Is a 9mm upper worth the money?

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Laufen

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I disagree here. You need as much energy as possible to make the bullet expand, which will cause the bullet to stop inside it’s intended target - rather than over penetrating and dumping that energy past the target - possibly into an innocent, but certainly not where it will do the intended job.
In pistol calibers, heavier slower bullets just don’t perform as well with one exception; 230gr Hydra Shok in .45ACP.
I disagree. You don't need as much energy as possible to make a bullet expand, there's actually a minimum velocity that they'll expand as intended, and I'm fine with punching a hole out the backside, especially with a pistol. That's just another hole for blood to leak out.
 

Leshaire

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Well that’s a great question.
My initial reason for considering a 9mmP upper was because the 10.5” 5.56 upper I have on my pistol project is just a bit too long to fit in a normal backpack, even though I’ve got a folder on it. So I was thinking about doing the 9mm to replace it as my EDC bag gun. Just in case something horrible happened and I needed more firepower than one of the normal pistols I keep with me. That’s why I was worried about energy, for defensive purposes. Going to something a lot larger defeats the purpose of it being a backpack gun.
In that case, and in my opinion, terminal ballistics would be much more important than muzzle energy. Slap some +P's in a 5" barrel and all the sudden you have your smaller package with 30+ rounds, flatter shooting, more manageable recoil, more accurate, (marginally) better terminal ballistics back pack gun. In comparison to your pistol, of course. The major MAJORRR downside to this same thing in 223 or 556 is sound, flash and usability. Go chop a barrel at 5 inches and dump ten rounds with no ear protection on (defense scenario with no eyes or ears on) and let us know how pleasant it is lol... Also, while youre testing, let us know how accurate you are after the first shot ;)
 
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Leshaire

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In pistol calibers, heavier slower bullets just don’t perform as well with one exception; 230gr Hydra Shok in .45ACP.
This is not entirely true. There are a few other key variables that play into "proper" or "ideal" projectile expansion, like weight and shape/angles/geometry of the front of the projectile. Too much velocity has also shown a lack of expansion in many many tests.
 

The Mechanic

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I’ve got AR’s in .22lr, 5.56 and .308 (you helped me build the .308)

My AR22 sees more range time than the other two combined because it’s WAY cheaper to shoot.

I’ve seriously only put MAYBE 40 rounds through that Mega .308 since you and I completed that build because it’s AT LEAST 50 cents everytime I pull the trigger.

I can’t even enjoy it because I’m thinking about the money the whole time! LOL!
I very rarely shoot my 308. When I shoot it I wan't to shoot as accurately as possible at 100, 200, 300 ect... The ammo I use is a tad over 27 bucks a box for 20 rounds. That tends to keep me from yanking that bitch out when I am heading to the range.
 

The Mechanic

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If something goes down and it's unsafe outside my ass is going to looking like Arnold Swartz. on the cover of the movie Commando. Rifles in both hands, a 1911 on each hip, M48 Tomahawk and a combat blade on there as well. I will have ammo pouches hanging off every other place I can get em in. If something goes down I don't want to be screwing around with a backpack. You are going to be on a skewer rotating over a med. flame if have to do all that shit.
 

BangBang

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If something goes down and it's unsafe outside my ass is going to looking like Arnold Swartz. on the cover of the movie Commando. Rifles in both hands, a 1911 on each hip, M48 Tomahawk and a combat blade on there as well. I will have ammo pouches hanging off every other place I can get em in. If something goes down I don't want to be screwing around with a backpack. You are going to be on a skewer rotating over a med. flame if have to do all that shit.
@Falcon1 @Bagman @mark23 @Bonecollector

Y’all recognize the dog in his avatar?

THAT’S RIGHT!!!

You know @The Mechanic better by his ODT name....

GREG VESS!!!!!!
 

NWS

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If something goes down and it's unsafe outside my ass is going to looking like Arnold Swartz. on the cover of the movie Commando. Rifles in both hands, a 1911 on each hip, M48 Tomahawk and a combat blade on there as well. I will have ammo pouches hanging off every other place I can get em in. If something goes down I don't want to be screwing around with a backpack. You are going to be on a skewer rotating over a med. flame if have to do all that shit.


Carrying all that shit I'll just run your ass over in my truck and steal your shit.
 

boss_hawg

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my two 9mm uppers are range toys for sure but damn they are fun especially with a 9mm can and 147 or 158 grain ammo.

would i use them for self defense? yes but there are better choices.

whether it’s worth it to you depends on what you need or want. if ballistics and lethality are your main priorities then yeah i would stick to rifle rounds.
 

Axeman

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my two 9mm uppers are range toys for sure but damn they are fun especially with a 9mm can and 147 or 158 grain ammo.

would i use them for self defense? yes but there are better choices.

whether it’s worth it to you depends on what you need or want. if ballistics and lethality are your main priorities then yeah i would stick to rifle rounds.
Yeah, if I’m ever going to have to shoot someone, I’d prefer to use a supersonic telephone pole.
Everything else is just, well, meh.
 
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cmshoot

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Why would anyone run a 5” 5.56? A 10” would make much more sense, and the added length won’t make any difference in CQB.

Sound and flash works both ways, and the majority of both are going AWAY from the shooter, TOWARDS the target, so it’s added shit the threat has to deal with.

Under extreme stress, very little of the noise and flash will be noticed by the shooter to an extent that it will adversely affect them at the time.

Either will work just fine, with the right ammo in each. I wouldn’t feel poorly armed either way for HD. For use outside of the home, a carbine caliber beats a handgun caliber, hands down. Range and penetration.
 

Liberty

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I very rarely shoot my 308. When I shoot it I wan't to shoot as accurately as possible at 100, 200, 300 ect... The ammo I use is a tad over 27 bucks a box for 20 rounds. That tends to keep me from yanking that bitch out when I am heading to the range.

The old Ft. Benning match loads runs me about $8.25 a box. I despise my .308 ar and wish that I had purchased an m14 variant or Garand.
 

Liberty

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This is not entirely true. There are a few other key variables that play into "proper" or "ideal" projectile expansion, like weight and shape/angles/geometry of the front of the projectile. Too much velocity has also shown a lack of expansion in many many tests.

Actually, that is a failure of matching a properly constructed projectile to the speed at which it was being fired. A frangible bullet won't expand if fired slowly enough. That and some bullets just are no good.
 
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