Guns & Ammo TV Feature on 9mm Subsonic Ammo

[JDR]

There was a really good feature this week on Black Hills 9mm 147 gr. FMJ subsonic ammo on Guns & Ammo TV. They mentioned that subsonic is usually intended for suppressor use, but there are benefits using it without a supressor as well. I haven't used the Black Hills (I can't find it) but I've used many types of factory subsonic with my STI Trojan 9mm. Recoil with the Fed AE subsonic 9mm is really soft and its very accurate at indoor target distances.

So, who else has used subsonic 9mm at the range & how do you like it?

 

[wally]

Any 147gr 9mm ammo will be subsonic unless its seriously overpressure. I pretty much only shoot 147 gr 9mm ammo unless I'm using cheap Wolf/Tula steel or Federal/CCI aluminum ammo.

The lower muzzle blast contributes to lower perceived recoil, and a large part of a flinch is a loud sound.

 

[Wil Terry]

The 9MM ammunition called " subsonic " to somehow arouse the interest of 9MM shooters is a come-on. Look at it this way: 9MM subsonic is nothing but an autoloading 38SPL that still tosses your precious brass in all the weeds and rattlesnake holes !! IF...IF, you are going to shoot the old 9MM PARABELLUM pistol cartridge you want ALL it is capable of in spades, and nothing less it seems to me.
And so it goes...

 

[Surculus]

Look at it this way: 9MM subsonic is nothing but an autoloading 38SPL that still tosses your precious brass in all the weeds and rattlesnake holes

The vast majority of shooters don't reload: obviously, they do not consider their spent brass "precious."

And since 9mmP doesn't have any superior performance record than .38S&W Spec., what does it matter if you're comparing 124gr 9mm @ 1100fps, 147gr 9mm @ 950fps, or 158gr RNL .38 [nominal: it's 9mm fer crying out loud!] @ 850fps?

Yes, there are better loads than others, & better performing bullets, but the reality is that reports from the field have shown the 9mm subs to be pretty effective, as 9mm ammo goes. Once you realize the 350yd ladder sight setting on the BHP El Capitan is just for grins & use the handgun as designed, the heavy subsonic 9mm round doesn't give up anything to the lighter&faster 9mm crowd.

 

[Chuck R.]

Any 147gr 9mm ammo will be subsonic unless its seriously overpressure. I pretty much only shoot 147 gr 9mm ammo unless I'm using cheap Wolf/Tula steel or Federal/CCI aluminum ammo.

The lower muzzle blast contributes to lower perceived recoil, and a large part of a flinch is a loud sound.

Same here, I'm pretty much sold on 147 grain 9mm, carry either Speer GDs or REM Golden Sabers. I also reload 147 grain cast, either lubed or coated.

To me at least the 147 grain 9mm feels like a .45ACP compared to a .40, it's a push rather than a snappy recoil. I feel like I'm back on target faster. According to ballistic testing, the modern 147 grain loads expand as well as their lighter counterparts, unlike the earlier subsonic loads. They also seem to penetrate a little deeper.

IF you reload, there are a couple powders that will let you safely get into the 1000+ range with 147s . For instance V 3N38 is listed as getting to 1207 FPS out of a 4" test barrel. I've personally use N350 to get 1050 out of my 4" Walther PPQ.

Chuck

 

[Rock185]

I don't have a suppressor, but have used a fair amount of 9MM 147 grain ammo in various pistols, including the STI Trojan. All the standard pressure 147 I have used, various manufacturer's RN ball, flat point and hollow point, has been very soft shooting and accurate. Very similar to .38 Spcl. 158 grain at ~850 FPS to me. I like the 147 alright for plinking, but prefer 115 or 124 for other uses. At 25 yards, the 147 grain, at ~900-1000 FPS, shoots to a different POI than the lighter weights for me.

The 147 +P JHP that CorBon used to load was kind of interesting. It averaged 1100+ FPS in most 4" to 5" barreled pistols, and right at 1200 FPS in the Browning GP Comp with 5.9" barrel.

 

[Panzerschwein]

9mm Para standard presh is still far more powerful and effective than .38 special +P.

 

[Thermactor]

The 147 +P JHP that CorBon used to load was kind of interesting. It averaged 1100+ FPS in most 4" to 5" barreled pistols, and right at 1200 FPS in the Browning GP Comp with 5.9" barrel.

That's pretty potent