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March 16th, 2012, 04:16 PM #11Banned
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Re: Decisions, decisions... (9mm ammo selection)
I was carrying 9mm powrball in my P7 for a while. It's got really good velocity, almost 1500fps from a P7, and just shy of 500fpe. So it's also in the short barreled .357 magnum performance category. The only gel tests ive seen for the 9mm Powrball are 12.1" penetration and .65" caliber expansion against bare gel. That's solid, but not great performance. If Powrball used a bonded core bullet it would be a lot better, but it's still a pretty solid performer.
However, for the money, i think you're better off with either Federal 9BPLE+P+ or the 115gr+P+ Gold Dots. Bang for the buck wise, i don't think any load can beat the 9BPLE+P+ load.
If money is no object, the new Buffalo Bore unleaded 9mm+P+ loads are probably the best 9mm loads of all time. You can choose from either a 115gr Barnes solid copper hollowpoint TAC XP at 1400fps(500fpe) or a 95gr Barnes solid copper hollowpoint Tac XP at 1550fps (also about 500fps).
But at $30 to $34 per box of 20, you'd have to be Bill Gates to stockpile that stuff.Last edited by Valorius; March 16th, 2012 at 04:21 PM.
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March 18th, 2012, 12:33 PM #12
Re: Decisions, decisions... (9mm ammo selection)
Id grab the gold dots. I prefer solid copper but for cost the gold dot wins. Add in 80 cal expansion,and you get epic win. Lets be honest, 10" of penetration is more than adequet to reach vital 99% of the time.
Preparing flame suit....
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March 18th, 2012, 01:14 PM #13Banned
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Re: Decisions, decisions... (9mm ammo selection)
No flames here, I agree with your assessment.
The 10.5" penetration is only against bare gel. Introduce any kind of medium that slows the rate of expansion, and penetration goes up pretty dramatically (as the expansion goes down accordingly).
BTW, according to Speer that 1300fps Mv rating for the 115gr+P+ Gold Dot is achieved with a 4" barrel, so in a lot of firearms it would be even higher.
When you consider that Buffalo Bore uses a 5" Browning High power to get it's top velocity ratings in it's 9mm loads (115fps @ 1425fps/515fpe) is what they advertised when they used to sell Gold Dot loads), the Speer round is very competitive, and again...at about half the price as the custom shop ammo.
My guess is that with a 5" barrel the Speer 115+P+ Gold Dot is probably about 1350-1400fps depending on the particular test weapon. I should probably see about 1350fps from my polygonal rifled 4.2" HK P7 barrel. Works for me.Last edited by Valorius; March 18th, 2012 at 02:20 PM.
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March 18th, 2012, 02:02 PM #14
Re: Decisions, decisions... (9mm ammo selection)
Just throwing this in the ring.
I'm using Fiocchi Extrema 124-gr. Hornady XTP JHP in my P7; 1290fps/458ft-lbs.
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March 18th, 2012, 02:18 PM #15Banned
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Re: Decisions, decisions... (9mm ammo selection)
Agreed. Fiocchi also loads some darned hot loads for very reasonable prices.
The XTP is a proven controlled expansion performer. At the velocity Fiocchi is loading it at, it should be highly effective as well.
Sellier and Bellot, Geco, Fiocchi, pretty much all the Euro ammo companies load 9mm ammo much hotter than US companies do, and they don't even mark it as +P in most cases.
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March 19th, 2012, 12:15 AM #16Junior Member
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