Opinions on bullet weight and pressure

[mcbowflex]

Hello all,

So I'm getting close to being ready to carry my new CW9. I have my Foxx holster, I've put almost approximately 400 rounds through the gun and I feel my accuracy is coming along well enough to start to carry in the very near future.

I can't find any real solid information on the advantages/disadvantages on bullet weight and pressure in the 9mm round. I've decided that I'm going with Federal HST regardless of pressure and weight based on the expansion I've seen in tests. Unfortunately, I haven't had an opportunity to run any of these rounds through my CW yet, but I do have a box of 147 grain standard pressure that I'll probably be taking to the range tomorrow. I'm leaning towards a standard pressure round because the last time I was at the range I put 50 Federal Classic JHPs down range and felt a noticeable difference in recoil over the FMJs I've been using for target shooting. Any input or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[crazymailman]

I shot the 124gr HST in both standard pressure and +P into water filled jugs to get an idea of the expansion and found that the standard just didn't seem to have enough velocity from the 3" barrel to get the results I was hoping for. the +P performed better there. As for the 147gr I've read that they don't seem to lose the same amount of velocity from short barrels like the lighter weight bullets. And since the CW has an extra 1/2 inch, you might not see quite as much difference as a PM, but that's only speculation.

[Yogi 117]

In my 3.5" barrel Glock26, I carry the Speer Gold Dot or Federal HST 124 gr +P, both have great ballistic results, and should get you great results in the CW9. Either round in the 147 gr would be a good choice also. :)

[jocko]

gonna get ammo preferences all over . ALL ARE GOOD, ALL WILL DO THE JOB. #1 HAS TO BE TOTAL RELIABLILITY. After that it is shooters choice .Find a round that is good, affordable, available and just stick with it, so that a year from now u don't have a shelf full of defense ammo that u won't ever be carrying and now will be relagated to range fodder. It ain't cheap u know. Lets face it 99.995% of us will never have the option of shooting it in a defense situation, so maybe we tend to think to to much about what is best. Look for a brand that has been around for a long time, that tells alot IMO.

[Charlie98]

Particularly in the .380 and 9mm (I carry a CW9 most every day...) I think the heaviest bullet is the best choice. As Jocko says, reliability is paramount, but after that, I put bullet weight right up there.

I carry Hornady 147grn TAP FPD in my CW9, they were more accurate than the 147grn Speer Gold Dot Short Barrels; I carry 230grn Speer GDSB's in my Kimber .45.

[Barth]

Hello all,

So I'm getting close to being ready to carry my new CW9. I have my Foxx holster, I've put almost approximately 400 rounds through the gun and I feel my accuracy is coming along well enough to start to carry in the very near future.

I can't find any real solid information on the advantages/disadvantages on bullet weight and pressure in the 9mm round. I've decided that I'm going with Federal HST regardless of pressure and weight based on the expansion I've seen in tests. Unfortunately, I haven't had an opportunity to run any of these rounds through my CW yet, but I do have a box of 147 grain standard pressure that I'll probably be taking to the range tomorrow. I'm leaning towards a standard pressure round because the last time I was at the range I put 50 Federal Classic JHPs down range and felt a noticeable difference in recoil over the FMJs I've been using for target shooting. Any input or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

124/127 gr;
Speer GDHP,
Federal HST,
Winchester Ranger T-Series.

[mcbowflex]

Just judging by ammo tests that TNoutdoors9 on youtube does, I think I'll probably be going with standard pressure 147gr HSTs. The +p in the 147 had slightly better expansion but lost somewhere around 2" of penetration.

[JimC]

There is no shortage of good info in various threads on this site as to what ammunition Kahr owners have found that work best in their respective Kahr pistols.

All one has to do is read the various forums and make a decision.

Yes, it is recommended highly that one buys a quantity of the ammo they decide on and run a couple of hundred rounds thru their pistol to check for 100% function. The best load in the world is of no use to one when that load will not function 100%.

You might want to check out the short barrel loading by Speer and yes, it is in the +P range.

Speer uses a 3.5" bbl. to test their short barrel load 9mm so their data would be quite accurate in the 3.5" bbl. of your CW9. They list the 124 gr. GD bullet @ 1150 fps.

I've chronographed that load out of my PM9 with it's 3.1" bbl. @ 1116.6 fps and 1121.2 fps and it functions 100% in my PM9.

Good luck making a choice. ;)

[titus1971]

feel free to disagree but my personal rule of thumb is that in any 9mm with a barrel 3.5 inches or less I always use +P. My resoning is that the whole alleged advantage of the 9mm is velocity which is less with shorter barrels thereby diminishing one of the supposed advantages of the 9mm. A +p in a 3.5 inch barrel will easily achieve standard 9mm velocities from a service sized barrel. 9mm seems to be one of the calibers most affected by barrel lengths. I use GDHP 124 gr +P in my CM 9 with good results but I'm also a fan of the Federal HST.

[muggsy]

feel free to disagree but my personal rule of thumb is that in any 9mm with a barrel 3.5 inches or less I always use +P. My resoning is that the whole alleged advantage of the 9mm is velocity which is less with shorter barrels thereby diminishing one of the supposed advantages of the 9mm. A +p in a 3.5 inch barrel will easily achieve standard 9mm velocities from a service sized barrel. 9mm seems to be one of the calibers most affected by barrel lengths. I use GDHP 124 gr +P in my CM 9 with good results but I'm also a fan of the Federal HST.

What good does it do to increase velocity if you lose penetration and disrupt less tissue? Do you think that you would notice any difference if you were shot with a bullet that was 40 FPS slower? Velocity is hype. Sub-sonic .45's do one hell of a lot of damage. Find a round that feeds reliably and be the first to score multiple hits. That's how you win a gun fight.

[Bawanna]

Easy Mugs, he's got the drop on you, see his avatar?

Personally I love that we are fortunate to have all these options so we can follow or use whatever we think is the ticket.

Sort of an expansion on caliber wars.

Hopefully none of us will ever really need it but I'm all about confidence myself. If one thinks slow and heavy is the answer it's all good.
If fast and light is your favorite tea, it's all good.


And the ammo makers are working on even more new stuff all the time, doesn't get any better. If I was just rich I'd try it all.

[jocko]

subsonic 45"s. oh no!!! that slow huh???

shot and retrieve, shoot again retrieve. One box of 50 lasts a lifetime.

[Bawanna]

Come on over Jocko, we get flies real bad bout this time of year with hosses in the back yard and all.

You can use your niner there to eradicate em. Might even get a one shot stop on 1 out of every 5 or 6.