Ruger PCC 9mm Velocity

Scott_N

Scott_N

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If anyone it interested, I shot a few rounds of different ammo types through my Ruger over a Garmin chrono yesterday. I'm guessing that the 18.5" bbl is a bit slower than a little shorter barrel might be, but here are some numbers:

Winchester 115gr SXZ Hollow point - (5 shots) - 1354 fps avg. velocity
STV Technology 124gr Scorpio FMJ (10 shots) - 1217 fps avg. velocity
Hornady 135gr +P Flexlock Active Duty (10 shots) - 1148 fps avg. velocity
Federal American Eagle 147gr FMJ (10 shots) - 1064 fps avg. velocity

I seemed to get the best groups with the 147 gr Federal ammo, and the worst with the Winchester SXZ. I was surprised at the 115 gr's speed, and thought that the +P ammo might be a bit faster, but stocking up on 147 gr while it's on sale is something I plan on doing.
 
I ran some IVI 124grn ammo a while back. Velocity was on the high side of 1450fps. My best 115grn handloads dont even hit 1450. Too bad it's so hard to find.
 
Scott_N said:
If anyone it interested, I shot a few rounds of different ammo types through my Ruger over a Garmin chrono yesterday. I'm guessing that the 18.5" bbl is a bit slower than a little shorter barrel might be, but here are some numbers:

Winchester 115gr SXZ Hollow point - (5 shots) - 1354 fps avg. velocity
STV Technology 124gr Scorpio FMJ (10 shots) - 1217 fps avg. velocity
Hornady 135gr +P Flexlock Active Duty (10 shots) - 1148 fps avg. velocity
Federal American Eagle 147gr FMJ (10 shots) - 1064 fps avg. velocity

I seemed to get the best groups with the 147 gr Federal ammo, and the worst with the Winchester SXZ. I was surprised at the 115 gr's speed, and thought that the +P ammo might be a bit faster, but stocking up on 147 gr while it's on sale is something I plan on doing.
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No, not always but most times the longer barrel will give you higher velocities then the shorter one. You hear 100 fps per inch of barrel but increase but my experience suggests there is not formula that is consistent. I have had loads thru a 10" barrel that gave virtually the same velocity out of an 18.5" barrel. Both barrels made by the same company. But you should expect higher velocities out of the longer barrel to a point. From my experience this continues on for most barrel lengths you would find on rifles. Obviously at some point friction of the barrel would offset any advantage a long barrel might have when it comes to consuming all the powder and maximizing gas pressure.

Take Care

Bob
 
Canuck44 said:
No, not always but most times the longer barrel will give you higher velocities then the shorter one. You hear 100 fps per inch of barrel but increase but my experience suggests there is not formula that is consistent. I have had loads thru a 10" barrel that gave virtually the same velocity out of an 18.5" barrel. Both barrels made by the same company. But you should expect higher velocities out of the longer barrel to a point. From my experience this continues on for most barrel lengths you would find on rifles. Obviously at some point friction of the barrel would offset any advantage a long barrel might have when it comes to consuming all the powder and maximizing gas pressure.

Take Care

Bob
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I had an identical experience - 10" barrel gave almost the exact same velocity as the 18" (was it an FX9 by chance?)

Kinda makes me think 10" might be slightly too short for maximum velocity (ie - bullet has left the barrel while pressure is still building leaving a little performance still on the table) and the 18" may be a little too long (ie pressure has maxed out already and the bullet may even be slowing a little due to friction).

I wonder what the sweet spot is? In some respects it doesn't matter, due to the backward gun laws and never ending gun grabbing 18" (NR) has separate appeal for many.
 
Sniffer said:
I had an identical experience - 10" barrel gave almost the exact same velocity as the 18" (was it an FX9 by chance?)

Kinda makes me think 10" might be slightly too short for maximum velocity (ie - bullet has left the barrel while pressure is still building leaving a little performance still on the table) and the 18" may be a little too long (ie pressure has maxed out already and the bullet may even be slowing a little due to friction).

I wonder what the sweet spot is? In some respects it doesn't matter, due to the backward gun laws and never ending gun grabbing 18" (NR) has separate appeal for many.
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Yes with the FX9. 10 TO 11 " is thought to be ideal with the 9mm. That said I believe it depends more on the type of powder, air temp, type of bullet and height above sea level. Pretty much more by chance IMHO..

Take Care
Bob
 
Scott_N said:
If anyone it interested, I shot a few rounds of different ammo types through my Ruger over a Garmin chrono yesterday. I'm guessing that the 18.5" bbl is a bit slower than a little shorter barrel might be, but here are some numbers:

Winchester 115gr SXZ Hollow point - (5 shots) - 1354 fps avg. velocity
STV Technology 124gr Scorpio FMJ (10 shots) - 1217 fps avg. velocity
Hornady 135gr +P Flexlock Active Duty (10 shots) - 1148 fps avg. velocity
Federal American Eagle 147gr FMJ (10 shots) - 1064 fps avg. velocity

I seemed to get the best groups with the 147 gr Federal ammo, and the worst with the Winchester SXZ. I was surprised at the 115 gr's speed, and thought that the +P ammo might be a bit faster, but stocking up on 147 gr while it's on sale is something I plan on doing.
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The fed 147 is on sale at Cabelas right now.
 
I have run just about every possible option for bullet weight, +p and standard through the PC9 and found very little appreciable velocity gains through as per my chronograph. I have also found that the typical pistol will fire 147's as fast or even faster than the carbine. Just too much barrel drag. I think that a 16" barrel would even be better and were it not for our asinine gun laws in this country, it would be the better choice.
 
Canuck44 said:
Yes with the FX9. 10 TO 11 " is thought to be ideal with the 9mm. That said I believe it depends more on the type of powder, air temp, type of bullet and height above sea level. Pretty much more by chance IMHO..

Take Care
Bob
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There is actual data on this out there. The most optimal barrel length for 9mm minor is 12.5-14.5", then add a compensator.
These barrel lengths maximize your pressures and use of the compensator. Wish I could find someone who would turn my 16.1" fx9 barrel into a 12.5"... but alas there are no 12.5-14.5" options for an FX9 with a 1/2x28 thread, in fact there are none in any configuration.
If only a Canadian barrel maker would make some up for competition shooters. Could be a nice little niche.
 
AlphaCharlieDelta said:
There is actual data on this out there. The most optimal barrel length for 9mm minor is 12.5-14.5", then add a compensator.
These barrel lengths maximize your pressures and use of the compensator. Wish I could find someone who would turn my 16.1" fx9 barrel into a 12.5"... but alas there are no 12.5-14.5" options for an FX9 with a 1/2x28 thread, in fact there are none in any configuration.
If only a Canadian barrel maker would make some up for competition shooters. Could be a nice little niche.
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That aligns with what I suspected / mentioned earlier above.

A 10" barrel leaves a little on the table and the bullet in an 18" barrel will have maxed out long before it reaches the end of the barrel hence why the two are similar velocities.

It does make me think that a comp on a 10" would have enough gas for some effect, less so on an 18".
 
Sniffer said:
That aligns with what I suspected / mentioned earlier above.

A 10" barrel leaves a little on the table and the bullet in an 18" barrel will have maxed out long before it reaches the end of the barrel hence why the two are similar velocities.

It does make me think that a comp on a 10" would have enough gas for some effect, less so on an 18".
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What you say is not always true. Where loads max out is very much a feature of any particular powder. A fast burning powder is going to max out sooner than a slow burning powder. With the 9MM there is not much wiggle room between the entry level load and the maximum. Most loading from min to maximum rarely exceed .5 grains. With that in mind when choreographing loads you really need to test with at least 10 rounds to get meaning full load data IMHO.

Here are some comparisons:

4.1Gr Win 231 Lyman 125 gr 356402 Truncated Cone
CX 4 Storm 16" 1283 fps
FX 9 10" 1235 fps

5 Gr CFE Pistol 125 gr BDX RN
PPQ Match 5" 1098 fps
CZ Combat 4.9" 1054 fps
FX 9 10" 1267 fps
Raven9 18.5" 1284 fps

Pretty much confirms your observations. These variations really are not significant as it relates to bullet performance at handgun distancers. Extreme Spreads of 50 fps to 75 fps are common among loads I have tested and Average Deviations can exceed as much as 20fps. I tend to look for loads with SD under 10. That said I cannot say with certainty that one load performs significantly better than another when my intended target is 8" in diameter and 7 to 20 yards away. I try to limit my quests to the minimum required to safely meet 135PF for IDPA in PCC and 125 PF in SSP.
The only reason I went to a shorter barrel was the shorter barreled gun is easier to manipulate around obstacles than a 16 or 18 inch barreled carbine. IMHO there is little to no benefit in gain or loss in accuracy between barrel lengths. Some gains can be had for running a comp which might be offset by slightly better velocities using the longer barreled gun but even then, from a practical point of view .....if your set up allows for a flat shooting gun, makes PF and is easy for you to manipulate around obstacles......practice should be your goal not much else is going to help your scores.

For me, at best a Marksman level PCC shooter or in IPSC Parlance a C Class shooter once my gun is shooting flat there is little I can do to improve my scoring but practicing techniques, accepting my level of physicality and enjoying my time with the guys.

Take Care

Bob
ps ACD if your comp works well at 16" I think it is safe to say it would work well at 18". Slower powders should work better in our comps at longer barrels than fast burning powders. I don'y have any 800X at hand but there is a slow powder that might be worth exploring in my longer barreled carbines. From my experience it was to slow IMHO in 5" pistols.
 
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What i found curious is the data(that i have seen-i dont chrono), states that my 147gr ranger ammo(rc issue) is the same or slower out of my 18.5” carbines.
The effect on water jugs and hollow point expansion sure suggests otherwise.
I have shot pdx1, hst, ranger sxt and golden sabres in the same glock34 vs carbines. All have more effect. Easily seen effect.
 
Mailfire it would useful if you tell us what data you have seen. The same
Cartridge shot out of a 5" barreled pistol is going to be slower moving generally than the same cartridge shot ot of an 18.5" barrel. A Glock polygonial barrel is different then a Ballard cut barrel.
I would not jump to any conclusions unless you do the chrographing using you own guns at the same time. Air temperature and elevation above sea level along with humidity can result in different measurements.
Eg a pistol shot at 6k feet above sea level at a twmperature of 30C may well produces a faster velocity than the same cartridge shot at or near sea level at 15C.
Tip a barrel up and the chrono the load vs pointing the same gun down before firing the same type of cartridge and you can affect vel over a chrono.

Take Care
Bob.
 
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