Tested ammo for pm45

[ohio lock]

New to this site, you old timers have probably debated this many times. I just got a PM45, and I know some guns are a little finicky about ammo. What are some tried and true brands of defensive ammo that Kahr's like to eat? My CM9 likes Gold dots and Zombie ammo. Any suggestions?

[kwh]

Research on the net indicates the 4 following rounds will expand and not over-penetrate (i.e. does more damage with larger, sharper surface area and does not waste energy outside the target) with SHORT barrels,3.3". 1) CorBon+P 185 gr DPX . 2) Federal 230gr. HST but may not feed well 3) Winchester Ranger +P 230 gr. T series 4)Federal Premium 200 gr. +P TEFMJ expanding full metal jacket. No help other than that except I have used Golden Sabers in my CW45 which cycle well both P and +P. I recently found and bought Cor-Bon +P 185 's which I intend to use but have not tried for function yet.

[wyntrout]

I prefer bonded bullets and use the largest SHORT BARREL version of Speer's Gold Dots for each caliber available. I only use the tried and true 230-grain bullets in my .45's. BONDED Remington 230-gr Golden Sabers are in my armory as well.

The Speer GDSB's are formulated for short-barreled pistols like the Kahrs. The cavities are different, too... wider and shallower to expand sufficiently with the velocity attained. This is really noticeable in the .40 and .45.

Pictures in this thread comparing the bonded bullets' cavities:

http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=16416&highlight=bonded+bullets

Wynn:)

[Bawanna]

I've run my PM45 primarily on Gold Dot. I tried a couple boxes of Winchester Ranger T and it worked perfectly and might even be a tad more accurate.

I don't use +P anything.

[kahrseye]

I don't know if anyones seen the latest in ammo but this looks wicked.

http://thelibertydigest.com/2014/01/24/the-new-ammunition-that-has-gun-owners-drooling/

[Barth]

I don't have a PM45.
But have tested a variety of ammo in my 3.0" MK40.
It will feed anything.
But can be a handful with lighter super sonic ammo.
Follow up shots also suffer from 135/155/165 gr ammo.
Sometimes not the most powerful round makes sense.
For me Speer GDHP Short Barrel 180 gr sub sonic work the best.

It's easy to look at paper ballistics and be drawn to +P ammo from shorter barrels.
But we need to be honest with ourselves about proficiency with these light guns.

If they feed reliably;
Federal HST, Winchester Ranger-T and Speer GDHP Short Barrel 45 ACP all have a good reputation opening at lower velocities.

[JERRY]

in a small .45acp im ok with FMJ, but I have the Remington green box 230gr. h.p. in mine, though they don't expand well from mini barrels.

[ohio lock]

Thanks for the info, will consider. I have used Gold dots for years in my carry guns (started with a Taurus PT 740, then a Walther PPS, my CM9 (great little gun) and now PM45. They go bang everytime and not much recoil. Have never tried Rangers, will have to give them a go.