ammunition for 9mm carbine
Does anybody have strong opinions about what is the best ammunition to fire in a carbine, Hi-Point, Ruger PC9, etc.
J. Patrick Tatum
J. Patrick Tatum
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Plinking? Defense? What is your intended use?
Pistol cartridge powders are fast burning so the added carbine length barrel is not really going to do anything for you, bullet will actually be decelerating by the time it clears the barrel. Although the longer barrel length gives an extended sight plain and the rifle stock should provide a steadier hold so you should see improvement in accuracy.
If your just plinking ... the cheaper the better.
If you handload and have or have access to a chronometer you can experiment around with some slower powders and find a load that gives you the best velocity/accuracy combination.
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0 -
I use Winchester 115 Gr. FMJ Target/Range in my Marlin Camp Carbine and Kel-Tec Sub 2000. At about $10/100 it's a good buy, shoots good and is great for plinking/target shooting.
"Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away." Thoreau0 -
quote:Originally posted by Contender Man
Pistol cartridge powders are fast burning so the added carbine length barrel is not really going to do anything for you, bullet will actually be decelerating by the time it clears the barrel.
That's only true for the heavier bullets like 124gr and 147gr.
If you use ammo with lighter bullets, like 115gr or 90gr -- and especially if you use +P rounds (safe for the Ruger, but I don't know about the HiPoint) -- you'll see energy levels as much as 40% higher than the same round fired out of a 4-6 inch barrelled pistol.
For my Ruger PC9, I like Seller and Bellot 115gr ball for plinking. I want CorBon 115gr +P (same as in my P94) for any self-defense application.
I don't own the HiPoint, but hear it's a great little carbine (not like their pistols -- which I consider to be cr*p).
"Strength is the outcome of need; security sets a premium on feebleness." -- H.G. Wells (The Time Machine)0 -
quote:Originally posted by competentone
quote:Originally posted by Contender Man
Pistol cartridge powders are fast burning so the added carbine length barrel is not really going to do anything for you, bullet will actually be decelerating by the time it clears the barrel.
That's only true for the heavier bullets like 124gr and 147gr.
If you use ammo with lighter bullets, like 115gr or 90gr -- and especially if you use +P rounds (safe for the Ruger, but I don't know about the HiPoint) -- you'll see energy levels as much as 40% higher than the same round fired out of a 4-6 inch barrelled pistol.
For my Ruger PC9, I like Seller and Bellot 115gr ball for plinking. I want CorBon 115gr +P (same as in my P94) for any self-defense application.
I don't own the HiPoint, but hear it's a great little carbine (not like their pistols -- which I consider to be cr*p).
"Strength is the outcome of need; security sets a premium on feebleness." -- H.G. Wells (The Time Machine)
I would certainly defer here. I should have qualified my statement by saying that my experimenting was done with a Contender using a factory 10 barrel and a 18 inch Custom Shop Barrel with standard commercial 115gr FMJ ammo. I have a S&W 547 and a 940 but never fired either one over the screens figuring that in either one there would not be a full powder burn.
Averaging out the Contender results the velocity difference was basically a nit, but open sight accuracy improved some, and that was firing both configuration of a bench/bag rest. Using optics the accuracy results were, like the velocity, almost a wash.
I picked up some 90gr bullets with the intent to see what I could do handloading, but never did it ... distracted by some other "project" and the bullet carton sits in my storage cabinet unopened. Maybe this will prompt me to get back to that project.
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0 -
I have a Marlin Camp Nine and also a S&W 669. The Mags are interchangalbe so the two make a nice combination when camping.
For Plinking, I use Winchester 115 Gr. FMJ and for defense purposes, I used Federal 9BP 115 Gr. JHP. Both firearms are totally reliable with these loads and decent accuracy out to 75 meters with the C9.
Guns only have two enemies: Rust and Liberals....0 -
quote:Originally posted by Contender Man
I would certainly defer here. I should have qualified my statement by saying that my experimenting was done with a Contender using a factory 10 barrel and a 18 inch Custom Shop Barrel with standard commercial 115gr FMJ ammo...
Averaging out the Contender results the velocity difference was basically [nil]...
Your results differ from that I've seen published when others have tested 9mm in rifle length barrels. The most recent testing I recall was within the last two years; it was done by the American Rifleman in answering a question about the effectiveness of pistol-chambered rifles.
You can find similar explanations about the increased velocity and energy in Marlin's marketing information on their (now, no longer produced) Camp-9 and 45. I also believe I have read data from Ruger on the subject in relation to their PC9 and 40, but can't recall if it was their marketing information or comments of a reviewer in a magazine article.
I'd also note that if you are comparing the velocity difference with just one ammunition and using barrel lengths of 10 inches vs. 18 inches; your testing is not the same as testing with different ammunitions and comparing barrel lengths, common to pistols, of 4 to 6 inches with the common carbine barrel length of 16 inches.
I would be willing to bet that you will achieve the same increases in velocity -- and subsequently, energy -- if you performed the experiment in the same fashion as others have done. Your statement, "I have a S&W 547 and a 940 but never fired either one over the screens figuring that in either one there would not be a full powder burn" seems to recognize the critical issue!
"Strength is the outcome of need; security sets a premium on feebleness." -- H.G. Wells (The Time Machine)0 -
I agree with the intent, target, defense etc. The HI Point Carbine is rated for +p+ but I think that is Law Enforcement only. Fot target I purchase the 100 rds of Winchester Range/Target load it's cheap and pretty accurate[^] 0
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