small game automatics

[les hemby]

would like to hear of some centerfire autos with adj sights that are accurate enough to small game hunt with probably 9mm

[TScottO]

I guess a 38 super on a 1911 frame would fit the bill. Maybe the 357 sig. I've never really pondered this subject.

I'd like to have a 32 magnum Ruger Single6, but that's still a revolver.

Good luck and be safe,
Scott

[myronman3]

i would feel just fine chasing bunnies with my 45 kimber.   matter of fact i killed two this year so far with a shot a piece.   i wouldnt rule out squirrels, but they would have to be ground-pounds.

[les hemby]

read an article some time ago about small game hunting hunting with 9mm, i think the man was using a beretta 92. Was just happening to think of this because i was thinking of buying a sig 239 from my brother in law. kinda seems a shame to spend 500 on a pistol unless it was accurate enough for at least small game if you wanted. if you can hit a rabbit with it (for food of course) then a intruder dont stand a chance. Small game hunting would be alot more fun than spinning a plate for practice :wink:

[Dragon31]

Find yourself a .357 mag Coonan.  Get the .38 cal conversion and you can hunt most anything you want to in the lower 48.  You have the entire range of of .357 mag, and .38 calibers in a very nicely finished auto loader.  It is also and excellant home protection weapon and easy to carry under your coat if you have a CW permit.  The do have a rather stiff price tag when you can find them.  Excellant auto loader though.

[Mikey]

les:  There are a number of cartridges out there that would fit the bill for bamming small game with semi-autos, some new, some very old.  Some of teh newer ones are the 357 Sig and the 400 Cor-Bon.  An old favorite is the 38 Super.  Almost any 9mm can be rebarrelled (drop in type) in the 30 Luger, which is a nice easy to shoot, flat shooting round, and one of my favorites, if you can get one chambered for it, is the 7.62x25mm.  All of those cartridges will bam bunnies and other smaller game out to 100 yds, as they are fairly flat shooting.  You can also go with the 357 Magnum, if you can find one of the semis in that cartridge.  This is the fun part, trying to figure out what might work, but the real fun comes later when it works the way you want it to.  Hope this helps.  Mikey.

[les hemby]

i have a 686 for 357. i think i may have to try browning HP in 9mm as i have heard these are very accurate . i feel just about all S&W semis are out. not looking for cartridges as much as guns that would be that accurate. i have seen some hihg powers with excellent sights

[TScottO]

In my opinion HP's are the best autos made. Both of mine shoot as good as I can hold them. For small game I'd probably use FMJs.

Good luck and be safe,
Scott

[Blunderbus]

I can vouch for the accuracy of the Brownings. I've had two. There are more user-friendly handguns for personal defense out there. But I've never shot another nine that was as accurate. One of those high-dollar target Sigs, maybe. Never shot one, so I don't know.

I've got a Colt Govt .380 that might serve as a bunny popper at reasonable ranges. I find it remarkably accurate for what it's supposed to be.  My daughter shoots it very well, as it turns out.

Makes me wonder about how useful afield a Makarov might be.

In the case of .380 and 9 mm, I'd say FMJ would be sufficient for small game. If you plan to eat what you shoot.

Blunderbus

[Dragon31]

I also use two Browning but have never used them in the United States on mammals or other game.  One of my guns is set up with fixed combat sights and the other is a stainless combo with adjustable sights and uses a very high front sight.  Both shoot 147 grain lead bullets pushed by a good charge of Unique into targets with respectable accuracy.  A softer shooting load is 115 fmj of any manufacture pushed by limited amounts of 231.  The pistol will recycle with very low velocity rounds and very high velocity 9 mm rounds loaded for submachine guns.  It is an easy to carry gun, stays flat against you, is light and with and extra mag you have almost 1/2 box of rounds with you when you travel.  High capicity mag are still available.  It was and is my favorite combat pistol but I never hunted game with it.  
If you a in the market for a 9 mm, then the Browning is certainly worth considering.

[les hemby]

i think the browning would be it with fmj