9mm Performance (Glock haters and 9mm haters don't read)

[DanaT]

I had a fun day today.

I was suffering from anal glaucoma (that is I couldn't see my a$$ staying at work).

It was a nice winter day here in CO (65 degrees and sunny) so I had to do a little shooting.

I took the Glock 34 out and did a little chrono work. Wow, "impressive". Ok, well comparing to 10mm only ho-hum.

I ran some WWB through the G34. Mean velocity of 1243ft/sec making 394ft-lbs. Not bad from a wimpy 9mm.

Now the fun begins. I also rans some Ranger SXT 127gr +p+ through it. Mean velocity: 1305ft/sec and 480ft-lb.

Now comparing that to 45 SXT +p out of an H&K tactical, the 45 +p made 490ft-lbs.

Those little 9mm rounds are knocking on the door of a 357 mag or 357 sig. Winchester claims 1350 ft-sec out of a 357 sig (at the muzzle). I was also measuring about 15 feet out.

Say what people want, the longer polygon barrel and the SXT ammo put some decent enegery out for such a small package. Now that said, it still isn't quite DT 10mm.....

-Dana

[ichy_trigger]

Polygonal barrels are offer less resistance to a bullet and they DO chrono higher than a fully rifles barrel.

[Jeff_1]

impressive, but I still hate glocks and 9mm. j/k

I cant wait to try some of the new 357sig ammo DT is offering, that stuff is supposed to really scream

[therooster]

Originally Posted by DanaT

Those little 9mm rounds are knocking on the door of a 357 mag or 357 sig. Winchester claims 1350 ft-sec out of a 357 sig (at the muzzle). I was also measuring about 15 feet out.

the more ammo technology increases, the less we need "specialty rounds" like .357sig, .40, and 10mm.

[hytekblue]

Originally Posted by therooster

the more ammo technology increases, the less we need "specialty rounds" like .357sig, .40, and 10mm.

thread drift... I never needed those rounds to begin with... they were just fun to shoot... I'll stick with 45 acp...

[Captain Ray]

Where is your Ruger P89? Don't tell me you left her at home in your safe?

LOL

(Inside joke, Dana will get it.)

Raymond

[JD McDorce]

Originally Posted by DanaT

Now the fun begins. I also rans some Ranger SXT 127gr +p+ through it. Mean velocity: 1305ft/sec and 480ft-lb.

This doesn't really come as much of a surprise, as I have seen previous reports of this load being able to make USPSA Major in guns with longer (~5.5") barrels (even without polygonal barrels).

[Brickboy240]

I have always said that the 9mm CAN be a good stopper, if fed the right ammo. With fmjs it is pretty dismal and since the military only issues fmjs in their Berettas, the reports back vs. the 45/1911 with hardball are (duh) always going to favor the larger round.

My beef with the 9mm stems not from the caliber's performance, but from the d/a platforms that launch it. I really don't care for d/a autos, except the CZ-75 and maybe a few Sigs, so most of my autos are 1911s and a Hi-Power. The triggers are long and crunch-ticky and the grips are clubby and too thick on most d/a hi-cap 9mms.

I liked the XD platform, only because it seemed like what a Glock would have been, if it were designed by 1911 fans. The CZ-75 and Hi-Power have nice grips and point naturally, like a 1911 - decent grip and trigger. The Glocks do not and thats why I don't like Glocks, no matter what caliber they are. Glocks are quality guns, but the transition between its grip angle and those of 1911s/Hi-Powers is really annoying to me.

Your test on performance 9mm loads does not surprise me. I have shot a few rabid stray dogs and cats with 147gr SXTs in my Hi-Power and was amazed at that round's stopping power. I'd feel well armed, carrying the Hi-Power with 13 of the SXTs in the mag...just as safe as I do carrying a 45/1911 with 8 rounds.

- Brickboy240

[mcb]

First I have got nothing against the 9mm or Glock but trying to compare 9mm even 9mm +p+ to 357 Magnum is just silly, mini rant to ensue.

Federal 125 grain personal defense load has 584ft-lbs at the muzzle. There PREMIUM VITAL*SHOK 180 grain load is pushing 625 ft-lbs at the muzzle. And factory loads are all well below SAAMI spec for the 357 magnum. With the number of aging 357 magnums out there the manufactures are cover there arses by loading their 357 magnum a bit below SAAMI recommended maximum.

If you willing to hand load the 357 Magnum to full pressure load that SAAMI recommend then it gets really nasty. There are many published loads that will safely push a 180 grain 357 bullet to over 1400pfs. For example Hodgdon publishes a load that uses 15 grains of Lil'gun to push a 180 grain bullet to 1422fps that 808ft-lbs of muzzle energy. That rivals some factory 44 magnum loads.

If your reloading for a Ruger Blackhawk or a Thompson Contender/Encore in 357 Magnum there are load that would develop even more energy taking the pressure to levels that would be unsafe in weaker actions.

Again I got nothing against the 9mm and for what it was design it does a lot and modern developments in loads and powders has made it much more than it once was, but it is not a 357 magnum and never will be.

rambling
mcb

[baa]

Agreed on comparing .357 mag to 9mm performance. The .357 mag spec is far more impressive vs 9mm.

The more interesting (and valid) comparison is the 9mm +p+ performance vs. .357 sig performance. The Winchester Ranger 9mm +P+ rounds are on par with the .357 rounds in many ways and the 9mm handguns generally have better capacity.

The big issue is that those same +p+ rounds are out of 9mm spec and one had better be using a modern high quality pistol if they are to be used safely. The .357 sig designed pistols are constructed to handle those pressure loads.

Personally, I stoke my XD-9 Service with Winchester Ranger 127gr +P+ rounds. I successfully test fired 200 rounds of this ammo at the range (reliable feeding, POA vs POI etc). The pistol was then carefully inspected for any mechanical problems. I feel fairly comfortable using these rounds in this pistol, but I would not dream of regulary using this type of ammo for practice, as ultimately the XD, while a very rugged and good design, is not speced for that sort of pressure.

I did not even bother trying this with the Taurus PT-99 I also own and I am sticking with +P rounds in the Sub Compact XDs.