Old school 115 jhp 9mm loads in short barrel pistols?

[sidheshooter]

I seem to remember reading that some of the older defensive loads (Federal 9BP, Winny Silvertip and WWB 115 jhps) are regarded as loosing too much oomph from barrels under 4 inches. Any feel for the truth of that statement?

In years past, I used to shoot a lot of 9BP (proven, accurate, cheap), but these days my 9mms are all compacts with 3.5-ish tubes. Is it mandatory that I be looking at something else for last chance work, given all the newer options?

I want to stay away from +P+ (ie the big 3's 115 or the 127 Ranger-T), but have no issue with any current +P loadings, save for the fact that *regular* availability is still spotty. No sense buying 200 rounds for function test only to find that I can't get another 200 rounds for carry, or buying 500-1k rounds only to find that function or POA/POI is not up to standards...

I ask because the online dealers seem to always have lots of cheap 9BP around, and that was a favorite years ago before I got away from the cartridge for a decade and a half.

Opinions?

 

[M1key]

For defensive carry in my Glocks and XD 9mm pistols, I have no problem carrying any of the newer loads:

Barnes XPB 115gr HP (35515) loaded by Cor-Bon (DPX09115)
Winchester Partition Gold 124gr JHP (RA91P)
Winchester Ranger-T 124 gr +P JHP (RA9124TP)
Winchester Ranger-T 127gr JHP +P+ (RA9TA)
Winchester Ranger-T 147gr JHP (RA9T)
Winchester Bonded 147gr JHP (RA9B/Q4364)
Speer Gold Dot 124gr JHP +P (53617)
Speer Gold Dot 147gr JHP (53619)
Remington Golden Saber 147gr JHP (GS9MMC)
Federal Tactical 124gr JHP (LE9T1)
Federal Tactical 135gr JHP +P (LE9T5)
Federal HST 147gr JHP (P9HST2)

Most +P ammo loses surprisingly little velocity (and effectiveness) from 3.5" barrels.

M

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I've seen chronograph data from people who have actually fired them showing these loads in the ~975-1025 fps range from three-inch barrels, half an inch shorter than yours. I don't think this will hurt anything. .357 Magnums from 2-2 1/2 inch barrels (roughly the same length of rifled bore as a three-inch auto barrel) do little if any better. The price of low-end chronographs has fallen enough to make it feasible to do one's own testing. The 9BP is also one of my favorite loads, because I know it will work in everything.

 

[Steve C]

I have a Walther P1(P38) modified into a "K" or Gestapo version with a barrel that's been shortened to 2-3/4". Rounds I've chrono'd from my full size P1 with a 4.9" barrel vs the shorter 2.75" will loose from around 100 to 120 fps. The hand load I'd tested in these pistols was using Remington bulk 115gr JHP's which ballistics is pretty close to Remington's +P "Express" ammo leaving the muzzle +15' of the full size pistol at 1,257 fps did 1,139fps from the short barrel.

A velocity of 1000 + fps from the muzzle will ensure expansion for older style JHP's at typical pistol ranges so while the expansion may not be as quick or violent as from a full size service pistol barrel the typical 115gr JHP should work fine and give a little more penetration from a shorter barrel.

FYI:

Winchester 115gr standard velocity USA and Silver Tip JHP's are listed at 1,225 fps 4" barrel.
Speer standard velocity Gold Dot 115gr JHP's are listed at 1,225 fps 4" barrel. (+P @ 1,300 fps)
Federal standard velocity Classic 115gr JHP are 1,180 fps.

All of which should be over 1,000 fps from a short barrel.