.

The regs say case length, that is the length of the case, not the cartridege (case powder primer and bullet) For a 9MM, case length is around .750" well under the state minimum.

the 45 acp has a case length of .892 " or so. That means a military round that was designed to kill a horse and then be able to kill the man on that horse is not enough to use for deer hunting in MN. Granted there is not much velocity behind the 45, but that was its orginal design. In Iowa, the 45acp is legal for deer hunting...............

So YOUR FRIEND CAN'T LEGALLY USE A 9MM FOR DEER HUNTING......

If he wants to go with a semiautomatic pistol, he needs to consider a 10mm.......

[roosterslayer]

If your looking for a semi automatic pistol that you can hunt with tell your buddy to get a 10mm. peronally for hunt i would stick with a 357, 41 mag or 44 mag. 44 mag with a 240 grain bullet would be ideal.