Hi All…
I have to agree and disagree with Erich a bit. I agree that unless the ammo works reliably in your pistol it is not a good choice. That said, as an engineer, I feel that the best way to evaluate the effectiveness of a bullet is by testing a wide variety under tightly controlled laboratory conditions.
I respect that Erich has investigated actual shootings, but actual shootings happen in the field, where conditions are largely unknown. What kind of round was used and what kind of pistol was it shot from? How long was the barrel? Was the pistol in good or poor condition? What was the shot person wearing? It was probably different than what other shot persons were wearing. Was a barrier involved? How old was the ammo? This all barely scratches the surface. Because all these things vary greatly from shooting to shooting, it’s not possible to determines what rounds are more effective based upon examining this data.
Karl has also told me he carries silvertips. The silvertip tests as a less effective round than Speer GDHP, Winchester RA9T or Federal Tactical, which are the two best self defense rounds available (per laboratory testing). The newer rounds designed like these utilize bonded bullets and the highest quality cases and primers.
These are my choices, but my initial testing showed frequent failures to feed with all these rounds. I was particularly disappointed with the failures from the RA9T, since this non +P round tests as well as P+ competitors. At 147gr, this round creates much less felt recoil and lighter bullets.
I did send the pistol back along with samples of this ammo. They did some minor work on it, sent it back and it still failed for me. So maybe it is my fault. I can accept that. If I shoot the pistol carefully I don’t get the failures. In a stress fire situation, I won’t be checking my grip.
So, my pistol has silvertips in it right now. I have never had a silvertip fail. However, I do wish I could RA9T or GDHP or Federal Tactical.
Someone asked where a cheap source of practice ammo is. Well, if your pistol shots Speer GDHP reliably, you can practice with what you carry. Ammoman frequently has reclassified 9mm Speer GDHP for the same cost as good range ammo. Check out:
http://www.ammoman.com Someone on this forum in nearby CT generously offered to let me come shoot his R9. I have not yet taken him up on that, but I plan to before cold sets in. I’ll let him shoot mine as well, so we can see if it is the pistol or my shooting.
Richard mentioned the “heavy and slow” theory. I firmly agree. I am in the heavy and slow camp, hence my like of 147gr bullets.
You guys have properly identified the Seecamp .32 issue. That pistol was actually designed around that round. Winchester recently changed the length of that round, spoiling the Seecamp .32. As someone said, this is well discussed on their website.
Finally, a comment about why the silvertips seem to work. I think it is because they are much pointier and thinner at the very tip then other rounds. Other rounds are shorter and flatter than the silvertip. I think this is the difference. IIRC, Karl told me this as well.
Jim
