most reliable cartridge?

[USPCompact45]

I want to know what you think about what the most reliable cartridge is regarding the 9mm, 357 sig and the 45 acp.

I'm not discussing which one has the most power, but I just want to know which one has less kb, failure to eject and failure to feed particularly in glocks or hks but any center-fire pistol would be good. I hear that the 40 is least reliable but the 357sig fires at higher pressure.

My next purchase would depend on reliability and I have shot all three many times.

 

[dakotasin]

never had a problem w/ any of them. reliability is more dependant upon the platform than the cartridge... a good gun will work, regardless of chambering.

don't get worked up about pressure. it is neither good nor bad - it just is.

you need pressure to send a bullet down a barrel, and more pressure gets more speed. you only hear about pressure when there is too much or too little.

 

[entropy]

A good make gun with reliable factory ammo should be utterly reliable in any caliber. Since you mentioned H&K and .45ACP, an H&K in .45ACP would be an excellent choice.

 

[AZ Jeff]

Since the firearm in which a particular cartridge is fired has so much influence on the "reliability" metrics you mention, your question is moot.

It's not the cartridge that makes the reliability. Nor is it the firearm. It's the COMBINATION of the firearm AND the cartridge that makes for the reliability.

 

[MoeMentum]

All of the above.

 

[richyoung]

AFAIK, there is no difference in PRIMER RELIABILITY between the cartridges you mention, especially with factory (i.e. - "sealed") ammo. So long as:

1. The primer reliably ignites the powder charge - (not a problem AFAIK..)
2. The primer DOESN'T ignite out of battery from contact with a floating firing pin or extractor hook...
3. The design of the case is sufficient for the pressures generated - (no "++P" loads in old "balloon head" .45 Auto Rim, for example)
4. The outer dimensions of the round stay within specs, and don't incorporate any reliability killers like rebated rims, heel-type bullets, overly soft bullet noses, unusual bullet profiles, etc.
5. Generates enough recoil or gas pressure to cycle the action when used in an arm using that type of action,
6. doesn't generate SO MUCH gas pressure or recoil so as to inhibit rapid follow-up shots or batter the action of the arm...
7. Has a comparatively reasonable report and muzzle flash, especially if you may use it at night,...
8. doesn't generate corrosive combustion residue, and
9. Is comparatively at least "moderate" when it comes to powder fouling and bullet shavings...

then any reliability issues are with the platform, not the round. Some rounds, (.41 Action Express comes to mind) may need more tweeking in a platform to be reliable, but once there, there should be no difference.

 

[iamkris]

In other words, there really isn't such a thing as a reliable cartridge in relation to the three you presented.

 

[jkswiss]

I know in the XD case, it seems that the 40SW does seem to have more of the problems. The HS2000 was orginally designed for the 9mm cartridge and later adapted to 40SW. Thats probably why we had some teething issues.

I suppose that caliber reliability all depends on your gun, and what it was originally designed for. The Glock 23(40SW) is pretty notorious for Kabooms due to their unsupported chamber. I haven't heard anything about kabooms in any other of Glocks models though.

If I had to pick, I would pick the 9mm for reliability. I haven't heard too many horror stories about 9mm while browsing various forums.

 

[Control Group]

If I had to pick, I would pick the 9mm for reliability. I haven't heard too many horror stories about 9mm while browsing various forums.

Of course it's safer - the 9mm is an underpowered round.

*ducks*




(for the record, the only handguns I own are a 9mm and a .22LR)

 

[Moonclip]

I've heard the theory put forward that the 357 sig is a reliability prone cartridge because the bottleneck profile promotes feed reliability.

 

[Topgun]

Agree with .357 SIG. Bottleneck ctgs are almost always the easiest to feed since the bullet enters a HUGE hole and the rest of the case usually just follows. Ala .30 Luger. Take a Luger that is a design inherently prone to ammo preference and if it's a .30, it works just fine.