Reeder Custom Guns - Carry Gun Calibers

After reading about 45 ACP JHP failure, started thinking about 38/357/9MMs in typical carry guns. We usually look at them in terms of the performance of expanding JHPs, but if that's not reliable enough, does going to lightweight .40+ guns make sense for carry?

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Use Hardball ammo...

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If you are going to use hardball ammo use one with a flat point, like Nosler 230 gr .451.

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Col. Askins' book and he mentioned something about shooting a 9 mm FMJ military hardball and it went through several German soldiers who were approaching in a line.

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I find the 9mm FMJ about totally useless, a .22 LR RF lead seems to have more hit effects on even bunny rabbits. Doug was issued some FMJ TC flat tips in Afghanistan (administrative duty) for his issue Beretta, still I'd rate them only over the 124 gr. RN FMJ in 9mm.

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http://www.brassfetcher.com/FBI%20Ammunition%20Protocol/FBI%20Ammunition%20Protocol.html

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JHPs in all calibers and gone with hard ball in my 45s and 9mms. That long diatribe about bullet expansion doesn't make any sense. It shows more penetration for a bullet after going thru heavy clothing and then the gelatin over just bare gelatin. That doesn't make any sense at all. I would personally forget any of those "ballistic tests" and stay with what you know and what works in your handgun.

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It actually was a bow hunt he was invited to but he wanted and got permission to use a handgun. All he had was a 4" S&W 686 .357. I offered to loan him a more proper gun but he was insistent, it was "his" gun. We actually drilled and tapped his 686 for the modern S&W base under the rear sight through the topstrap. I used the base as a pilot guide. Loaned him the mounts and a 2X Simmons scope. It looked good. We loaded him some 180 gr. LBT style FNGC cast bullets we made using Lilgun at 1250-1300 fps. Not too shabby for a .357.

On the "Bow" hunt all these young 20-somethings had their fancy bows and were also packing .40's and 9mm carry guns with JHPs. Ray got his hog easily much to my relief, it laid the 250 lb. piggy low and quick. The other "boys" were hunting up Ray to borrow his "Hand cannon" to finish off their arrow'd and shot up pigs. The .40 and 9mm JHP would expand in the thick hide and not make it into the inner body cavity where the sensitive blood filled organs were. Modern broadheads are pretty serious but intended only to hemorrhage and bleed out the critter. One poorly places can be surprisingly ineffective just like a poorly placed bullet.

Ray's .357 4" accounted for 8-9 hogs in total, coup-de-gras, that weekend. The hot little 180 gr. FN cast pill had the speed and sectional density to punch through the hide and perhaps shoulder bones to put those piggys down for good. I have no doubt with different bullets the .40s and 9s would have done it too, but not with the fancy carry ammo they had them loaded with. I personally have always considered the .357 minimal for deer and would have not (still don't) carry on purpose for hogs and black bear. But it did the trick fine in this case.

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The deeper penetration is due to clogged hp's that perform like fmj

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and cannot penetrate as deeply as the heavier bullets.

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I like the 16 oz. Kahr polymer frame series, wish they held more rounds but then they'd not be thin. I like the trigger feel and they are the smallest and lightest I've found. A .40 in one kicks enough to sting your hand, not very conducive to quality range time. That's why they are super cheap in resale. A .45 though, in the same platform, is more manageable, my 24 oz. G30s is fine and holds 11 totally loaded. But the .45 has only so much velocity for that big punkin ball. Maybe 200 gr. loads at 1000 fps would fare better? A slightly larger gun is the G29 in 10mm Auto. Only about 0.250" thicker but it feels like a fat brick. Crazy how that little can really make a gun feel obese.

It's hard to have your cake and eat it too. The high performance 9mm is something I really consider. Performance meets or exceeds old published .38 Super performance in even shorter barrels (3.5 vs 5"). A 147 gr. at 1000 fps is easy. 124's +P do 1200+ from 3.5". I truly like the feel of the G43X and 48, and the M&P Shield and Sig 365 catch my fancy too. I'm sure the Taurus Gary likes is a great rig. I prefer guns with metal triggers but about everyone is going to poly. (shocked my $$$ Beretta 92A1 is plastic) Trying to go to a bigger caliber in that small a package reduces rounds carried and really changes shootability for me. I'm not a big fan of the 9mm but I hate to admit it. I shoot it better and it delivers the goods. A round that diameter and weight, at that speed delivers very good penetration. If you go too much lighter you'd risk over expansion and less penetration. Perhaps good for self defense but not against bears in fur coats, or hogs. The 147 gr. 9mm would do pretty well and is close to the old .38/44 S&W HD loading, given equal barrels and like bullet types. I sometimes use less expensive 147 gr. JHP in my FN-HP or Beretta for "farm" use. It does not expand on Armadillos I can tell you that. Both clock close to 1100 fps from the 5" barrels. Home cast slugs can beat that by 100 fps.

For dual use against predators, both 2 and 4 legged this brings in a BIG argument for the quality revolver. However a good 9mm with proper loads or a .45 with tough bullets and top loads, .40, 10mm with over 180 gr. bullets will all do a job if you are up to it. Stuff is just going to happen in the real world.

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many bad guy ... or a deer .. has fallen to the little .22 Long Rifle. And there have been spectacular failures with the larger calibers including the .44 Magnum.

If you have never seen it, watch this video ..DEADLY EFFECTS: WHAT BULLETS DO TO BODIES

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AhcuLWIe3A

It is VERY graphic.

And yes, it made back in the 1980's but it is still relevant.

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