(Let’s not start a caliber war, and keep this strictly to the 9mm) Picked up my new glock 43x the other day. Feels great, shoots better. This is going to be my new all around carry pistol. I’m thinking I will also use this for woods carry. I hike regularly, fly fish, ski in the backcountry, camp. Yes I know 9mm is not always ideal. But this gun is the one I will be the most apt to have on me at all times. A small gun with you, is better than a big gun at home. I have a 629 s&w I load with 300gr hardcasts, and a .357 586 s&w I load 158s pretty hot in. Both great guns, but they are large enough where I have to ‘think’ about carrying them and because of that, often I don’t. Also both are definitely not concealable. I’m debating using the same 138gr Federal HP ammo. Or loading a Keith style 147gr bullet.
I’m debating using the same 138gr Federal HP ammo. Or loading a Keith style 147gr bullet. i didn't know there was a 9mm keith style bullet but i would get this https://shieldarms.com/glock-43x-48-15-round-mag have one for my G48 works great
stick with the hollow point if it functions well. get good with that load and try not to shoot moose. luck, murf
Good luck getting a 147 gr Keith style SWC loaded into a 9mm case. The SWC bullet style just doesn't do well in the 9mm. Most of them are too long, thus must be seated deeper, which swages down the base of the bullet. I've got a variety of 125-145 gr SWC molds and not one of those bullet will work in 9mm. 38 Super....they work quite well.
I'm thinking anything all lead is going to have a hard time navigating the feed ramp of an auto loader. If SWCs run thru yours, all the better, but if I had to choose, I'd take the SJHP or JHP, every time. S&B makes an easy feeding JHP, in 9mm. But it's only 115 grain.
Many 9mm pistols will handle .357/.358 bullets. And they can also be sized down a little to work. OP, many 147 gr 9mm bullets have a flat nose that could be close to a Keith-type flat nose. I'm not sure that anything hit with it could tell much difference. And there are flat nose 147 gr FMJ bullets that could be used as well. So, there are some options out there.
Will a Glock reliably function with a SWC? I also thought that they discouraged reloads in their products....
Yes, using handloads in a Glock will void the warranty. There's no reason why SWCs wouldn't run in a Glock.
You can get close. https://noebulletmolds.com/site/product-category/355-9mm/358-128-swc-aw2 https://www.mp-molds.com/product/15895/ Saeco and H&G also made SWC molds in the 9mm size.
Compromise. How about a HP that penetrates toward the deep end of 12-18'' penetration, like 18-19 inches. https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/ 147 HST +P - Winchester 147 Train & Defend - Speer 124 Gold Dot - 124 Gold Dot Short Barrel +P In the event of SD against a two legged threat, most dangerous animal on the planet, those are good choices. Also, the term "caliber war" has been phased out (should be), its a caliber discussion.
There is such a thing as a 9mm semiwadcutter. https://bayoubullets.net/9mm-150-gr-swc/ Might feed in your gun, might not. But it is not a Keith SWC. Elmer Keith had some very specific criteria and it is not feasible to put them all into a bullet for an automatic.
If you are worried about a moose, then a shotgun loaded with slugs or a big game rifle. I would start at .35 Whelen, .350 Remington or even the .45-70 and that would be a start. Jim
What are you most likely to encounter? Wouldn't that dictate your ammo choice? One certainly can change out the ammo easily enough. EDC, definitely the JHP. Tromping thru the Canadian wilderness during the moose rut or calving season, maybe a hard cast or FMJ. Being a fixed sighted gun, I'd be concerned with finding ammo that shoots to POA consistently. If it really were moose I was worried about, I'd certainly "think" again about the 629, convenient or not. I have good chest rigs for my 629s that work just fine when the need is there.
The MBC 9mm 125 SWC works very well in my Kimber 9mm 1911, but even that bullet needs to sit deep in the case, limiting room for powder, which limits your top end. Heavier bullets of any sort won't have much velocity. If it has to be a 9, I would recommend a cast/coated 125 flat point loaded long, and push it as fast as possible with a slow powder.
I have not tried my 43 or my CW9 but my old P85 shot the RCBS 38-150KT like a dream. Gonna try it in my "little three" CW, 43, and EC9.
I was under the assumption that Glock polygonal rifling would not shoot lead bullets. Do the 43 and 48 not have the polygonal rifling?
As to the bullets. I can share my experiences with. 357 Keith swc vs deer. Not good. Pencil sized holes through and through. It takes a while to bleed out a double lung shot 120lb doe with a pencil sized hole. I compared it to shooting a deer with a field point arrow, which I would never do. Now, to be fair.... I never lost a deer that I shot. It just took a while to find them. If you're going to use a medium bore like .357 or 9mm, you better use a premium hp, and you had better push it fast enough to get your expansion and penetration. Imho I like my 9mm and I have had combat training specifically for 9mm. There are drills intended to overcome body armor that should be sufficient for larger animals as well, heaven forbid. I too, often have my 9mm ccw when I take to the field or water or trail. I have trained with it, have good holsters for it. My ears dont hurt when I shoot it without my earplugs. My ammo? Federal HST.
