The EETSY BEETSY TEENY TINY WIDDLE PUPPY!!!!
DON'T HURT THE LITTLE BAYYYBEEEEE!!!!
HE'S SO CUTE!!!!
HOW CAN YOU BE SO CRUEL TO A LITTLE BEAUTIFUL PUPPY!!!!
This morning tho', was the last straw, and when the dog came back on our property and growled and came at me, I was positioned to take a clear shot right at its chest. No sticks this time: doggie got a 22 lr hollow point dead center chest from my Ruger rifle, 10 yards away. The dog was able to run back across the road but was dead B4 I could position for a clear follow up. Might have been a bit of a lucky shot to kill so quickly, as the Ruger is more accurate than I am. Anyway, the situation had me wanting something a bit more powerful, without being a dang cannon. (If I need the latter, out comes the 12 ga.)
So... What do FReepers think of 9mm carbines as a mid-power varmint rifles? My requirements are relatively cheap, hopefully available(!) ammo, typical range under 100 yards (usually 50 or less, really), only moderate penetration to minimize exiting of the target, with stopping power similar to a 38 to .357 handgun / somewhere between a .22lr hollow point and a 12 ga. deer slug.
I definitely want something not as LOUD as a 12 ga., and with considerably less recoil, so my quite petite wife and / or daughter can comfortably use it, if need be.
The typical target is a medium to medium large dog (Pit Bull, Boxer, Lab, etc.), or possibly a coyote. Hollow point slugs are a given.
I DO have a .223 carbine, but a larger, lower velocity, relatively inexpensive slug makes more sense to me, here.
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 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.
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...
The EETSY BEETSY TEENY TINY WIDDLE PUPPY!!!!
DON'T HURT THE LITTLE BAYYYBEEEEE!!!!
HE'S SO CUTE!!!!
HOW CAN YOU BE SO CRUEL TO A LITTLE BEAUTIFUL PUPPY!!!!
Depends on the size and temperament of the cur. Field if fire and all that.
12 gauge works
20 gauge might offer better control.
At least #4 shot.
And unless the user is halfway experienced with a pistol they will probably miss. But you can dump 19 rounds in the general direction towards the beast while it’s moving quickly towards you to rip your leg off... a shotgun will stop the attack in its tracks.
Personally, I prefer to side step the attack and sever the spine with a well placed machete blow as it passes by...
Get a .30 Carbine M1.
Does your neighbor know you killed his dog and what do you expect his reaction to be? That would be my primary concern at this point in time.
Even though you won't have material assets to show for it, it might turn out to be money well spent.
Sometimes making a very large hole in something leaves a better impression for others that come see.
One I have that hits your list is a Savage A22 Magnum. Accurate to past 100 yards. No recoil for the girls. More power than a 22lr but cheap like a 22lr.
10 round rotary mag semi auto. Easy to follow up your first shot. Mags are cheap. Doesn’t look like Tacticalweapon but is semi auto. Not heavy.
It is not costly. Mine was under 500 new.
Also consider a 357 carbine but it is a much more powerful long gun almost outside “varmit” category.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpqxKYmHRm0
9mm carbine is a good choice. Definitely more power out of a 16” barrel. Suggestion: Have a mag of +P hollow points for varmints. Definitely ups the punch and range. Yes, 100 yards.
Can’t beat the fun and cheap ammo for practice.
High Point a good choice. Get one, try it, sell it if you hate it. You won’t. $300ish, fun!
Regarding the Judge, I will attempt to sum up Paul Harrells thoughts over the course of his 5+ videos on the subject by putting the following words in his mouth:
"If you need to defend yourself from chocolate bunnies at point blank range then its a serviceable tool. If your assailant poses a threat equal to or greater than that of a pumpkin then there are better options."
I think your obvious concern about stray rounds is wise and understand why a 9mm might seem like a good idea. While the effective range is very short though the potential maximum range for the round to travel is much greater. Given the considerations you have expressed it still might not be a wise choice if your neighbors are 1/4 mile or less distant. Attempting to take all your concerns into consideration (sound, sizes and skill levels of operator, relative steadiness, range, etc) it seems that a small gauge shotgun loaded with shot is really the only choice.
The 223 round was from the start a varmint round by shorting the barrel to carbine length you already dropped the velocity and energy down 20 to 30% depending on how short the barrel is from 24” to 16” for way less money than an AR9 or similar carbine you could buy a Lee loader and load down to even lower fps down to 22hornet levels or 22 wmr use 55gr Vmax poly tips and never worry about pass thought those bullets fragment even at 22 hornet velocities. If you want to quiet it up splurge on a suppressor for the carbine and pay the tax stamp fee loaded down it will be quieter than a pellet gun and with 60gr subsonics deadly on anything smaller than a coyote like the first of an angry God.
https://www.amazon.com/LEE-PRECISION-223-Rem-Loader/dp/B001TQ6YCW
Your 22 is working, how many mad dogs are around?
I had to do similar years ago here. Had strays running feral.
22LR rifle worked when needed, but I’d grab the 556 when the pack was seen at range- so much more bang=floppiness than the running away with a 22LR hole in the lungs...
DRT is better than fido running home to mamma and children then ‘splaining to the deputy as to why loving family doggie was shot in the first place. DRT= SSS.
Anyway. Use what you have, pick what you want, have at it, with care.
.45 caliber Hi Point carbine. Inexpensive, ten shots per, accurate out to 100 yards, big bullet slow flying, hits hard but will not zoom off for a mile if you miss.
Depending on 9mm rifles it should be more than capable for a dog. I’d suggest something AK in 9mm if you’re looking for carabine specifically