Sub compact 9mm ammo weights?

'75scout · March 29th, 2006, 06:06 PM

In a 3.5" or 3" barrel 9mm like a GLOCK 26 and Kahr PM9 is a light fast bullet better like Corbon's 90 grain or 115 grani +P load or is a slower heavy load better like a Premium JHP 147 grain. Or the middle ground 124 grain JHP. I shoot 115 WWB exclusively for practice but find 124 Fed Hydras are dead on out of my GLOCK 26. But I will be getting a Kahr PM9 for ccw and am looking for the best load in terms of terminal ballistics and accuracy of of the little PM9. Is the accuracy based on a gun by gun basis or is it pretty general for barrel length?

havegunjoe · March 29th, 2006, 06:24 PM

I typically find that the smaller the gun's barrel length the closer in you need to be. As you are shooting center of mass, and as the 21 foot rule usually applies in defensive situations, I personally don't think bullet weight is going to matter much. Just my $0.02 worth. Some folks agonize over ballistics and for hunting that probably is a good thing. I may be wrong but I just don't worry too much about it. I load my Kahr P9 with a good, reliable JHP ammo.

P95Carry · March 29th, 2006, 07:14 PM

From my tests thru the R9 - so we are talking real short barrel, just over 2 1/2" - I found relatively minimal difference between 115, 124 or 147 at combat ranges. I am in effect saying same as Joe.

I carry 124's in that and also SIG - and as a compromize reckon they do good. I would tho try all flavors in your own gun and probably opt to use what works best for you, in said gun.

Bud White · March 29th, 2006, 08:34 PM

in the xd subcompact 9mm i found no difference between 115 and 147's either i like the heavier
bullet

the-fly · March 30th, 2006, 01:59 AM

out of my glock 26, i've seen maybe a 50fps loss in velocity in 115gr ammo compared to my glock 17 shooting the same stuff. I use HST 147gr as my carry load.

srfl · March 30th, 2006, 02:53 AM

My Kahrs like midweight bullets like Speer's 124 grain Gold Dots, which is what I carry.

TonySoprano · March 31st, 2006, 02:33 AM

I was using Federal 124 +P+ HydraShock but my supply went dry after some serious testing I started using Federal 147 HST & 124+P EFMJ and 124 HST in that order. The 147 load really surprised me as for being quite accurate out of my Kahr K9 the 124 loads work but not as accurate as the 147 load. Belive me I tested 1200 rounds of different carry ammo and these 3 were the best for my gun.

Hunting Coyotes · April 8th, 2006, 08:54 PM

My Kahr PM9 prefers the 124+p Gold dot loaded by Black Hills. Many others such as Hydroshock work well but it hits to POA, is accurate and hits hard (based on many documented cases by LE). It chronoes between 1050FPS and 1090FPS in my PM9.

As a note, my PM9 does not shoot 147g to point of aim...it shoots them much higher. Ya just have to try em all!

txmntman · April 10th, 2006, 12:37 PM

Good news and bad news. The bad news.....I'm afraid the answer to your question is.....there is no easy answer. Your gun will usually shoot different than my gun with the same ammo, even though your gun and mine are the same make/model. If you agree that shot placement is more important than bullet weight, then you should find the bullet and bullet weight that works best in your gun...... The good news is, you will always have an excuse to go to the range to "test" a type/weight of bullet!

Redneck Repairs · April 10th, 2006, 02:30 PM

i carry what it shoots poa with because shooting where it looks is more imporntant to me than any velocity diff ect., with my little kahr that is 124 +p , with my browning hp its 124 hydroshocks other than that i dont worry about it as long as its hollowpoint lol

March 29th, 2006, 06:06 PM	#1
'75scout Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 1,165	Sub compact 9mm ammo weights? In a 3.5" or 3" barrel 9mm like a GLOCK 26 and Kahr PM9 is a light fast bullet better like Corbon's 90 grain or 115 grani +P load or is a slower heavy load better like a Premium JHP 147 grain. Or the middle ground 124 grain JHP. I shoot 115 WWB exclusively for practice but find 124 Fed Hydras are dead on out of my GLOCK 26. But I will be getting a Kahr PM9 for ccw and am looking for the best load in terms of terminal ballistics and accuracy of of the little PM9. Is the accuracy based on a gun by gun basis or is it pretty general for barrel length?

March 29th, 2006, 06:24 PM	#2
havegunjoe Distinguished Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,797	I typically find that the smaller the gun's barrel length the closer in you need to be. As you are shooting center of mass, and as the 21 foot rule usually applies in defensive situations, I personally don't think bullet weight is going to matter much. Just my $0.02 worth. Some folks agonize over ballistics and for hunting that probably is a good thing. I may be wrong but I just don't worry too much about it. I load my Kahr P9 with a good, reliable JHP ammo. __________________ DEMOCRACY IS TWO WOLVES AND A LAMB VOTING ON WHAT TO HAVE FOR LUNCH. LIBERTY IS A WELL ARMED LAMB CONTESTING THE VOTE. Certified Instructor for Minnesota Carry Permit NRA Pistol and Personal Protection Insrtuctor Utah Permit Certified Instructor

March 29th, 2006, 07:14 PM	#3
P95Carry Assistant Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South West PA Posts: 25,366	From my tests thru the R9 - so we are talking real short barrel, just over 2 1/2" - I found relatively minimal difference between 115, 124 or 147 at combat ranges. I am in effect saying same as Joe. I carry 124's in that and also SIG - and as a compromize reckon they do good. I would tho try all flavors in your own gun and probably opt to use what works best for you, in said gun. __________________ Chris - P95 NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member. "To own a gun and assume that you are armed is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!." If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

March 30th, 2006, 01:59 AM	#5
the-fly Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 81	out of my glock 26, i've seen maybe a 50fps loss in velocity in 115gr ammo compared to my glock 17 shooting the same stuff. I use HST 147gr as my carry load. __________________ Driver carries less then $20 of remorse.

March 30th, 2006, 02:53 AM	#6
srfl Senior Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: FL Posts: 6,432	My Kahrs like midweight bullets like Speer's 124 grain Gold Dots, which is what I carry. __________________ USAF: Loving Our Obscene Amenities Since 1947

March 29th, 2006, 08:34 PM	#4
Bud White VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Elsewhere Posts: 17,476	in the xd subcompact 9mm i found no difference between 115 and 147's either i like the heavier bullet

March 31st, 2006, 02:33 AM	#7
TonySoprano Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bada Bing Strip Club Posts: 168	I was using Federal 124 +P+ HydraShock but my supply went dry after some serious testing I started using Federal 147 HST & 124+P EFMJ and 124 HST in that order. The 147 load really surprised me as for being quite accurate out of my Kahr K9 the 124 loads work but not as accurate as the 147 load. Belive me I tested 1200 rounds of different carry ammo and these 3 were the best for my gun.

April 8th, 2006, 08:54 PM	#8
Hunting Coyotes Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 113	My Kahr PM9 prefers the 124+p Gold dot loaded by Black Hills. Many others such as Hydroshock work well but it hits to POA, is accurate and hits hard (based on many documented cases by LE). It chronoes between 1050FPS and 1090FPS in my PM9. As a note, my PM9 does not shoot 147g to point of aim...it shoots them much higher. Ya just have to try em all!

April 10th, 2006, 12:37 PM	#9
txmntman New Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 12	Good news and bad news. The bad news.....I'm afraid the answer to your question is.....there is no easy answer. Your gun will usually shoot different than my gun with the same ammo, even though your gun and mine are the same make/model. If you agree that shot placement is more important than bullet weight, then you should find the bullet and bullet weight that works best in your gun...... The good news is, you will always have an excuse to go to the range to "test" a type/weight of bullet! __________________ "Gun Bans don't disarm criminals, gun bans ATTRACT them." -Walter Mondale

April 10th, 2006, 02:30 PM	#10
Redneck Repairs VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 5,141	i carry what it shoots poa with because shooting where it looks is more imporntant to me than any velocity diff ect., with my little kahr that is 124 +p , with my browning hp its 124 hydroshocks other than that i dont worry about it as long as its hollowpoint lol

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode