9mm velocities from "micro" automatics?

[Ron H.]

Greetings, all:

Anyone here chronographed the popular 9mm defense loads from teeny-tiny autos (Glock 26, the little Kahrs, etc.)? What kind of velocities did you get?

Thanks, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[xcop]

velocity

These are from a Kahr MK9 which has a 3in barrel. Average of 5 shots.

CorBon 125+p High 1227 Low 1191 Avg 1213
Fed 115+p+ High 1195 Low 1176 Avg 1186
BlkHills115+p High 1211 Low 1186 Avg 1199
Win 127+p+ High 1188 Low 1136 Avg 1160 Black Bullet
CorBon 115+p High 1290 Low 1259 Avg 1283
Fed124+p+HS High 1078 Low 1047 Avg 1063
Win115+p+ High 1292 Low 1270 Avg 1284

From a Kahr K9 with 3.5 in barrel
Win 147 RA9T High 1008 Low 954 Avg 987
Win127+p+ High 1294 Low 1263 Avg 1269
Fed115+p+ High 1275 Low 1197 Avg 1246

MK9 tests from 2001
K9 test from 2005

 

[Erich]

I've chrono'd quite a lot of rounds (more than a dozen) from my 3" RAMI and my 3.5" G26 and my 3.5" Kahr P9 Covert - wound up using Speer's Gold Dot 124-gr +P short barrel load which does 1180 fps from the RAMI and using the Winchester RA9TA 127-gr +P+ load which does 1226 from the G26 and a bit faster from the Kahr. I am sitting here looking at an entire notebook of data for the guns, but just can't bring myself to spend time typing it in. Sorry.

The Rohrbaugh R9s, by the way, also has a 3" barrel, but only got me around 975 fps with various standard velocity 115-gr hollowpoints, including the ST.

 

[Ron H.]

Guys, thanks for the info. I'm a little surprised at how high most of the posted velocities are. Interesting.

Thanks again, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[handgunner356]

When you figure they use 4" barrels to test velocities in 9mm instead of longer barrels, you not cutting it as much. Now when you go from 5" down to 3 or 3.5" in .45acp you usually see more variation.

 

[David Sinko]

Has anybody tried any of the hotter 147 gr. loads? If I can get 1076 FPS out of a 2" revolver with a cylinder gap, I expect a 3" auto can exceed 1100 FPS. This is serious performance out of a pocket gun.

Dave Sinko

 

[Erich]

I've never gotten results anything like that with a 147-gr 9x19 load, but then I've only shot those from the big makers, not from BB or DT.

 

[SWAT Lt.]

I chronographed a bunch of loads from my PM9 when I had it, but only 2 of them were 147 grain rounds. The Remington 147 Golden Saber avg. 854fps, and 147 Win Ranger T avg. 878fps. MY 2 inch 940 gave comparable results with most rounds with some being a little faster and some a little slower. I no longer have either gun, opting for a S&W 342 to fill the role of a pocket gun.

 

[LOBO]

Glock 26

Winchester Ranger 115 gr +P+ JHP__1268 fps

Georgia Arms 115 gr +P+ Gold Dot JHP__1266 fps

 

[MTKTM]

Thanks, guys, interesting thread to me as I have a couple of full-sized 9mms, but recently acquired a SA EMP in that caliber which has a 3" barrel. I'm not too surprised that the velocities are as high as they are simply because, as has been mentioned, even the full-size guns are not that much longer, and the 9x19 case is pretty small, has low capacity, and does best with quicker-burning powders, so I'm thinking they'd be ideal for a short barreled gun anyway. I love the EMP, by the way. It has become my primary carry-gun.