The right ammo for PM40

[yamabushi]

I'd like to get a list of good ammo for the PM40. If you have a particular ammo that seems to perform flawlessly in your PM40 please respond. Again, just looking for the good stuff!

Thanks,

Jim

[swampman]

I'd like to get a list of good ammo for the PM40. If you have a particular ammo that seems to perform flawlessly in your PM40 please respond. Again, just looking for the good stuff!

Thanks,

Jim
155 gr. winchester silvertips:)

[yamabushi]

Any others??

[garyb]

Greetings yamabushi. I have been conducting the same extensive search for quite some time. "The key is accuracy first, but penetration and expansion are equally important." It is wise to remember and apply this well. I am currently using the Federal Hydrashock 135's but penetration is compromised (comparitively) and after more research I've settled on the Corbon 140 DPX as one of the best. I know that others on this forum have steered me this way and would agree. The Corbons are not cheap, but they are good (penetration and expansion). You may want to google this ammo for more info and go to their site to check them out. The 140gr DPX was designed for the PM40. Expansion and penetration is good. It is heavy enough to do the job. Some say heavier is better, others say velocity. Bottom line...accuracy, penetration and expansion. You want to tear tissue accurately. There are other threads that cover this in good detail with reports from the FBI, etc... I wish I could remember them, but to to the ammunition posts and dig into them. There is very good info in this forum on the subject.

Another good one is the Gold Dot (150 or 155).

I have come to the conclusion that it is wise to purchase a couple of good products (Corbon and Gold Dot) and shoot them to compare. See how they shoot for you through your gun (feel, accuracy, cycling, how it shoots relative to your target ammo, etc...). Be confident in it. Carry ammo is something you live and die by. You will have the ammo for a good period of time, so it is not like you are going to be spending as much on it as you do practice/target ammo. Research it and get a product you are confident in for all the right reasons. Currently I am Ok with the Hydrashocks, but just OK. I will be changing to the Corbons and/or Gold Dots this year. I lean toward the Corbons. Good luck with your decision. The carry ammo preferences you will hear on any forum are like caliber preferences. With each you need to use a good filter to distinguish what is real. The folks on this forum are very knowledgeable and will help.

[scumhunter]

I ran a box of Federal HST Tactical through my PM40 a couple days ago, went through all 50 with no issues. It's a new gun and these were rounds 150-200.

[Ognimalf]

garyb: Where did you read that the Corbon DPX 140gr was made for the PM40? I'm not insinuating that your statement isn't true, just want to read it myself.

[jocko]

Ihave been on corbon's webb site and I have never read where they stated a certain round was ever made for a certain gun. No doubt the PM 40 fits corbon's criteria for this round also.

I can tell you that quite a few years ago, when corbon came out with the 380dpx round that their test guns for this was the kel tec 380. course at that time it was the only smalla ss semi out there, so if it worked as stated in the kt, it would do the same in the Ruger lcp and the Kahr P380

IMo u just cannot beat corbon dpx ammo. the all copper barnes bullet does exactly what corbon tells u it will. Not cheap ammo but neither is life.

[scumhunter]

I carry Corbon in all my .380's. I'm not a fan of the caliber as a man-stopper but I love the comfort and ease of carry of the mouse guns. Thus, I run Corbon anytime I am depending on a .380.

[TheTman]

I can tell you something you might want to avoid - Winchester Ranger 155 gr Law Enforcement. It shoots real dandy, but to eject a loaded round really takes a lot of effort, and possibly a screwdriver. Could possibly leave you in a bad situation. Thats with my CW40, you may have better luck with the PM40. I'm currently using Ranger 135gr Law Enforcement, shoots well and has no trouble ejecting loaded rounds. I hear is was made for the Border Patrol or one of those agencies having to do with illegal immigration, and they switched to a heavier load, so this 135 gr surplus hit the civillian market. Might not be the best ammo for this time of year with people wearing heavy coats and such. I haven't been able to find any ballistics tests on it for penetration and expansion or FPS and FPE delivered. I think I'm gonna go take the advice given above and go with Cor-Bon or Gold Dot for my carry load after I shoot up these Winchesters, probably something around 140-165 gr.

[Bawanna]

garyb: Where did you read that the Corbon DPX 140gr was made for the PM40? I'm not insinuating that your statement isn't true, just want to read it myself.

I read it as a figure of speech. Meant for short barrel smaller guns. I like Gold Dot myself but believe any good carry ammo will ruin a bad guys day.

[earle8888]

I have expressed my thoughts on this before. Haven't changed my mind!

[garyb]

Ognimalf,
A few months ago I contacted Corbon to find out about their ammo. I received an email response from Corbon recommending their DPX and stating that it was designed for the PM40. Perhaps it was hype to sell their product...don't know for sure. I may still have the email in my save file, but am uncertain because like I said, this was a few months ago. The info was not from their web site nor any published article (that I am aware of either). Again, the statement came from Corbon directly to me via email, so if my statement is not true, they misled me. I found it and copied it below.

From: Mike <mike@corbon.com>
To: garyb
Sent: Thu, October 28, 2010 4:29:08 PM
Subject: RE: .40S&W Defense Ammo Question
Gary,

The 165 gr will have the most felt recoil. The 135 will have the least. The 135 is very loud and a lot of people equate that with recoil. The softest recoiling and most effective 40 caliber load is our 140 gr DPX load. We actually used a PM40 to develop that load. The performance with it in the smaller guns is perfect.

Thanks,

Michael Shovel
National Sales Manager
COR-BON/Glaser
cell 412-496-0428

[kpm9]

I'm a firm believer in the New concept from Hornady on the FTX bullet. It is made to expand and made to expand reliably from short barreled concealed carry weapons, through clothing with low flash.

The 165gr critical defense load also delivers over 500ft lbs of energy.

[TheTman]

KPm9, that one sounds promising. Have to add that to my list of cartridges to try out.

[jocko]

gary b. no problem. what corbon said what was what I had stated earlier ab out them using the kel tec 380 to test their 380 dpx round. they had to pick a gun to do the testing and in picking the kahr 450 cal, was the right way to go. I guess one could say it was made for that gun, but in realizty, IMO it was not but merely tghey gun they choose to do their testing wiht. It is very good to know that that round should work flawlessly in the Kahr 40's short barrelled guns.

I was not calling you out on it, u eamil certainly shows what corbon told you, so hoepfuylly no offensee. They are a super company and their ammo IMO is simply the best

[garyb]

I was actually responding to Ognimalf's inquiry. I can see the interpretation differences, but the point is that they used the PM40 (not the 45) to develop the 40 DPX round. Whether the PM40 was used for testing or they developed it for the PM40...whatever you want to read into this.... The bottom line is that they communicated to me in an email that they use the PM40 and the assumption is that they made sure it worked well with the PM40. No offense taken at all. No harm, no foul. The email from Corbon speaks for itself...take it any way you want. The corbon 140gr DPX "should" work with the PM40. I have not tried it yet, but from what I gather from others on this forum, they like the round. Corbon seems to have a good reputation and inovative products. In addition, I'm not stuck on anything. New products are coming out all the time. I am open to new things. However, I'm going to try the Corbon DPX product out in the NEW YEAR...so a happy one to all!

[sharpetop]

I'm not sure there is a bad load in .40S&W jhp. I would say test a few and whatever feeds and shoots the best, use it. Put em' where they need to go and they all work. My .02.

[100percent]

Consider shooting FP FMJ. They hit hard no worries about bouncing off somebodies denim or leather jacket.

Happy New Year!!!!

[garyb]

I tend to agree with sharpetop to a high degree. We all tend to nit pick ammo, calibers, etc... There are alot of good ammo selections out there. The advantage of the forum is simply to express our opinions and share some facts to help eachother out. The dialogs are most helpful and get us to thinking and exploring. We all learn from this forum. Thus far, in my experience on this forum, there are folks on the forum who really know their stuff and I am going to listen and learn from them. I enjoy the dialogs. But in the end, we all need to make our own decisions.

Accuracy first, but penetration and expansion are important too.