9mm Major or .40 Cal for USPSA Open

[oct_97]

I'm getting ready to build an Open gun with a Red Dot using either a G-34 or G-35. Which do you think is best for a 63 year young guy regarding recoil & muzzel flip, 9mm Major or .40 Cal? Also, is there a great deal of difference between a 6 ported and a compensated barrel? I reload and can tailor the loads as necessary. Thanks in advance.

John

[Jakk]

It all depends. The 9mm would give you a few more rounds in the mag. Sometimes that makes a difference.

You have many more options for bullets & powder to make major with a .40 than with a 9mm. If you can, find someone who has built an Open Glock and see if you can shoot it.

If you add a comp on a G34/35, you will have a relatively long gun. It may feel somewhat muzzle-heavy. Some people prefer to build on a G17/22. You can still make Major 9mm with a G17 length barrel. Some of how the gun feels will also have to do with the setup you use for dot, comp, magwell, etc.

A comp will be much more effective than just porting.

[Flexmoney]

My vote goes to 9 Major.

[TimP]

what are you wanting to do?

If you are wanting to go out and give yourself every opportunity to win, and shot fast. Go with the 9mm major. Its not a hard loading to use. With a G34, and an exteral comp, you wont have any problems making 9mm major. a starting load of VV 3N38 will do it with a 147gr bullet. You can fit 27rds into a 170mm mag. You wont get as many rds in your mag as a 38super, but you will get more than a 40. This is what I would call a gamer load. Nothing wrong with that, I'm a gamer too

If you are just wanting to shoot open class to shoot open class, and arent too concerned about going as fast as possible, go with 40. The 40cal major load is a breeze to load, and its very light on the recoil. A G35 with a external comp will do just fine. You will be able to fit 23 rds in a 170mm mag. 155/165 gr bullets are the bullet of choice for an open 40. Some people like the 135gr because they say it "works the comp" better. I like a 180gr though. I shoot all 180gr bullets in my 40's, open or not.

That being said, I shoot 9mm major in open, and 40cal in Limited. But I do have a 40cal open gun based on a G35.


The difference in the 6port comp, and the exteral comp is ( to me,) negligible at best with 9mm. I prefer just one single external comp on my guns. If you have a "ported" gun, you cant shoot lead in it. The lead will buildup in the comp, and mess the gun up. If you have a ported barrel you must shoot jacketed bullets. If you only have a comped barrel, you can shoot lead. Personaly I don't the 6port barrel is worth it for 9mm. Reason being, you are pushing that bullet way faster than a normal 9mm rd, and with the ports it will start bleeding off velocity as soon as the bullet passes the first port. SO you have to use a heavier powder charge to get your extra speed. More powder means more recoil. See my point? In 40cal its a bit better though. The 40cal rd by nature makes major with no problems. Even when you started bleeding off velocity, your still not going to have any problems making major with a 40 out of a G35. Still, its negligible at best.

I use KKM barrels. I just have a regular KKM comp on all my guns, no barrel porting for me.

IF I were you, I would get a G35, KKM comp'd barrel, brass magwell, tungston guide rod, 15lb ISMI spring, and a DR optic sight. Shoot 40cal, its easier to load, and easier on the gun.

Hope that helps
Tim

[BerKim]

You could always shoot Open minor...

[TimP]

Originally posted by BerKim
You could always shoot Open minor...

ya know, I hadn't thought of that. As long as you shoot A's you will be fine.

[Custom Glock Racing]

I would go with 9. I have a built a few of each over the years.

[C9X19]

9 Major, capacity wins the game.

[oct_97]

Thanks everyone for the input, I appreciate it. I've posted the same question on another forum, between there and here I'm getting a fair amount of feedback indicating that the G-35 with a comp will be too long & heavy on the end. That’s why I wondered about a six port Storm Lake barrel. Tim, I'm just playing around, too old to be serious about it any more. I’m thinking that the .40 will not only be easier on the gun but on me as well. I know that the Bevin G. DR optic installation is the cat’s meow, but once again, I’m playing around. Would a Jpoint on a mount be that bad? Again, thank you all for your input.

John

[Flexmoney]

If you want something that is quick, cheap and easy...here is my Open G34 setup in Major 9.

- G34, 3-pin gun, w/ accecories rail
- KKM threaded barrel and KKM 4-port comp (836-000-013)
- recoil spring, light (445-000-012) to medium (445-000-005)
- stock recoil rod, or a stainless rod, or tungsten (shooters choice)
- Aimtech mount, kinda high, but no gun jams (017-000-005)
- C-more Railway
- Taylor Freelance +10 mag extension (100-000-035)

The above will run well. The high scope mount means no jams. It should fit in a CR Speed holster (775-000-026).

You can add weight to the setup with a Seatle Slug and/or a heavy magwell and a tungsten guide rod, if that suits you.

You will likely want to run 124g - 135g bullets...probably with something along the lines of HS6.

The gun won't be super flat, but will be good enough to shoot Master class scores or better. :)