Hi,
Like many other Shield owners, I have been curious about how different loads will perform in the shorter vs full-size barrel.
I took a few different loads out for a test. Here are some chronograph data!
Temperature was 88 degF. Elevation 249m. Barometric pressure 29.98 inHg.
(Key: MV = mean muzzle velocity, SD = standard deviation, SD% = %standard deviation, ES = extreme spread, PF = power factor, ME = calculated muzzle energy)
For comparison, here are some data from a CZ 75B (4.2" bbl):
I did not chronograph the Cor-Bon in the Shield; in initial range testing, I noted high pressure signs, so I stopped there.
Velocity and ME Decrease from a 4.2" bbl to 3.1" was:
There were a number of interesting findings:
1. The Gold Dot 124+P Short Barrel ran slower than the standard Gold Dot 124+P in both pistols. The drop in MV and ME between the two barrels was essentially equivalent as a percentage with both loads.
2. Surprisingly, the Speer Gold (both standard and SB) had the highest decrease in MV and ME of the SD loads I tested.
3. The Federal HST 124+P and Winchester 147 grain ball had the lowest MV and ME drops. The Critical Defense did pretty well in this regard, although it was pretty much the most anemic load (except for the 147gr ball).
4. There did not appear to be a great difference in the percent drop in MV/ME correlating to bullet weight.
5. The shorter barrel correlated with a wider variability in muzzle velocities across the shot string.
6. Factory loads are less consistent than good handloads (my competition 124gr loads have a SD% of 0.3-0.5% vs factory SD% in the 1% range)
7. Testing SD ammo is expensive, but fun!
Standard disclaimers apply - this data is specific to my firearms and cartridge lots, tested under certain specific circumstances, the data are as good as the amount you paid for them, these results may or may not correlate to gel/wetpack/water/real life testing, blah blah blah…
Do with these data what you will; I hope they help in our neverending search for better ammo!
Like many other Shield owners, I have been curious about how different loads will perform in the shorter vs full-size barrel.
I took a few different loads out for a test. Here are some chronograph data!
Temperature was 88 degF. Elevation 249m. Barometric pressure 29.98 inHg.
(Key: MV = mean muzzle velocity, SD = standard deviation, SD% = %standard deviation, ES = extreme spread, PF = power factor, ME = calculated muzzle energy)
Code:
Load MV SD SD% ES PF ME
S&B Factory 115 FMJ 1095.0 21.7 2.0 52 125.9 306
Winchester 124 +P FMJ 1059.5 11.8 1.1 29 131.4 309
Winchester NATO 124 FMJ 1093.4 26.7 2.4 72 135.6 329
Winchester 147 FMJ 850.86 11.7 1.4 29 125.1 236
Hornady Critical Defense 115 1022.2 11.9 1.2 28 117.6 267
Federal HST 124 +P 1136.4 10.2 0.9 27 140.9 356
Speer Gold Dot 124 +P 1115.4 15.1 1.4 38 138.3 343
Speer Gold Dot 124 +P SB 1086.8 28.2 2.6 76 134.8 325For comparison, here are some data from a CZ 75B (4.2" bbl):
Code:
Load MV SD SD% ES PF ME
S&B Factory 115 FMJ 1203.7 21.5 1.8 57 138.4 370
Winchester 124 +P FMJ 1160.6 7.6 0.7 21 143.9 371
Winchester NATO 124 FMJ 1174.6 3.0 0.3 8 145.7 380
Winchester 147 FMJ 918.72 9.8 1.1 26 135.0 276
Hornady Critical Defense 115 1109.8 12.4 1.1 30 127.6 315
Federal HST 124 +P 1228.8 11.9 1.0 26 152.4 416
Speer Gold Dot 124 +P 1228.6 16.9 1.4 39 152.3 416
Speer Gold Dot 124 +P SB 1192.4 7.6 0.6 18 147.9 392
Cor-Bon 115 +P JHP 1358.6 5.4 0.4 13 156.2 [B]471![/B]I did not chronograph the Cor-Bon in the Shield; in initial range testing, I noted high pressure signs, so I stopped there.
Velocity and ME Decrease from a 4.2" bbl to 3.1" was:
Code:
Load MV Drop (%) ME Drop (%)
S&B Factory 115 FMJ 108.7 (9.0%) 64 (17.2%)
Winchester 124 +P FMJ 101.1 (8.7%) 62 (16.7%)
Winchester NATO 124 FMJ 81.2 (6.9%) 51 (13.4%)
Winchester 147 FMJ 66.9 (7.3%) 40 (14.5%)
Hornady Critical Defense 115 87.60 (7.9%) 48 (15.2%)
Federal HST 124 +P 92.40 (7.5%) 60 (14.4%)
Speer Gold Dot 124 +P 113.2 (9.2%) 73 (17.5%)
Speer Gold Dot 124 +P SB 105.6 (8.9%) 67 (17.1%)There were a number of interesting findings:
1. The Gold Dot 124+P Short Barrel ran slower than the standard Gold Dot 124+P in both pistols. The drop in MV and ME between the two barrels was essentially equivalent as a percentage with both loads.
2. Surprisingly, the Speer Gold (both standard and SB) had the highest decrease in MV and ME of the SD loads I tested.
3. The Federal HST 124+P and Winchester 147 grain ball had the lowest MV and ME drops. The Critical Defense did pretty well in this regard, although it was pretty much the most anemic load (except for the 147gr ball).
4. There did not appear to be a great difference in the percent drop in MV/ME correlating to bullet weight.
5. The shorter barrel correlated with a wider variability in muzzle velocities across the shot string.
6. Factory loads are less consistent than good handloads (my competition 124gr loads have a SD% of 0.3-0.5% vs factory SD% in the 1% range)
7. Testing SD ammo is expensive, but fun!
Standard disclaimers apply - this data is specific to my firearms and cartridge lots, tested under certain specific circumstances, the data are as good as the amount you paid for them, these results may or may not correlate to gel/wetpack/water/real life testing, blah blah blah…
Do with these data what you will; I hope they help in our neverending search for better ammo!
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