PCC AMMO

[Luke Duke]

Thinking of getting a 9mm PCC ( S&W Ruger or Henry) how do you guys feel that with similar bullets and loads that a 9mm carbine compares with a .357 handgun??
Just a thought. 110-125 gr loads ?

 

[Alk8944]

9mm doesn't even come close to .357 Magnum! There are many more factors to consider other than bullet weight.

 

[alwslate]

If you're looking at velocity only, a 124 gr FMJ from a 16" carbine will have at least as much velocity as a 125 gr .357 bullet out of a 4-6" revolver. The best 124 gr +P HPs out of the 16" carbine will run a bit over 1500 FPS. So , every bit the equal of the .357.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have fired an AR style rifle in 9mm and a .357 Magnum Marlin levergun. There is no comparison IMO. The .357 shines in the longer barrel but the 9mm, while faster muzzle velocity that a handgun, it does not see the increase the .357 does.

I think it's the powders used for each. The 9mm is loaded with medium slow powders while the .357 is loaded with slower powders than the 9.

When using powders like W296/H110, Enforcer and especially Lil'Gun the velocities from a carbine .357 are amazingly fast. I have .357 numbers but no 9mm numbers I tested yet.

 

[BC38]

If you're looking at velocity only, a 124 gr FMJ from a 16" carbine will have at least as much velocity as a 125 gr .357 bullet out of a 4-6" revolver. The best 124 gr +P HPs out of the 16" carbine will run a bit over 1500 FPS. So , every bit the equal of the .357.

But how does the 9mm out of a 16" carbine compare to the 357 ammo out of a 16" carbine?
Or how does the 9mm out of a 4"-6" barrel compare to the 357 out of a 4"-6" barrel.

Comparing the performance of one cartridge out of a 16" rifle barrel to the other cartridge out of a 4"-6" handgun barrel seems like the very definition of an apples and oranges comparison.

I know that was the OPs original question, but it just seems like a weird comparison to make.

Don't get me wrong, I like PCCs & have several (Camp 9, HiPoint 9, HiPoint 45, 357 lever action, 44 lever action) mainly to be able to have a pistol/rifle combos that share ammo

It just seems like a weird comparison to me. Comparing the same round in a pistol and handgun, or comparing the two cartridges in similar guns both make more sense to me.

 

[venomballistics]

I have both.
357 has a much larger trick bag with loadings covering a lot of territory.
9mm has to stay inside it's sandbox to work in it's intended platform.
The 9mm is AR platform, so it is a rather fun carbine to take to the range, and it's about the cheapest centerfire cartridge we have to shoot.
Arguments can be made for both. In fact, it probably should be both

 

[Fishinfool]

The OP specified a 9mm out of a carbine length barrel VS a .357 mag out of a handgun with comparable weight bullets. "Alwslate" is correct in his post above.

A 9mm 124 JHP out of a 16 inch barrel will approximate the velocity of the same weight bullet out of a .357 mag in a handgun.

And do it with more rounds on tap, and a lot less muzzle blast.

Is the .357 faster out of a rifle barrel? Sure it is, but that's not what he asked, and who makes a semi-auto .357 mag carbine?

Larry

 

[Dave Lively]

110-125 gr loads ?

The lighter the bullet the bigger the velocity increase. The tests I have seen show that with 147 grain bullets there is very little or no increase in velocity. Lighter 115 or 124 +P ammo can gain a few hundred fps.

If you are planning to use a 9mm carbine for home defense keep in mind that light bullets being driven to higher velocities than they were designed for can fragment or expand so rapidly they do not penetrate as deeply. The 125 grain bullet loaded into 357 factory ammo is designed for 1500 fps, 9mm bullets are not.

 

[Dave Lively]

Comparing the performance of one out a a 16" barrel to the other out of a 4"-6" barrel seems like the very definition of an apples and oranges comparison.

Not if you are looking for a gun that is as effective as a .357 revolver but easier to shoot and has higher capacity. A 9mm PCC is obviously not going to be a CC gun but neither is a 357 revolver with a 6 inch barrel.

 

[DWalt]

Choice depends on what your intended use is. Obviously a revolver is smaller and lighter than a Carbine, but a 9mm Carbine would offer more precision and firepower in a defensive situation.

 

[gwpercle]

I would pick a lever-action Henry ( or any lever action ) in 38 / 357 .

Between the many 38 special and 357 magnum loadings you can cover a lot of shooting needs . And since the lever isn't dependant on the rounds power to operate a semi-auto action ... this opens up a whole range of ammo from light target to heavy hunting .
The 357 magnum in a rifle , with hunting ammo will cleanly take deer and hogs ... loaded with home defense ammo and sitting by the night-stand ... will make a nice defend the homestead arm !
Gary

 

[Skeet 028]

I had a Ruger 1st generation PCC. I considered it a waste of money and ammo. To me...it didn't seem all that better than a good 9mm handgun. A bit more accurate but still took 4 rounds to kill a rabid coon. I have a 94 Winchester Rifle not carbine and it is an easy death on deer to 100 yds shooter with 140 gr and up bullets. I wouldn't shoot a deer with the 9MM PCC....unless I had to with any bullet...heck the 30 carbine is much better

 

[alwslate]

Amazing that with only a few responses thread drift can get so far away from the OP's original question.

 

[BC38]

Not if you are looking for a gun that is as effective as a .357 revolver but easier to shoot and has higher capacity. A 9mm PCC is obviously not going to be a CC gun but neither is a 357 revolver with a 6 inch barrel.

Nope, but a 4" 357 is a pretty common carry gun, and the question didn't specify a 6" barrel OR a revolver - just "357 handgun".

If you want to limit it to revolvers, those even come in 2" barrel versions. Of course there are also 357 semi-autos, Like the Coonan, not to mention all the semis chambered in 357 Sig.

The point was that a 357 PCC is a better comparison - just as easy to shoot and precise as the 9mm, but way more powerful - so its more of an apples to apples comparison.

 

[BC38]

Amazing that with only a few responses thread drift can get so far away from the OP's original question.

Yup. Ever sat around a campfire with a dozen or more guys? Doesn't take long for there to be 3 or 4 different conversations all going in different directions.
It happens. No harm no foul.

 

[smithra_66]

Thinking of getting a 9mm PCC ( S&W Ruger or Henry) how do you guys feel that with similar bullets and loads that a 9mm carbine compares with a .357 handgun??
Just a thought. 110-125 gr loads ?

You'll gain 200 or so fps compared to a typical 4" 9mm handgun.

 

[Goldstar225]

Ballistics by the inch has your answer using a variety of loads. Take it for what it's worth.

BBTI - Ballistics by the Inch :: 9mm Luger Results

 

[venomballistics]

Seems to fall a few hundred fps short of a more or less equal projectile from a 357 mag revolver.
Nonetheless, figures up to 1400 with the gold dot load is proper medicine for most things.
Don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to taking mine afield for a wild pizza hunt this year