Made a not so good (yes I can admit it) shot on a doe the other day. 150 yards broadside. Hit her in the top of the back with a .270. She dragged herself off the field and I waited about 15 minutes until dark. I figured she would be dead right off the field but she wasn’t. She was laid up about 15 yards in, head up looking at me. Back legs paralyzed. I was gonna shoot her again with the rifle but had my head lamp on and when I looked in the scope couldn’t see her. Remembered I had my 9mm in my backpack. Pumped two shots right behind her shoulder where heart should be. Still alive and alert. Ended up shooting her in the head at point blank range while she was looking at me. I absolutely hate to see a animal suffer. Dug the two 9mm slugs out of her chest and was not impressed with the expansion. They were 147gr hollow point Fiocchi’s. I conceal carry that 9 everywhere because it’s easy to carry concealed. Just got me wondering how effective it would be stopping a human. Might have to switch to my .45.

Talk to ppl who deal with gun shot victims on a regular basis. They’ll tell you all you should know about a 9 mm. They’re not high on the efficient performance list.

this^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^X100

I shot a < 165 lb 9 point that was across a cutover valley. It was about 200 yds down the opposite side, about 250 from where I shot. I drove around, and didn't want to lug my rifle through that 2 year cutover and took my .40 Sig. My deer was just like yours, partially paralized but very much still alive. It was trying to crawl off and couldn't get close enough for a head shot with it still moving around so I shot that damn thing 5 times, 3 in the chest and two in the neck before I could get close enough to put one behind it's ear. Never again, I'll just carry my rifle or a shotgun and make two trips if i have to. That was 15 years ago, the last buck I've shot.

If you shoot me with a 9mm, I'm gonna kick your ass.

I agree with what both posters before me have said as well. But, a 147gr bullet out of a 9mm is a heavy bullet for that caliber. You would get better penetration with a lessor grain bullet. The caveat to that is less knockdown power in the lighter bullet. There will be a tradeoff between knockdown/stopping power or penetration.

Personally I would rather have my .40 if I absolutely had to use it for defense, but I also carry a 9mm due to its compact size. My theory for the 9mm is that I can put enough rounds in someone to either slow them down, or deter them if needed. I shoot 115 grain in my 9mm.

Before you fully discount the caliber I'd say we would need to look at the variables first. The deer was already freaked out and pumped full of adrenaline so even with a lethal hit through the vitals (with any pistol caliber) I would still expect her to stay up for a little bit. I have personally killed both deer and hogs with a 9mm in the past. One deer at almost 30 yds shooting 124gr speer gold dot +P hollow points. The bullet entered behind the left shoulder, turned a large portion of the lungs/top of heart into jello, and exited through the off side shoulder blade. He took one jump at the shot and rolled over dead right there.

I use 255 g lead cast 45acp bullets in my Glock . Haven't had a chance to try them out, but my guess is whatever I hit with it is gonna lay down fast if I get one in the boiler. Came damn close to having to pull my pistol in the dark on something big the other morning, didn't have a good enough light to see what it was. I wouldn't want a 9mm in that situation.

Were you shooting a hollow point or a fmj?

This sounds like a great opportunity for someone to put this hypothesis to the test, in the name of science.
https://www.luckygunner.com/9mm-127-grain-pluspplus-jhp-winchester-ranger-t-series-50-rounds

Go to a lighter bullet and get you some good hollow points that will actually open up and cause some damage.speer gold dots or some federal hst.i carry 9,45,357 at different times and feel confident the 9 works almost as well as the other two.look up lucky gunners ballistic gel test they all penatrate the same the difference is the expansion.deer are tough

It's not the caliber it's the bullet.

my idiot ex brother-in-law wounded a smallish eight point, then proceeded to run the gun dry missing every time. Then had no extra ammo in his pockets. I told him to rum back to the truck and get some more ammo. I was guiding him and carrying my 40 S&W only. While he was gone the deer decided to get up and leave, headed to a very thick drop-off . I decided to try him with my 40. At 125 yards I hit him in the shoulder/neck area, dropping him like a sack of taters. Second shot, missed him once. 180gr jacketed HP.

A handgun caliber other than big bore is not good deer medicine period. I shout a wounded does with a 40 cal. and hydroshocks and put 10 rounds into it before it stopped moving.. Shot a car hit buck with a 45 colt derringer and had to get my shotgun out of the truck to finish it off. Shot another wounded doe with a 44 magnum... done.

first of all, when you seen the deer dragging itself, you should of realized it was a spinal area shot, and shot the deer again.

2nd you need better 9mm ammo.

federal hst is my go to but there are several good ones, what you are shooting is not one of them.

I can't say I have finished a deer with a 9mm. Just a week ago however I had a smallish hog (80lbs) walk out pretty close to be as I was about to get down. I had my Kimber .45 that I had been dying to shoot at a hog so it was a perfect opportunity. The hog was quartering away from me and I tried to have the bullet enter just behind the shield so it would hopefully hit some vitals.

I went in about where I was aiming but came out just behind the ear DRT. I have no idea what bullet weight was in the mag, but they were hollow points.

I was impressed with the depth of penetration.

The 9/147 history is long and troubling. Never heard of anyone offering the .38 with 158 jhps as the be all end all and the 9 is ballistically the same. Yes bullet design is better but since 1935/55 do you need better than a .357/41/44 mag to tote in the woods or a .22 mag? Fiocchi is good ammo made in Missouri.

Goodman, she was on the edge of the field, dropped in her tracks, about 30 seconds later dragged off. Couldn’t get a second one in her.

I always thought bullet weight equals penetration not bullet speed. Hence the .45cal. Heavier bullet than 9mm but less FPS.

fair enough. I tend to shoot a little high at times, and by now can tell how they fall if its fatal or not. If it isnt fatal usually the front legs wont drop as quick as the back, but i tend to watch them for a minute or 2 especially if its a buck, just in case.