To Jim Watson: It doesn't have to be you...
Jim Watson said:
I think the "wbond challenge" pretty well spells out what needs to be done to go from theorizing to results. But what is keeping you from doing the work? Why me? A .32 H&R is capable of covering the velocity range of interest without much kick. I'd have to get Ransom Rest inserts for a particularly accurate pistol and do a lot of baseline chronograping to establish loads at, say, 25 fps increments to even get set up for the sub- trans- supersonic comparison.
Maybe oo7 will handle it.
It doesn't have to be you Jim. Did I say it had to be you? It could be anyone or a combination of people. Your post was only one of many challenging my theory that Sound Barrier vs Accuracy applies to handguns. The theory part being that it matters to handguns. No one disputes it matters for rifles at rifle distances.
There are many posts that disagree with me. Many that agree with me. Many that find it interesting but don't have an opinion.
I just think its time to do some tests. Your post was fine and I have no problem with you at all. The challenge is to everyone. I've heard the objections so many times, but no proof. Likewise I can't give any proof either.
None of us can offer proof at this time, which is why we need to test.
Why don't I do the testing? I can give you several good reasons for that:
1) I don't have time to learn to reload and don't have the interest.
2) I sold my house and now live in a one bed apt and don't have room to reload.
3) I already believe my theory is true. Furthermore, if I'm right, then following my velocity guidelines would be helpful. If I'm wrong, then following my velocity guidlines won't hurt anything. Either way I'm personally satisfied that I'm right and I can choose appropriate factory loads that suite my purposes just fine for anything I shoot.
4) It's true that the .32 Mag can be sub, trans, or super sonic from a 6" barrel. However, I have a 3" barrel. I could only do sub and trans. I'd never get adequately super sonic from a 3" barrel. Same with my 9x18.
5) I can't use a .38 Spl or 9mm to do the testing because I don't own them and my hands likely can't handle hotter loads in these. In fact, my hands might not even handle normal loads. My left hand is held together with 4 screws and my right hand has a party fused thumb and a totally fused wrist. I'm not willing to cripple myself further for a test.
OK. I could use a Ransom rest, but where am I going to get one and how much do they cost?
6) Since I'm held down to a .32M with 3" barrel or a 9x18 CZ-83, I basically have few velocity choices for my guns: 1070 fps or less with a 95 gr 9x18 bullet, or about 1100 fps or less from my .32 Mag. However, with the .32M I feel a lot of hand pain with hotter loads. I'm happy with 1050 fps from my 32M and my 9x18 for both recoil reasons and accuracy.
7) Even if we prove that a 9mm Para, .38 Spl, .40 cal, etc are better with various loads, I personally probably won't be able to benefit from that knowledge because my hands probably can't take it. For me personally, I'm going to be around 1050 fps from my .32M and my 9x18. The only difference ballistically between them is the bullet weights. .32M is 85 gr. 9x18 is 95 gr.
This whole discussion is academic for me because I'm not likely to shoot supersonic 9mm or .38 Spl and will certainly not be shooting a .40 cal.
However, there are many other people with 9mm, .38 Spl, .40 cal, .38 Super and others who might benefit substantially from the tests.
Jim, please don't be offended at the challenge. I meant to challenge everyone. I personally am interested, but not motivated to test myself, unless I used a .22 rifle shooting store bought .22 LR ammo to do it.