PM40 and 135gr

[DeeDubya]

Has anyone tried 135 gr DoubleTap or Fed Guard Dog in their PM40 or CM40? The lightest I've tried is 155 gr and they function fine. I'm just trying to find a lighter bullet with a little less recoil. I think the DoubleTaps are full house loads and the Guard Dogs are reduced loads. They might not function with the heavy spring.

[jimsea]

So far I have shot 135gr to 180gr and everything in between without issue.

The 135gr shot thus far are Federal Premium Hydroshok and some Federal low recoil Flat nose. Both shoot fine with no issues. I will mix it up in the mag with low recoil and regular rounds and there really isn't much difference IMO.

[DeeDubya]

Thanks, good to know. I'll try a few different bullet weights for comparison. In this gun, functionalty is most important, followed by recoil control, followed by accuracy.

[jimsea]

While not specific to 135gr, this is some good reading on .40 bullet weights.

http://greent.com/40Page/ammo/40/180gr.htm

[DeeDubya]

I never really considered the higher pressures using the 180's, but just read an article on bullet setback in CCW handguns. G&A's current edition Handguns "Thin is In" has a very detailed and complete chart on the effects of bullet setback from repeatedly loading/unloading a carry gun. I've got a bunch of 180's on the shelf. Guess I'll shoot them in the big pistols. They do knock down the steel pepper poppers better though.

[jimsea]

This data can be useful too.

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/40sw.html

....according to the chart, out of a 3" barrel the 135gr low recoil is roughly same speed as your regular 165gr hollow points (around 1085 fps).

Ballistically, the 165gr sounds like a better round.......at least on paper.

[muggsy]

Has anyone tried 135 gr DoubleTap or Fed Guard Dog in their PM40 or CM40? The lightest I've tried is 155 gr and they function fine. I'm just trying to find a lighter bullet with a little less recoil. I think the DoubleTaps are full house loads and the Guard Dogs are reduced loads. They might not function with the heavy spring.

Lighter bullets don't always correlate to less recoil. Velocity must also be taken into consideration. Perceived recoil might be less with a slower heavier bullet. Light fast projectiles tend to produce a sharper sensation while a slower heavier bullet produces more of a push. Light bullets with reduced powder charges produce the least recoil.

[wyntrout]

This data can be useful too.

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/40sw.html

....according to the chart, out of a 3" barrel the 135gr low recoil is roughly same speed as your regular 165gr hollow points (around 1085 fps).

Ballistically, the 165gr sounds like a better round.......at least on paper.

I saw a Speer ballistics chart somewhere... once... but couldn't find it again. The 165-GD's would shoot a bit farther, so I chose them. I really like the Short Barrel versions of 9mm and .45, so I just received an order of GDSB from Ammo to Go and I just threw in 100 rounds of the 180-grain GDSB to try in my Mag-na-ported P40. I'll post some pictures comparing that to the regular GD's. From first glance, the 180-gr GDSBs look like the 230-gr .45's... flying ashtrays... same treatment with wider, but shallower cavity to improve expansion out of shorter barrels, as with our Kahrs.

I plan to take my P9 with the Kahr ported barrel and the ported P40 to the range for some flash testing... I can't do penetration or velocity and my accuracy is shaky offhand... at least that's my story... that and my aging eyes. Maybe I can do that tomorrow, now that most of my shipments are in.

Wynn

[Short Bus]

If your looking to reduce recoil, why not change to a heavier recoil spring?

http://www.gunsprings.com/index.cfm?...s&cID=1&mID=29

[DeeDubya]

Lighter bullets don't always correlate to less recoil. Velocity must also be taken into consideration. Perceived recoil might be less with a slower heavier bullet. Light fast projectiles tend to produce a sharper sensation while a slower heavier bullet produces more of a push. Light bullets with reduced powder charges produce the least recoil.

Yep, the DoubleTap 135 grainers are very snappy in the PM40. Uncomfortable actually and extremely loud. I'm trying Rem 165gr Golden Saber next... After that I've got at least 10 different brands of 180gr. I've got a G24C (comped barrel) that will shoot anything so the DoubleTaps won't be wasted.