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Review: Doug Koening 9mm and .38 Super Ammunition

With all due respect, I would bet these two loads are based on his competition loads. Assuming that to be the case I would offer this:

I don't think more power is always equated to more preferred performance. In his case accuracy. Example: Hunting (most accurate) loads for my Mod700 .270 Win, 130gr PBT is more than 200 fps slower and some loss in energy than the typical factory loading of about 3100+ fps but far more accurate in my rifle. I recognize that's a product of my particular rifle and the load it likes, but could be similar to the reason for his particular loads for the two cartridges.

But I'm thinking a more reasonable assumption would be due to the similarity of the two rnds in his firearm since I think I read he uses the same gun for both calibers by changing bbls. I think I noticed in the cartridge specs how similar they were in both velocity and energy using these loadings.

I don't do or know the particulars of IPSC/IDPA so I don't understand your statement regarding the use of the 38 Super in those competitions. Is more power=more performance=more better? I'm basing my assumption simply on where I suspect he found the most accuracy and probably similarity in the two calibers when competing.

Thanks.
 
IDPA/IPSC has power rating thresholds - Minor & Major, and score accordingly.

The 9mm is a MINOR cartridge based on its rating & over performance limits.

From it's inception the 38 Super has always had better performance because it's overall capability.

Some IDPA/IPSC shooters went with the 38 Super vs. the 45 acp because it could make MAJOR on its own (the 45 acp is the base-line MAJOR cartridge) and a 38 Super 1911 had a 2 rd capacity advantage over the 45 thus more targets could be engaged before a mag change.

Loading a 38 Super down to (and apparently below) 9mm levels (minor) makes no sense in both the IDPA/IPSC competition world, except for shooting plates (where overall lowest time counts vs. points) as well the self-defense world.

Even in shooting plates I know competitors that handload their rounds down (plus use low poundage recoil springs) to the point where their pistols barely run (and sometimes choke) in order to have the lowest possible recoil to go faster. If DK is offering under-powered 38 Super loads for that purpose then he's catering to a very limited market.

I hope that clarifies things.

BTW - I always use full-power loads in my IPSC shooting because; #1 - I shoot to become a better shooter, and not to play the "game"; and #2 - I want to know how my pistol runs with self-defense full-power loads because that's my highest priority.

My .02
 
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Thanks, what you've said makes sense, especially about "the self-defense world". But am I understanding then that 'bulls eye' type accuracy doesn't come into play? Sounds to me like you're shooting gongs or other metallic targets where total number of 'hits' score more/higher than 'bulls eyes'.
 
jumpinjoe said:
Thanks, what you've said makes sense, especially about "the self-defense world". But am I understanding then that 'bulls eye' type accuracy doesn't come into play? Sounds to me like you're shooting gongs or other metallic targets where total number of 'hits' score more/higher than 'bulls eyes'.
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There's shooting paper targets with different zones that score higher than others since they are associated with a human-type torso configuration. The number of hits in the various zones score according, including misses, is calculated with time to run the course. That combination gives the shooter a score. A higher value is given if a shooter is shooting a MAJOR cartridge vs. a MINOR.

But shooting "steel" targets (various types & configurations) the score is the lowest time overall, with no points formulated in.

So one course of fire is based on points & time, and another is based purely on time.
 
Talyn said:
There's shooting paper targets with different zones that score higher than others since they are associated with a human-type torso configuration. The number of hits in the various zones score according, including misses, is calculated with time to run the course. That combination gives the shooter a score. A higher value is given if a shooter is shooting a MAJOR cartridge vs. a MINOR.

But shooting "steel" targets (various types & configurations) the score is the lowest time overall, with no points formulated in.

So one course of fire is based on points & time, and another is based purely on time.
Click to expand...
Got it, thanks. I'd probably give it a try if I was 40-50 yrs younger. Eyes and stamina have both gone south....... LOL!
 
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