That post is about 7 months old now. Need to update it with some new guns and ammo, but no time at the moment. I also want to do a side-by-side comparison of similar ammo from a "full size" 9mm gun and a "subcompact" .40 gun .... I'm curious how much difference an inch or so of barrel length makes and whether (if I can conceal it) I'm better off carrying my G17 that I use for CHL instruction and IDPA shooting or my G27 ..... basically want to find out if a full size 9mm makes up for its "weaker" ammo vs. .40 by adding barrel length.
Here's what I keep loaded in my various guns:
.380 (LCP) - Hornady Critical Defense (the ONLY ammo I've actually tested that I found gave borderline acceptable results - but have not tested much).
.38 Special (S&W J-frame Airweight) - Winchester Bonded PDX1 +P and Speer Gold Dot +P - don't remember the grain weights, but I think they're both around 130 grain
9mm - Speer Gold Dot 124-grain +P "short barrel" in my Walther PPS; Winchester Bonded PDX1 124-grain +P and Speer Gold Dot "regular" 124 +P in my Glock
.40 (Glock) - Winchester Bonded PDX1, Speer Gold Dot ("regular" and "short barrel" version depending on gun), some Cor Bon too but (DPX, I think?) .... also have some Winchester Ranger in the safe but haven't used it yet.
12 gauge - Federal 00 buckshot with "flight control wad" - 4-inch spread from short barrel at distance of 15 yards OUCH!
.223 (1/8 twist 16-inch barrel AR) - Hornady TAP 55 grain for PD; Federal 69-grain Match for pinpoint target shooting.
.308 (1/10 twist Savage bolt action) - Federal 150-grain Wal Mart maroon box specials - consistently one MOA or better if I do my part
.22LR (Ruger 10/22 and Advantage Arms Glock conversion) - Remington Golden Bullet (never ever had a feed problem with this round in either gun).
I like the Winchester Bonded PDX1 line because it performs well in my tests, gets high marks from "professional tests" and is readily available at Wal Mart and Academy. The Speer Gold Dots I pick up as often as I can dirt cheap at GT Distributors whenever they allow us mere civilians to buy the good stuff ..... $22 per 50 rounds of top of the line Gold Dots in 9mm or .40 is a price that can't be beat.
*wow, I have too many guns
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