identify a 9mm hollowpoint

[Black_Sheep]

Today a coworker showed me a 9mm hollowpoint round that had a translucent white insert (plastic?) that gave it the same profile as a FMJ bullet. My "cheaters" were in the truck so I couldn't read the headstamp. Any idea who the manufacturer is and what purpose the insert serves? I assume it's to aid feeding or expansion, any information is appreciated...

 

[Erich]

It's not a Cor-Bon Pow'rball?

Pow'RBall by Glaser, LLC.

 

[Black_Sheep]

Thanks Erich, that's it...

 

[ajpelz]

I use pow'rBalls in my 9mmMak. It smashes JHP in and causes setback. They work great for pistols that have trouble with JHP.

Very similar to the EFMJ but in more calibers.

 

[Erich]

Sweet. Nice to guess correctly!

 

[sigp220.45]

I was going to go old school - remember the GECO Blitz Action Trauma? No longer in production, which is a shame for something with such a cool name.

 

[Erich]

You're just showing off!

(I remember it - marketed as an anti-hijack round in the late '80s, wasn't it?)

 

[flop-shank]

I was going to go old school - remember the GECO Blitz Action Trauma? No longer in production, which is a shame for something with such a cool name.

Evan Marshall discusses that round in his first book, Handgun Stopping Power.

 

[Erich]

Let me guess, 110% One Shot Stops?

 

[flop-shank]

Let me guess, 110% One Shot Stops?

210% Seriously though, I don't remember all the minutiae, but I was left with the impression that it's good quality ammo. One doesn't have to buy into the OSS stats to find E.M.'s books educational and thought provoking.

 

[Erich]

Certainly true. I'm no longer bitter about being hornswoggled by their articles in the '80s - I just don't want anyone to misunderstand reality after reading reports based on imperfect comprehension of what's relevant.

 

[flop-shank]

I can understand that, Erich. Many people don't know or have forgotten about other things that E.M. says. Good examples are that stopping power is a unit of measure and not a tactical philosophy, therefore we need to keep firing until the threat stops, and to pick a cartridge that the lands in the top third of a given caliber (that you and your gun work well together with) and then forget about it. Training and practice then take priority. Getting caught up in the OSS stats distracts many from excellent advice that really would be the same as what you (I would think), or I would give.

When I look at the top loads in his books, of the calibers I use, I could use any with confidence, so long as the gun will always go bang. As I've said before, I don't know whether those stats are made up or not. He's done doing bullet books and time is making them increasingly irrelavent.

With the internet forums of today, us gun cranks have access to big city cops, federal agents and others in the know. If we keep our ear to the ground, we'll get the buzz on what's working on the streets and what isn't.

 

[38-44HD45]

This thread took an interesting turn. I've owned both the Marshall & Sanow books since shortly after they came out. I'd echo everything flopshank has said.

As far as criticisms of their work, there is no doubt that it has statistical flaws. Made up? Well, I don't know, but I know for a fact that one whose work is cited as gospel by their most vocal critics got himself sued by a major ammunition manufacturer for making up results of some "testing" he conducted. All of which simply points to the fact that anyone with a typewriter (remember those?) or a computer and a little education can say anything. (Who knows? I might be an 82-year-old, escaped, transgender, circus fat lady from Massachusetts.) Doesn't make it true, and likewise, a few flaws in a study don't make it completely invalid or not worthy of consideration.

 

[Squatty]

Having problem with my 908. Can anyone reccommend hollow point? Never had a problem with jamming, but tried some Hornady Critical Defense, 9mm Luger 115 gr FTX and seems to jam when loading initial shell into chamber. Haven't tried to fire this type of round before, and somewhat afraid to do so.

 

[Erich]

Hi Squatty,

Glad you joined us. Please pardon my late reply, but I've been away for a week.

So, my little brother got a 3913 a couple of years ago - almost identical to your gun, but with a little more polish and a lot more price. After consulting with a highly regarded S&W police armorer here on the forum, I wound up recommending that he use the Speer Gold Dot 124-gr +P ) standard-barrel hollowpoints . . . after he try them out and ensure that they functioned flawlessly. They did, and that's what he's using. I think he's in good shape.

After that, though, Speer brought out the Gold Dot 124-gr +P short barrel hollowpoints. In a perfect world, I'd try both variants through my gun, and see which gave better performance (assuming that both gave flawless function and good accuracy) in terms of velocity, and decide based on that. (I should disclose that I find the new short-barrel loading to work amazingly well in my 3.0"-barrelled CZ RAMI, and that's what I carry in it . . . but that gun has a shorter barrel than yours.)