Finally....Recoil Cam is Done

[Ljutic]

I was recently offered a loaner PM45 for evaluation and possible review. While I had it, I thought I would do the Recoil Cam series for all the Kahr Micro Polymer guns. Not sure why Kahr didn't call the P380 the PM380, but I've always considered the P380 the smallest pistol in the PM series.

[JFootin]

Man, that's great! This ought to be a sticky for those trying to decide on the caliber of small Kahr pistol to get.

The P380 looked surprisingly mild on recoil. The PM9 also. The PM40 looks like it would bite your wrist if you limp wristed it! The PM45 was visibly slower on recoil than the PM40, still a big recoil but probably easier to manage.

[wyntrout]

Great video, Bruce. Thanks for the post.

What ammo for each pistol?

Wynn

[JERRY]

thanks for your time in making that video.

as asked above, what were the brands et cetera of ammo used for each caliber? +p, standard pressure, weight.....?

[Ljutic]

I tied several things together yesterday afternoon so I could make the most of my time. It was cool enough to start SIM-TEST ballistics testing again so I used the following ammo for Recoil Cam and later for a terminal ballistics test with each. All tested rounds are the 100 round Value Packs.

380 Rem UMC 88 Grain JHP
9mm Rem UMC 115 Grain JHP
40 S&W Rem UMC 180 Grain JHP
45 ACP Rem UMC 230 Grain JHP

Based on my terminal testing results, I probably should have used Speer Gold Dots.

[JERRY]

I tied several things together yesterday afternoon so I could make the most of my time. It was cool enough to start SIM-TEST ballistics testing again so I used the following ammo for Recoil Cam and later for a terminal ballistics test with each. All tested rounds are the 100 round Value Packs.

380 Rem UMC 88 Grain JHP
9mm Rem UMC 115 Grain JHP
40 S&W Rem UMC 180 Grain JHP
45 ACP Rem UMC 230 Grain JHP

Based on my terminal testing results, I probably should have used Speer Gold Dots.

i think you picked the best ammo for this type of test (recoil). picking the standard pressure run of the mill off the shelf at wal-mart loads people can see what the minimum is that they can expect....knowing that the +p and so on will give them even more of whatever they are looking for.....

[Yogi 117]

Excellent vid, as is all your work. Nicely done & gives a person a very good idea of the expected recoil of the major calibers. Thx for the work.

[Dave Nowlin]

I tied several things together yesterday afternoon so I could make the most of my time. It was cool enough to start SIM-TEST ballistics testing again so I used the following ammo for Recoil Cam and later for a terminal ballistics test with each. All tested rounds are the 100 round Value Packs.

380 Rem UMC 88 Grain JHP
9mm Rem UMC 115 Grain JHP
40 S&W Rem UMC 180 Grain JHP
45 ACP Rem UMC 230 Grain JHP

Based on my terminal testing results, I probably should have used Speer Gold Dots.

Not to be ugly as your work is definitely appreciated but something here stands out like a sore thumb to me. For the .45 you chose 230 gr, .40 180 gr. & for 9mm 115 grain. For the .40 & .45 you chose the heaviest weight bullet commonly used and for the 9mm you chose the lightest. It would have been more meaningful if you had used the 147 gr. for the 9mm as that is the heaviest weight commonly used and should have produced more recoil.

[Ljutic]

Not to be ugly as your work is definitely appreciated but something here stands out like a sore thumb to me. For the .45 you chose 230 gr, .40 180 gr. & for 9mm 115 grain. For the .40 & .45 you chose the heaviest weight bullet commonly used and for the 9mm you chose the lightest. It would have been more meaningful if you had used the 147 gr. for the 9mm as that is the heaviest weight commonly used and should have produced more recoil.

Just lucky I saw this since it's such an old thread. The logic behind the ammo selection for the review was to use what most folks can find at their local Walmart or other discount retailer. Remington bulk packs fit the bill since they are/were the most reasonably priced and nationally available JHP ammunition at the time. Not trying to be disagreeable, but I believe these Remington bulk packs represent the most commonly purchased bullet weights in each caliber except for the 88 grain 380 Auto.

In general, I've found the 147 grain 9mm to be softer shooting than the equivalent 115 or 124 grain loading. Equivalent meaning comparing full power defensive ammunition such as Speer Gold Dot 115 grain vs. Speer Gold Dot 147 grain. Recoil is subjective so what feels lighter for me may not feel lighter for you.

[gb6491]

Excellent work (as usual)! Thank you for putting that together.
Regards,
Greg