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Rohrbaugh Products and Accessories => Rohrbaugh R9 (all variations) => Topic started by: tyler2you on November 08, 2005, 09:46:38 AM

Title: Any Defensive Ammo that Shoots to Point of Aim?
Post by: tyler2you on November 08, 2005, 09:46:38 AM
Hi all,

I just got my R9S and tried out 3 kinds of defensive ammo at the range.  I tried Federal 105 gr EFMJ, 124 gr Rem Golden Sabers, and 124 gr Speer Gold Dots.  All of them shot anywhere from 6 to 8 inches high at the 10 yd line and accuracy wasn't great.

When I tried the Winchester White Box, they shot to point of aim and were very accurate.

Is it just me, or does anyone else experience high shots with this type of ammo?  Any recommendations on something better?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Any Defensive Ammo that Shoots to Point of Aim
Post by: Iorndealer on November 08, 2005, 10:29:46 AM
tyler2you,

I've found that my gun as the round count increases so does the accuracy!  I belive that a breakin of 50 rounds should get the pup shooting into the black.
Title: Re: Any Defensive Ammo that Shoots to Point of Aim
Post by: Aglifter on November 08, 2005, 11:14:56 AM
147 gr. hydrshocks grouped and aimed wonderfully for me -- I was shooting at 25 ft, though -- some people have had problems w. them behaving -- and I didn't remember to check for key holing -- my assumption is that if the Bros. R recommend silvertips, they probably are pretty accurate out of the pup
Title: Re: Any Defensive Ammo that Shoots to Point of Aim
Post by: R9SCarry on November 08, 2005, 03:03:32 PM
I forget without checking but - did find some differences (see link to ammo testing on my FAQ site).

My pup (both actually) tend to shoot low and left a bit but that could well be my personal grip technique - anyways it is not really enough to matter for me.  I do seem to recall ball ammo was better re POA-POI.

Because I see this gun as pretty much a very close range piece - I do not expect or feel I need total POA-POI parity.
Title: Re: Any Defensive Ammo that Shoots to Point of Aim
Post by: tyler2you on November 08, 2005, 08:49:07 PM
Thanks everyone--I'll have to give the Silvertips a try.
Title: Re: Any Defensive Ammo that Shoots to Point of Aim
Post by: EdMan on November 09, 2005, 12:47:52 AM
tyler2you,
I see you have tried the 124gr Speer GDHPs, but have you tried the 115gr Speer GDHPs? I use these in my R-9S and I find them to be very acurate. Also they expand well, with good penetration, when fired through 2 layers of denim into wet telephone books. I find the Speers to be quite a bit less expensive that the Silver Tips.
Good luck in your ammo quest.

Ed
Title: Re: Any Defensive Ammo that Shoots to Point of Aim
Post by: tyler2you on November 09, 2005, 01:08:55 AM
Thanks Ed,

I haven't had any luck finding the 115 gr GDHPs locally.

I may have to order some.
Title: Re: Any Defensive Ammo that Shoots to Point of Aim
Post by: EdMan on November 09, 2005, 11:15:18 AM
Tyler2you,
I got mine online from natcheszz.com or wholesalehunter.com. I've tried Midway but they won't ship any ammo to Cincinnati, Ohio. They say it's against Fed BATF rules. Which is very strange because 6 other on line stores have shipped ammo to me with no problem. I've also been on the BATF site and I can not find anything there that prohibits Midway from selling me ammo. I guess they just don't want my business. So I don't use their web store for anything. That's OK though because I've found ammo at other more cooperitive sites that is less expensive. So they actualy did me a favor by "driving me away."

Ed
Title: Re: Any Defensive Ammo that Shoots to Point of Aim
Post by: sslater on November 09, 2005, 12:47:09 PM
Last week I fired 124 gr. Speer GDHP and 115 gr. Blazer Brass FMJ at 10 yards.  (They are owned by the same company.)  Both shot to point of aim.  I had several groups - nice round ones at that - of 1 1/2".   Very good for me :)!  I did it sitting down instead of the usual standing because my back was killing me.
My R9S has 250 rounds thru it.  
Title: Re: Any Defensive Ammo that Shoots to Point of Aim
Post by: EdMan on November 09, 2005, 08:47:04 PM
sslater,
Good Shooting! I like the CCI/Speer products. I have even had good luck with their Blazer ammo. I don't reload at this time so I don't need the brass. I got a case of CCI/Blazer 9mm 115gr FMJ online at Natchezss.com for about $94 plus shipping. Thats about $4.70 for a box of 50. I just checked their site and I don't see the special case price I bought mine for, but it is still a good deal at $4.77 a box of 50.:)

Ed
Title: Re: Any Defensive Ammo that Shoots to Point of Aim
Post by: tyler2you on November 12, 2005, 11:57:28 PM
Well, I think I found a winner.  This is 13 shots from my R9S at 10 yards.  115 gr Winchester Silvertips.

Still a touch high, but I think I can live with it ;D
(http://users.adelphia.net/~tyler2you/silvertips.JPG)
Title: Re: Any Defensive Ammo that Shoots to Point of Aim
Post by: sslater on November 13, 2005, 12:22:22 AM
Quote
Well, I think I found a winner.  This is 13 shots from my R9S at 10 yards.  115 gr Winchester Silvertips.

tyler2you:
That'll do! for government work!  Nice shooting!  I may try Silvertips.  They used to be my favorite carry load, but I switched to Gold Dots when I got my R9S.  The first two hundred rounds worked fine.  Then I changed recoil spring and have been less than pleased with the Gold Dot's feeding.  

Steve
Title: Re: Any Defensive Ammo that Shoots to Point of Aim
Post by: tyler2you on November 13, 2005, 12:30:32 AM
Forgot to mention--I also tried out a magazine full of 147 gr Rem Golden Sabers.  Won't make that mistake again.  I had 3 failure to feeds in that one mag.  They kept getting hung up on the feed ramp and jamming the slide open.  A sharp rap on the back of the slide fixed the problem, but I won't be carrying these.

I guess each gun has it's favorite load.  The Golden Sabers are the round of choice for my Kahr PM40.  They are extremely accurate and function flawlessly.  That pistol hates Federal Hydrashoks for some reason.

Title: Re: Any Defensive Ammo that Shoots to Point of Aim
Post by: R9SCarry on November 13, 2005, 02:54:19 PM
Tyler - nice target!!  

Hey - it means you have more than done your bit too - because I doubt anyone would claim the R9 is exactly the easiest gun to shoot.  Kudos :)

Personally I did not find Silvertips and Sabers that good with expansion tests - basic in wetpack I know but GD's were for me the most consistent.  As ever tho - if gun performs well with one brand/type - probably safest to stick to it.

For those who ain't yet peaked - my FAQ site (sig line) has some links to test stuff too - and pics of expansion.
Title: Re: Any Defensive Ammo that Shoots to Point of Aim
Post by: tyler2you on November 13, 2005, 09:16:25 PM
Damn you R9SCarry--I'm sitting here feeling all good about my experience with the Silvertips and you have to go and burst my bubble :P

You're right about the expansion results--not very impressive.  There is something to be said about reliability and accuracy though.  I think I'll stick with the Silvertips until I can get up to Denver and pick up some 115 gr Gold Dots for evaluation (the 124s shot high for me).

Seriously though--thanks for doing all the grunt work with the expansion tests and posting the results for all of us!

TG
Title: Re: Any Defensive Ammo that Shoots to Point of Aim
Post by: R9SCarry on November 13, 2005, 09:53:25 PM
Tyler - didn't mean to burst your bubble ;D

I tried to be as objective as poss' with tests but of course - they were not overly scientific andf daresay - others might even get different results too.

That said - I do agree reliability is paramount - and I sure would not wish to be in the way of any ''train'' exiting the R9 tunnel  :o ;)
Title: Re: Any Defensive Ammo that Shoots to Point of Aim
Post by: MountainMan on November 13, 2005, 10:06:17 PM
What is interesting to note is that Winchester sometime in the recent past changed the silvertip.  Seecamp stopped recommending them after over 25 years of being the only recommend ammo.  The reason being that seecamps started jamming.  Larry Seecamp figured it was because of two reasons.  

First on the new silvertips (shinny bullet noses with expansion grooves around the top) the bullet was harder.  Second was in the 32 caliber after the first shot some of the remainder shells in the mag had the bullets receding into the case a tiny bit.  This may have been to crimping problems.

It seems that they are working well in the R9 - maybe if there is a slight case receding in 9mm  it is a good thing with the R9.

Question Chris - did your expansion test use the newer silvertips (shinny nose with expansion grooves) - or the original (dull silver and no expanion grooves)?

Once again Chris - thanks for the testing.

Dave
Title: Re: Any Defensive Ammo that Shoots to Point of Aim
Post by: Brenden on November 13, 2005, 11:28:45 PM
The WSTs have been a fine feeder in my pups!!
The ones that I have shot, have the expansion grooves..

The 115 GDs are a good for me likewise and I know have better terminal ballistics..

I too would not want to be at the receiving end of either!! :o

I will admit,my accuracy test is not as refined as others with the pup..

I shoot at various paper targets,but my favorite is a paper plate at 7-10 yards-off hand.. ;)

I feel that if I can lay all my shots in that 8 inches-I feel pretty good.. :)

I have not as yet,layed the pup on a sand bag to see what it can do, but will do that some time for fun too..

I do know that I feel confident enough that I can hit what I shoot at-makes me feel good.. 8)

MountainMan,concerning the .32 Silvertips..I went to the GDs for the Seecamp and they shot well.."saving" my "old" ST stock for the time being!! ;)

Thanks again all for all of the information!!

Brenden