P380 vs cw380 muzzle velocities

[mbesp]

Been thinking about grabbing a p380 or cw380 and i see kahrs product info for the p380 talks about the increased velocities with the polygonal rifling. Is there anything to this? I looked for some info and I did find that gunblast lists velocities from his tests of the two pistols and it does look like the p380 is producing faster shots. Is there any other comparison info out there?

It seems with the 380 round any velocity boost would be beneficial in helping the bullet preform properly.

I realized that there were a couple other rounds used in both gun tests and the produced less of a velocity difference. The biggest differences were from buffalo bore rounds. Maybe buffalo bore changed their formula in the time between the tests?

[CJB]

I see Kahr's product info for the p380 talks about the increased velocities with the polygonal rifling. Is there anything to this?

The "advantage" of velocity, or accuracy exists on paper. You'll find more variation from barrel to barrel of the same type of rifling, than between samples of poly vs land/groove rifling.

BTW, both are "hammer forged" and the process of creating one vs the other is so infinitesimally different, they are effectively the same "cost" of production (when including the cost of the tooling, its life, etc).

So, conventionally rifled barrels and poly, in a handgun.... really very little difference. The fit of the barrel to slide, slide to frame is HUGE in terms of accuracy, when compared to rifling. And in practical shooting, handheld, not from a machine rest (aka Ransom rest) the real point of accuracy is the shooter, not the rifling (and seldom the fit).

Clark .45 bullseye guns would shoot within the X ring, which was 1-5/8 inches at 50 yards, or just over 3moa. Very very few shooters used that to their advantage!

[mbesp]

The "advantage" of velocity, or accuracy exists on paper. You'll find more variation from barrel to barrel of the same type of rifling, than between samples of poly vs land/groove rifling.

BTW, both are "hammer forged" and the process of creating one vs the other is so infinitesimally different, they are effectively the same "cost" of production (when including the cost of the tooling, its life, etc).




Fair enough, was just kind of curious if there was some data or anything out there i couldn't find that showed the velocity advantages.

Kind of funny they would make such a big deal of the cost savings of one vs the other.

[pbagley]

I would be happy to run a test and publish my findings. I have a CW 380 handy, so if someone would be so kind as to send a P 380 for comparison that would be great. FFL information available by request. Thanks!

[mbesp]

I would be happy to run a test and publish my findings. I have a CW 380 handy, so if someone would be so kind as to send a P 380 for comparison that would be great. FFL information available by request. Thanks!


Hopefully someone takes you up on that. I decided to just go with the cw380. Just gotta wait for it to get delivered 👍

[Hoof]

I am resurrecting this thread, because this is the exact info I want, and it seems a lot of the people trying to decide between the cw380 and p380 want that info as well.

Edited to add: There is another thread in this forum on barrels. In that thread, a poster brought up how the YouTuber Gun Blast tested CW380 and P380 velocities years apart, and the poster thought that with three ammunitions the P380 had higher velocities and the CW380 had higher velocities with two. Obviously, a lot of variables are different when testing years apart.

Someone also posted the following link to a test that was performed between polygonal rifled barrels and traditionally rifled barrels by the same barrel manufacturer in different barrel lengths, all in 9mm. I was most interested in the 3 inch barrel data. At high velocities from +P rounds, the velocities we're virtually the same, however, at slower velocities, the polygonally rifled barrels had noticably higher velocities, but still a relatively small difference. So, there is my answer. Let it inform your decisions however you wish.

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/rifling.html