A female friend is looking to get her own handgun and likes the feel of my G26, but hasn't shot it yet. She likes the simple form and function of Glocks, and doesn't like most of the non-pocket .380 options out there.
The problem is, while she could shoot my 17L okay, she didn't like the recoil as much. She actually suggested some reduced-power handloads (after shooting my .308 with Unique handloads) in 9mm, and after talking, we agreed that might be a better option in the long run because she culd eventually work her way up to modern defensive loads.
Since I wouldn't recommend she expanding ammo in .380 anyways (due to inconsistent and generally-poor penetration), I figured even a 115gr FP load at a mild velocity wouldn't be any less effective than whatever she ran through a .380, until she got comfortable with more powerful loads.
But, just in the interest of trying this out for her (since it wouldn't cost me more than a few bucks and loading time), how low do you guys think would still function decently? I was thinking of aiming for a 124gr (since that is what I load for myself) at around 750-800fps? It would provide more recoil than .380, but still wouldn't provide too much less impulse than a mild 147gr load (about 800fps).
She hasn't fully decided on a gun yet and I wouldn't let her actually carry any such experimental load until it had proven itself for at least a few hundred rounds, but this is just for the sake of testing it as an option. I agree with her that if she likes the feel of the G26 (which she does), and doesn't like most of the .380 options out there, this could be a decent alternative. Plus, there are the added benefits of versatility (she can pop in a 17rd mag for the car or home and be much better off than a 6+1 .380), and again the ability for her to eventually work up to standard defensive loads.
Long story short, how low have you gone with your 9mm loads and still had reliable functioning?
The problem is, while she could shoot my 17L okay, she didn't like the recoil as much. She actually suggested some reduced-power handloads (after shooting my .308 with Unique handloads) in 9mm, and after talking, we agreed that might be a better option in the long run because she culd eventually work her way up to modern defensive loads.
Since I wouldn't recommend she expanding ammo in .380 anyways (due to inconsistent and generally-poor penetration), I figured even a 115gr FP load at a mild velocity wouldn't be any less effective than whatever she ran through a .380, until she got comfortable with more powerful loads.
But, just in the interest of trying this out for her (since it wouldn't cost me more than a few bucks and loading time), how low do you guys think would still function decently? I was thinking of aiming for a 124gr (since that is what I load for myself) at around 750-800fps? It would provide more recoil than .380, but still wouldn't provide too much less impulse than a mild 147gr load (about 800fps).
She hasn't fully decided on a gun yet and I wouldn't let her actually carry any such experimental load until it had proven itself for at least a few hundred rounds, but this is just for the sake of testing it as an option. I agree with her that if she likes the feel of the G26 (which she does), and doesn't like most of the .380 options out there, this could be a decent alternative. Plus, there are the added benefits of versatility (she can pop in a 17rd mag for the car or home and be much better off than a 6+1 .380), and again the ability for her to eventually work up to standard defensive loads.
Long story short, how low have you gone with your 9mm loads and still had reliable functioning?