High velocity 9mm loads from a 16" barrel

Hi everyone, I thought a few people might find this a bit interesting, or maybe even useful.

Not too long ago, I bought myself a 9mm Kel-Tec Sub2000 as a little fun plinking gun. Before I bought the gun, I got into handloading, and had already worked up a 124 grain load for my pistols using HP-38. Firing it from the Sub2000, I didn't see much of an energy difference. When I started running low on HP-38, I decided to pick up a pound of CFE Pistol. I worked up a load for my handgun, and the powder worked great. I thought it was fairly clean burning and really did reduce copper fouling after a few hundred rounds. So I thought it would be fun to try out in the Sub2000.

Well, when I loaded these same rounds into the Sub2000 and fired the first shot, there was a HUGE difference. The report was significantly louder, the recoil was significantly more than my standard HP-38 loads, and the projectile was hitting the steel with much more force. After reading Hodgdon's burn rate chart, I quickly realized why this was the case. CFE Pistol is a fairly slow burning powder, and this must be what was contributing to the significant boost in energy.

I stepped back to around 75 yards, and to my amazement, I was able to ring the steel very easily. The projectile was reaching the target much, much faster than my standard loads. The steel plate was also reacting as if I had shot it from 10 yards with my CZ. I unfortunately don't have a chronograph yet, but I'm convinced these rounds are leaving that 16" barrel around 1500-1600 fps (124 grain projectile). This puts the energy on par with that of a 125 grain .357 magnum cartridge, if that velocity is true. Either way, it's still flying a good bit faster than normal, and shooting from a distance is much easier.

I figured some of you might find this info interesting. If any of you have a 16" barreled 9mm carbine, and some CFE pistol, try it out! You might be surprised. Also, if you try this and have a chronograph, let me know what kind of velocities you get! It makes the gun significantly more fun to fire.

someguy2800 said:

Try Acurate #7, it was developed by Israel for the Uzi. I thought it was worthless till I tried it in my hi point carbine. It is to 9mm what H110 is to 357. It really puts them out there. On my chrono 1350 fps with a 147, 16" barrel.

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Next time I run by Cabela's, I might just pick up a pound and try it out. I would be really happy if I could get a higher velocity.

Walkalong said:

In reality they are more likely in the 1250 to 1350 range.

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You may be right. According to Hodgdon's chart, CFE is slower burning than N-340. I'm not sure how much of an influence that may have on the projectile's velocity. I think it is possible to achieve those velocities, however. I've seen a number of people claiming upper 1400's and mid 1500's with somewhat similar loads, using similar burning powders. For me to achieve what I felt was moving that fast, I used around 5.4 grains of powder with a COL of 1.13", so the load was certainly hot. I have a feeling it may actually be around the mid 1400's, but the only real way for me to find out would be to buy a chronograph. Thanks for posting your data!

rg1 said:

A moderate load with 124 FMJ's in my 4" barrel pistol gets about 1050 fps. In the 16" Kel Tec it gains about 200 fps. Some try light 90 grain .380 bullets and slow powders such as AA#7 and report high velocities in the 1900 fps range. I still prefer to shoot the same loads in my pistol and carbine without developing rifle and separate pistol loads and trying to keep them separate.

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I'm making the assumption that the velocity might be around the range I mentioned (albeit the loads are a little too hot for my liking), considering how surprisingly slow burning CFE Pistol is. Thanks for that link! Reading into it, it appears some people are able to achieve mid 1400's with .40sw. Hopefully I can achieve the ballpark I mentioned in my original post (I'm wanting to keep the Sub2000 as a trunk gun, and 33 rounds of ~1500fps 124gn 9mm is certainly formidable). My main thing is reasonably long range shooting though, I was originally having to hold my front post a little too high over my plate with the pistol loads, but my higher velocity loads definitely remedied that. I really need to try out some 90gn loads! 1900fps is absolutely absurd, and actually really energetic.

wrench459 said:

9-23-2017
995TS 16.5"bbl

6.4gr. power pistol set at 1.120 OAL
Everglades 124gr JHPV2

1409
1359
1400
1418
SD 26...dang that '59

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This sort of data is what's making me think I may actually be achieving higher velocities like I mentioned. CFE Pistol is significantly slower than Power Pistol, so by virtue it should benefit velocity even more in long barrels. Either way, 1400fps alone is quite impressive.