[Xyas]

So, I just got a new pistol, springfield xd subcompact for concealed carry and home defense (until a shotgun/ar-15 comes). My question is as follows: it only has a 3 inch barrel and I'm curious if I should go heavier or lighter with my ammunition. My choices were between the 124gr +p gold dots or ranger-t's, the 147 in the same and the winchester bonded. My gut feeling tells me I should go for 124gr +p's. I'm curious as to what everyone else thought? Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Mudinyeri]

You don't say what caliber but I shoot 9mm 124 grain +p Golden Sabers in my Kahr PM9 which is much smaller than your XD9 (I assume) SC and they run just fine.

[Sgt_R]

I was wondering the same thing, in relation to a Kahr PM9 that I plan to purchase (also a 3" barrel). My SOP is to carry the heaviest bullet that I can find, but I have read that the 147 gr's don't have enough velocity for reliable expansion, so I am also considering the 124gr +p Gold Dots.

Can anyone set us straight on the subject? Thanks.

R

[jojo200517]

Hornady TAP 230 grain +P seems to work well for me.

Edit: oops y'all talking about 9mm not .45

[gofastman]

I like the heavy stuff, from what I understand it has more dwell time in the barrel, allowing it to extract a larger percentage of its energy from the powder before it leaves the gun.

[basicblur]

My gut feeling tells me I should go for 124gr +p's.
Sounds pretty good-I got tired of all the slow/heavy, light/fast arguments so I just split the difference and also carry 124 gr.

BTW-it's reported that 147 gr. expansion problems have been addressed with newer designs if one should decide to go that route.

Might try this link (http://books.google.com/books?id=wiiUeexIMLIC&pg=PA103&lpg=PA103&dq=Ayoob+147&source=bl&ots=rvxh7nN4ap&sig=o5zWQ276Jcy_wK0HtGc7qVcj-jE&hl=en&ei=PKJCTOi_L4OC8ga62-m-AQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q&f=false) to sample ammo section in Gun Digest Book of Handgunnery.

And welcome to the XDSC club! :D

[Xyas]

Yeah, sorry I forgot to mention. It's a 9mm subcompact xd. Thanks for the input so far!

[Nasty]

Gold Dot 124gr in +P is in the Bible somewhere...honest!

[DeepSouth]

This is why they made the Gold Dot Short Barrel ammo. I use it in my PM45.

[basicblur]

Don't know if you're a noob or not, but iff'n you are, might I suggest making a regular pass at any police supply houses in your area? I've got 'bout 3 or 4 in my monthly shopping loop-ya never know what kind of good deals you'll run across at 'em.
Recent examples-I loaded up on some Remington Golden Saber Bonded 357 SIG @ $17.99/box of 50. A few days ago one was having a sale on Federal 9mm HST Frangible @ $9.99/box of 50 (10 box limit). He also had 357 SIG Frangible and Federal 9mm 9BPLE +P+, but they weren't as good a sale as the first two.

I try to stay away from the 'consumer' 20/25 rd boxes-all the stuff I've seen at police supply houses is 50 rd boxes, often for the same price (or less) than the 20/25 rd boxes being pushed on consumers these days.

[Ben86]

My question is as follows: it only has a 3 inch barrel and I'm curious if I should go heavier or lighter with my ammunition.

I believe that some where in between is ideal. Go with 124 grain instead of 115 or 147. I use 124 grain gold dot jhps across the board in all my 9mms and find that they perform very well in barrels ranging from 3-4.5 inches. Gold dots are made to work in a wide range of velocities. I'd steer clear of 115 grain in a short barrel, from my informal testing they lack in penetration when shot from a short 3 inch barrel.

Stick with 124 grain, the way Luger intended it. ;)

[gofastman]

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s277/jermwarfare_2007/Kahrmk9velocitiycomparison02-1.jpg
(IMO, they all look like they would work fine)


AND:

In a response to a question about which grain 9mm Ranger ammo to use in a short barreled pistol including 3.5" and 3", I got the following response from Winchester LE Ammo:


When we redesigned the Ranger T Series of ammunition we widened the velocity window under which the round would expand to allow for the slower velocities that shorter than standard barrels produce. What this means is that if you own a standard or sub compact pistol the round should have adequate expansion. In 9mm I would recommend the 147 grain bullet as it loses a lower velocity percentage than the faster lighter bullet in shorter than normal barrels. This is because the bullet has more dwell time in the bore and has a greater opportunity to burn the powder before the bullet exits the bore. Powder that is burned outside the bore does nothing for velocity. The lighter faster bullets generally have more powder to burn and since the lighter faster bullets have less time in the bore they are not efficient burners of powder in the shorter barrels.

We increased the velocity window under which the round would expand by increasing the size of the hollowpoint, tweaking the jacket thickness and the depth of the cuts on the inside of the jacket petal segments.

Sincerely,

Paul Nowak
Senior Technical Specialist
Winchester Law Enforcement Ammunition

Courtesy of some of the members at m4carbine.net


Another reason I like the 147's is less kick in my PF9. Even the 147+P's seem to be less snappy than the WWB stuff I plink with :confused:

[MikeNice]

Would there be much difference between a 3" and 3.25" barrels? I guess what I'm wondering is if a 1/4" of barrel makes a significant difference in any case?

[Ben86]

I guess what I'm wondering is if a 1/4" of barrel makes a significant difference in any case?

Nope. Might decrease velocity by about 15-20 fps at the most.

[S&Wfan]

The one that feeds 100% of the time and shoots at dead Point of Aim with a tight group!

[sxshep]

My Kahr PM9 is loaded with 147gr. +P Federal HST's, but any fast heavy bullet that FEEDS RELIABLY in your gun is what you should carry.

[orionengnr]

For my PM9, Winchester Ranger 127 +p+ is the drill.

[RyanM]

I'd go with 147 gr Remington Golden Sabers. They work extremely well at reduced velocities, from what I've seen. I carry .40 cal 180 gr ones in my Kahr MK40.

[kludge]

I'm a fan of Gold Dot and XTP. I'm not a fan of heavy (>130gr) 9mm bullets.