JHZR2
Staff member
I saw the "micro" .38 spl rounds that are actually flat (bullet doesn't extend past the case) to minimize headspace in there and optimize powder burn. Unfortunately Cabela's was out, but I'm interested in trying them.
I was checking out the other defensive options, and noted the 150gr "micro" 9mm. Optimized for short barrels.
Then I saw this:
Seemed to not be that great from a Shield.
Lucky Gunner did better in an M&P9c
Only one of those seems to have a big channel. The rest may have expanded and stopped, but not necessarily did the same type of damage. Not sure if a gel block has some effect on that after the first firing.
It just seems to me to be counter intuitive to go heavier in a short barrel when the length of burn is minimized. Is the heavier bullet used for more length, so a trick like the micro .38 is applied in a bullet where length is necessary for feeding?
Seems to me that a 124gr would be minimum, with a 115 or even +P variants being better.
I know some on here have mentioned how modern ammo like HST and gold dots are so good that differences aren't really there. But I'd assume that's really for service size pistols (Interestingly, another test I saw showed that the 150gr micro bullets worked well in a full size).
So really, the interest to me is if anyone is aware of the real logic going heavy in a 9mm bullet optimized for micro bullets. I get 1/2 mv^2 and the fact that speed is essential for bullets to open up. So mass is not the major player here. Id have thought that a 115ish long, deep seated +p design would be best.
I was checking out the other defensive options, and noted the 150gr "micro" 9mm. Optimized for short barrels.
Then I saw this:
Seemed to not be that great from a Shield.
Lucky Gunner did better in an M&P9c
Only one of those seems to have a big channel. The rest may have expanded and stopped, but not necessarily did the same type of damage. Not sure if a gel block has some effect on that after the first firing.
It just seems to me to be counter intuitive to go heavier in a short barrel when the length of burn is minimized. Is the heavier bullet used for more length, so a trick like the micro .38 is applied in a bullet where length is necessary for feeding?
Seems to me that a 124gr would be minimum, with a 115 or even +P variants being better.
I know some on here have mentioned how modern ammo like HST and gold dots are so good that differences aren't really there. But I'd assume that's really for service size pistols (Interestingly, another test I saw showed that the 150gr micro bullets worked well in a full size).
So really, the interest to me is if anyone is aware of the real logic going heavy in a 9mm bullet optimized for micro bullets. I get 1/2 mv^2 and the fact that speed is essential for bullets to open up. So mass is not the major player here. Id have thought that a 115ish long, deep seated +p design would be best.