Effectiveness of ammo in smaller pistols

[CDR_Glock]

We have all seen the data from Marshall and Sandow and those experiments on Goats in Europe. However, with the popularity of smaller guns, my question is this:

Are the subcompacts and Compact guns, which have shorter barrels, going to be as effective in penetration and expansion as their counterparts with longer barrels? Or are the subcompact semiautomatics made in such a way that the effective velocity meets the minimum standard for the bullet to perform as manufactured to make that point irrelevant?

[JR]

You are reading too much into the tests. Is there a difference? Yes, but not like you think. The only difference between the sub compact, compact and full size is the barrel length. Increasing the barrel length will only increase the velocity. A faster bullet should increase the performance because it will drive deeper creating more damage UNLESS the bullet is designed to perform at a certain velocity. At that time more velocity is wasted.

[CDR_Glock]

I was curious since tests were performed on full sized pistols which only a few reports from snubbies.

When the guns are manufactured the guns must be tested to ensure that the bullets are effective, right?

Thanks.

[JR]

No, its actually the other way around. The ammo is developed around the gun. You will be able to predict the effectiveness of the projectile if you know the velocity it is intended to work within. This way you can crono the round out of your gun and know you are within its limits.

[CDR_Glock]

Very helpful. Thanks.