Posted on 01/01/2022 9:38:38 PM PST by Paul R.
What do FReepers think of 9mm carbines as a mid-power varmint rifle? My requirements are relatively cheap ammo, typical range is < 100 yards (usually 50 yards or less, really), only moderate penetration, with stopping power similar to a .357 handgun / somewhere between a .22lr hollow point and a 12 ga. deer slug. More...
“Better, more practical options.”
You are an arrogant ass!
“...I DO have a .223 carbine, but a larger, lower velocity, relatively inexpensive slug makes more sense to me, here. ...”
“Your sense is wrong.”
I concur.
Here is a comparison video of .223 rounds. https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=223+hunting+bullet&docid=607989660763623778&mid=8F1B8654124FC2EC4EFF8F1B8654124FC2EC4EFF&view=detail&FORM=VIRE
Unless you have a huge rodent or varmint problem, the cost of .223 hunting rounds should not be a problem. I dispatch 8-10 ground hogs every year with a 7mm mag; 50-200 yards. Perhaps a bit overkill but I don’t care.
Well, yeah, for small stuff my Ruger .22 lr is hard to beat. A real tack driver with a decent scope on it, even for a relatively inexperienced shooter (me). But, we are basically looking at taking down an in-between size: 30 lb. coyote (or really big raccoon) up to a 40 or 50 lb. stray dog getting into our animals.
Good point, and I already have a .357 revolver for home defense (but not a closet of ammo for it.)
How has 9mm ammo been running cost-wise vs. 357 and 38 special, over the last year? (I'm not sure how valid a spot check right now is, what the trends are...)
Because?
Cost of PRACTICE would be the issue.
“Cost of PRACTICE would be the issue.”
Not sure I follow. Either you can shoot a rifle or you can’t. Use the cheapest .223 you can find if you need practice. It should not take many rounds to get a hunting round dialed in. Write down what scope adjustments you need to make for different rounds. I doubt very much that you would ever recoup the cost of the rifle based on ammo usage unless you are in prairie dog country or you live next door to a large kennel.
I never practice with any of my rifles. I shoot a couple of rounds at paper to make sure they are still dialed in once a year or if I miss what I think I should have hit. Handguns are different story.
If you already have a .38/.357 revolver, it’s about the same size as a 9mm.
https://www.metric-conversions.org/length/inches-to-millimeters.htm
Ya might as well stick with what you already have, get a laser sight for the revolver or keep to .38/.380/.357 and go with the carbine rifle so you don’t ever have to worry about stocking different ammo, you already have it and are used to it.
Ammo is coming down. The cheapest I have found is Walmart. All of my go to online dealers are still a bit high. Every time my wife drags me in to one I check to see what they have. I got a box of 30-06 (20 rds) and box of 330 .22s for under $40 about 9 months ago. The problem is they rarely have anything. Last time I checked the only thing they had was .350. I passed as don’t have anything in that caliber or know any one that does.
9 mm is the most common cartridge in America. That makes it an excellent choice. I am seeing a lot more 9 mm ammunition available than last year.
I think, anymore, a firearm choice needs to include the question of how much ammunition you can find to buy in the caliber you choose.
As far as ballistics goes, the typical .357 magnum bullet is still traveling at more than 1,000 feet per second at 100 yards WHEN FIRED FROM A PISTOL. That said, the ammunition is not nearly as widely available and costs quite a bit more per round.
I have the Hi-Point carbine in .45, and I love it. Got it barely (50 shots) used for $375 not long ago, which included a sling, 7 mags (incl 2 20s) and a scope. It is very accurate, easy to disassemble and clean, and has about zero felt recoil.
Dang! Dell of a heal! :-)
I have used it extensively on my farm taking feral cats, groundhogs at up to 200 yards, foxes and deer. As a centerfire it is legal for deer in many states, though obviously not a preferred deer round.
Lots of varmint bullets that will blow up inside a critter to the 45 gr. Remington soft point that is great for larger animals.
The ballistics are far superior to the 22lr and 22 wmr.
Noted and agreed on that last. If I need “Thor’s Hammer” the 12 ga. shotgun (or in an extreme case the 12 ga. semi-auto - yeah, I got one after the last of these threads I posted) comes out. But, then of course I’ve thrown decibels to the wind - literally.
My .223 - yeah, that sucker is darn loud too.
So you have pretty much the ideal gun for the described task, but you really want a pistol caliber carbine. I get ya brother. Do you have a 9mm pistol? I would lean toward something that would share magazines. If you don't have a 9, a lever .357 to go with your revolver. No sense in denying what you want for a few bucks. Buy once, cry once...
I have a Hipoint 9mm and you are correct that it is accurate out to 100m.we were at the range yesterday and hitting a 9” steel plate at 100m consistently. The only problem is some feed issues.
If only it was that easy... :-(
I just don't have that good a steady hand with a revolver at 10 yards or more. Even with a fairly light trigger pull and the 4" barrel. I mean, it's not like I have Parkinsons, but I have maybe average hand steadiness with a handgun. I was just now trying to hold a laser pointer on a doorknob only 20 ft. away: There are reasons cops are taught to aim for center mass and take several shots... :-(
Now, let me brace my left arm / elbow on something - even my knee, and aim a rifle, even quickly -- that I can do respectably well. (Also see my next post.)
Yeah, I’ll definitely look again at .357 (etc.) carbine rifles. When I was looking a while back (sort of an offshoot of that 9mm target practice ammo sale), neither of the local vendors I’d usually buy from had anything in store or in stock on their website.
Last time I checked the deadliest round used in gunfights was the Remington .357 Magnum 125 gr. jacked Hollowpoint. It had a rating of 97% letheality on two legged varmints. Extensive records are kept on these matters.
My personal business load is .44 Special 210 gr. jacketed hollowpoint @ 1300 fps. I have them professionally loaded. Preferred pistol is a 5” pre- model 24 Smith & Wesson (4th model hand ejector). A fairly stout but controllable load. It will regularly put five out of six into a 5 gallon pail at two hundred yards. Admittedly this is just messing around. You have to have all of the front sight above the rear plus about another four to six inches of elevation to get on. I never use it at that range though. I have a similar load in .45 Long Colt I use in a model 25 Smith with a six inch barrel. Bullet is a little heavier - hard wet 220 gr. w/ gascheck, velocity similar and I feel it’s pushing the Smith a little. It is definitely stout.
My oldest son is 6’3”, 225 lbs, and he loves that .44 load. He won’t touch the the .45, says it’s masochistic.
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