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Optimizing your 9mm for Accuracy and Effectiveness
American Shooting Journal ^ | 8/22/2016 | J Hines

Posted on 08/22/2016 9:20:16 AM PDT by w1n1

Choosing the right ammunition can be a difficult task, even for the most experienced of gun enthusiasts. Without taking on the overwhelming hobby of making your own ammunition, and having your significant other hassle you over those exciting new credit card bills, here are a few tips to help you find the right ammunition for your 9mm.

Regarding Grain and What That Means for You and Your Accuracy

Grain is relatively important when it comes to the accuracy of your carbine or pistol. Truly, most sportsmen can spend an entire lifetime going to the range or hunting and never really worry about the grain of the bullet they are shooting. However, when optimizing the pattern your gun shoots, the weight of your bullet plays a huge part in what is happening down range.

A grain is the increment in which ammunition for guns is measured, and there are 437 grains in one ounce. Most 9mm bullet loads fall into one of a few categories unless built at home. They come in loads that weigh in at 115, 124, or 147grains, and randomly you may find a load somewhere in-between or around this range. Read the rest of the 9mm story here.


TOPICS: Hobbies; Outdoors
KEYWORDS: 9mm; banglist; carbines; handguns
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To: Aut Pax Aut Bellum

The Storm is no POS, sorry to disabuse you of that. You may not like the gun, but I happen love my full size. DA/SA was no problem to master. Not a bit. Mine has not failed to perform as designed. Ever.

My gripe?Being full size (have some 20+1 mags), harder to conceal. I’ll live with it.


21 posted on 08/22/2016 10:11:08 AM PDT by RoadGumby (This is not where I belong, Take this world and give me Jesus.)
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To: Mr. Douglas

“Did I miss something in the news about this?”

Yes. There has been a startling new development in pistol ammunition: http://ammo.com/bullet-type/hollow-point-hp

http://www.firearmstalk.com/What-round-is-More-Effective-9-45-or-40.html

Speer Goldpoints expand to about .69 and 9mm is a higher velocity round than the .45.
Having said that, a shotgun round has the muzzle energy of four .357 rounds and I carry a .45 loaded with FMJ.


22 posted on 08/22/2016 10:13:35 AM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: all armed conservatives.)
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To: Aut Pax Aut Bellum
Well, my particular "POS" doesn't have the rotating locking lugs, though the slide width is the same as those that do. The "POS Compact" with the 15+1 capacity is the "anti Glock 19" (Glock and S&W don't offer a similar-sized equivalent to the "subcompact POS").

The only thing I absolutely hated about my "POS" was the - for me - useless right side safety lever, and a session at a milling machine took care of that problem.

Striker-fired semiautos aren't for everyone, and the "POS" is (in my opinion) worth at least a look from those who prefer a DA/SA with a hammer... be they traditionalists or just people who like the option. That doesn't mean they won't prefer a SIG, a third-gen S&W semiauto or even a 92-series Beretta.

Mr. niteowl77

23 posted on 08/22/2016 10:16:57 AM PDT by niteowl77
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To: w1n1

Bookmark


24 posted on 08/22/2016 10:18:22 AM PDT by Dacula (Southern lives matter!)
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To: tumblindice

Maybe I’m making too much of the issue of bullet weight, but I would think that if two rounds make the exact same hole size and travel the exact same distance within your body, that the heavier one would have more stopping power. I read the second article and it does not even discuss that.

Am I giving it too much relevance?


25 posted on 08/22/2016 10:20:31 AM PDT by Mr. Douglas (Today is your life. What are you going to do with it?)
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To: w1n1

“Owning a gun is a privilege we should not take for granted.”

Owning a gun is a constitutional right. Not a privilege!


26 posted on 08/22/2016 10:36:03 AM PDT by cambyses
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To: w1n1

This article is worthless. The author is a moron.


27 posted on 08/22/2016 10:37:29 AM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
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To: Mr. Douglas

google the 455 Webly and dwell time. Balistics is much more complicated than an internet expert will admit to in a two line post.


28 posted on 08/22/2016 10:39:22 AM PDT by dangerdoc ((this space for rent))
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To: Ancesthntr

Remaining power at 500 yards? That funny - I’m going to need a LOT more range time with my 9mm if 500 yards is a concern, I’ve got pizza sized groupings at 50 feet.

Front sight, front sight, I know, I know...


29 posted on 08/22/2016 10:42:49 AM PDT by Made In The USA (Rap music: Soundtrack of the retarded.)
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To: w1n1
A grain is the increment in which ammunition for guns is measured, and there are 437 grains in one ounce.

Hmmmm ...

437*16=6992

The author is not correct.

30 posted on 08/22/2016 10:43:51 AM PDT by NorthMountain (Hillary Clinton: corrupt unreliable negligent traitor)
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To: All; DungeonMaster

Anonymous gun owners’ opinions are like anuses. ... (You know the rest.)


31 posted on 08/22/2016 10:50:26 AM PDT by newgeezer (It is [the people's] right and duty to be at all times armed. --Thomas Jefferson, 1824)
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To: w1n1

From the OP: “Without taking on the overwhelming hobby of making your own ammunition”.

For me becoming a handloader pushed me from being an occasional shooter to one that shoots 1-3 times/week. Handloading your own ammo is not overwhelming and is probably the easiest way to find the exact best ammo for your handgun. Accurate ammo that works well in your particular firearm is important but being able to hit your intended target is really what your want to do. This comes from practice and a lot of practice. Having a large supply of high quality inexpensive (handloads) is one way to achieve that goal.


32 posted on 08/22/2016 11:07:10 AM PDT by fatboy
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To: Mr. Douglas

Yeah we’re just talking, sharing stuff about guns. I like the larger bullet, that’s why I usually carry the .45. I have one that holds more than 7-8 rounds. I’m not at all sure the 9 and .45 perform the same in gelatin ballistic tests.
9mm FMJ were lousy defense rounds. For example, the M16 round the Army went to, anticipating Warsaw Pact soldiers wearing body armor, went right through skinnies in Mogadishu.
One of the hopped-up-on-khat gunshot victims described it as like being stabbed with knitting needles. That’s a good thing I suppose, if you want to irritate people.

If an “expert” is a has-been spurt under pressure, I’m not I’m that, but sure, you want something with knockdown power. That’s why the Army went from the .38 to the Mr. Brownings Colt .45. During the Moro insurrection in the Philippines, that variety of mozlim were also hopped up on something and they kept coming, like insane Energizer bunnies.

I like the FMJ because it will go through things a hollowpoint will not penetrate. Over-penetration is a real problem if there is something behind your target you don’t want to shoot, but presumably you are trying to follow the rule: know your target and what is beyond it. But 9mm hollow points tend to expend their energy and stay in the body in a center of body mass shot.

In a nutshell, 9mm pistols hold more cartridges and their knockdown power is greatly improved with hollowpoints. I have only one .40 `Short & Weak’ pistol (OK, here we go ... ) but it’s by my bed if that helps, and several nines in different sizes.
Check out Hornady’s Critical Defense round if you want something that will go through clothing and still expand, good winter load. A nice pocket .45 is the Springfield XDs. Hope that helps.


33 posted on 08/22/2016 11:08:44 AM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: all armed conservatives.)
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To: tumblindice

I have a .380 for conceal and am looking at a Glock 41 for in the car and “slightly more conspicuous” conceal. It fits my hand like a glove.


34 posted on 08/22/2016 11:11:49 AM PDT by Mr. Douglas (Today is your life. What are you going to do with it?)
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To: tumblindice

“drip” under pressure


35 posted on 08/22/2016 11:12:39 AM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: all armed conservatives.)
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To: NorthMountain

just a rounding error. 7000 grains per pound


36 posted on 08/22/2016 11:16:15 AM PDT by dangerdoc ((this space for rent))
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To: Mr. Douglas

I liked the Glock 19 the first time I held it. My first center-fire pistol was a gift, a Browning Hi-power, so my hand must have imprinted.
The .40 is a S&W Sigma, like the Glock also bought when I had money. Hated the trigger at first.
I have eclectic taste—hammer and striker guns living together uneasily.
“Beware the man with one gun, he know how to use it”?
Nothing to worry about from me ... ;-)


37 posted on 08/22/2016 11:19:49 AM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: all armed conservatives.)
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To: Mr. Douglas; Lurker

>>Everything is marginal compared to what is better.

Agree wholeheartedly.

Personally, I prefer 120mm HVAPFSDS. Or 155mm HE, depending on specifics of the target. Or, heck, a W87!

;-P


38 posted on 08/22/2016 11:26:58 AM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: dangerdoc
just a rounding error. 7000 grains per pound

That's my point. And it's not even rounded correctly. 437.5 rounds UP to 438. Better to say 7000 grains per pound. It's correct, and it's no harder to comprehend.

39 posted on 08/22/2016 11:32:12 AM PDT by NorthMountain (Hillary Clinton: corrupt unreliable negligent traitor)
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To: Mr. Douglas
I read this recently about a guy who stopped an attacking grizzly in Alaska with a S&W 3953 and Buffalo Bore ammo.

American Hunter

Back in the late 70's through the 80's I had a S&W Model 39 and spent a lot of time working up loads for it. Solely for accuracy and not stopping effectiveness. I used 124 gr FMJ with Unique but cannot recall the exact powder drop. I think it was on the low side, perhaps 4.6 gr. That pistol was amazingly accurate with handloads and one of the few guns I really regret selling.

40 posted on 08/22/2016 11:35:26 AM PDT by atomic_dog
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