PMC ammo. I feel cheated.

Status
Not open for further replies.
T

TestPilot

Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2006
Messages
976
I buy ammo to train, meaning the training ammo need to be equal or at least close to what I shoot for security use at least in power.

I use Winchester USA in 40S&W in 165 gr because it is very close. I ran out of it, so I bought some PMC 40S&W.

Then I find out that this stuff is only rated at 358 ft.lbs.

Even Speer GDHP 9mm 124gr is rated higher than that. How am I supposed to train for recoil control of a 40S&W with that?

What a waste of my money. :mad:
 
Option 1: Use it for the part of your shooting that is not about recoil control. Practice the draw and single shot. Practice target transitions. Practice shooting groups at relatively longer ranges.

Option 2: Remember that in other sports, training with something different than the in-game equipment is often considered beneficial. Golfers often swing clubs that are weighted heavier than those used in the game, but also clubs (or just shafts with no clubhead at all) that are lighter. The heavier one builds strength, the lighter one teaches your body what it feels like to go fast. Shooting lighter-recoil rounds for a while probably won't slow you down as far as recoil management goes. In fact, it may get you used to going faster. You might pick up something new about tracking the sights, etc., that you can carry over even when you get back to ammo with stouter recoil.

And if this kind of stuff really matters to you, you can always start reloading. Then you're not dependent on what brands of ammo are in stock, how they've loaded that batch, etc.
 
Have you even shot it yet? I but the difference in feel is WAY less then you're believing it's going to be.

I shoot lots of PMC and never had an issue.
 
I but the difference in feel is WAY less then you're believing it's going to be.
Click to expand...

Becareful where you bet.

Winchester Ranger RA40T 180gr is rated around 420 ft.lbs.
Speer GDHP 40S&W 165 dr is rated around 480 ft.lbs.

I definitely feel the difference. Do not just ignore that "on paper" stuff.
 
Option 1: Use it for the part of your shooting that is not about recoil control. Practice the draw and single shot. Practice target transitions. Practice shooting groups at relatively longer ranges.
Click to expand...

That's what I plan to do anyway.

It was just not usable for the session I bought it for because I was testing how secure my grip was in regards to recoil, especially in firing pairs.
 
Winchester Ranger RA40T 180gr is rated around 420 ft.lbs.
Speer GDHP 40S&W 165 dr is rated around 480 ft.lbs.
Click to expand...

You're not exactly comparing apples to apples, here.

The Ranger is roughly equivalent to the old Black Talon, while the Speer GoldDot (like the Ranger) is considered a premium self-defense ammo. Both are noticeably hotter than the typical 165 gr. or 180 gr. range fodder used for practice and function testing.
 
I buy ammo to train, meaning the training ammo need to be equal or at least close to what I shoot for security use at least in power.
Click to expand...

You will be as well served using a .22 LR pistol to train with as using "the gun you carry".

The power of the ammo and the recoil is not an element of being a good shot other than learning to ignore it and to bringing your sights back on target regardless of the amount of movement caused by the recoil of the handgun. Recoil is just something that "happens" regardless of type of ammo. You cannot overcome recoil, trying to do so just throws your shots off target. Breaking your wrist up or pulling down in anticipation of recoil is a common fault.

The Army marksmanship manual describes what is needed for accuracy quiet well as:

ALIGN THE SIGHTS PROPERLY ON THAT PART OF THE TARGET REQUIRED FOR YOUR GROUP TO CENTER IN THE TARGET AREA AND CAUSE THE HAMMER TO FALL WITHOUT DISTURBING THAT ALIGNMENT.
All elements of pistol shooting such as position, grip, sight alignment, breath control, trigger control, physical condition, and psychology of shooting, when perfected, simply enables the shooter to perform the action described in the above key sentence.
Click to expand...
 
Elevated heart rate, lack of "eyes & ears" and the surge of adrenalin that accompanies the "oh $&*t" mode when the balloon goes up... I doubt you'll feel much of the recoil of even the hottest loads. Go ahead and train with what you have and focus on the fundamentals.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top