Anyone use Corbon "Powerball" ammo?

[TheRising]

Negative with scientific results:

http://www.thegunzone.com/powrball.html

Positive from Quinn at GunBlast

http://www.gunblast.com/PowRBall.htm

Good luck, I am pretty sure there isn't a straight answer out there. As much as I like and respect Jeff Quinn's opinion, I can't argue with science....

[KBCraig]

There shouldn't be a break-in process on a gun that you trust your life with.

"Should" or "Shouldn't" aside, there is a break-in process on every gun, just like every other mechanical device that is subject to high stress. Guns, like cars, can pass every QA test and fail as soon as they leave the dealership.

If a manufacturer tests to 100% reliability before releasing the gun... well, we call those guns "used".

Even those handguns that approach 100% reliability out of the box --revolvers-- can't be reliably trusted until they're proven through at least several hundred rounds.

Kevin

[flintknapper]

Good morning Sir,

Thank you for your thoughts. I will try to answer your questions as best I can.

You bought her a $1000 gun and you are worrying about it feeding reliably....???

Yes, I bought her a pistol. The price of the weapon is irrelevant.

I am actually stunned. How come no one else has a problem with this??

I am not sure how to answer this question. Are you asking about the price, reliability, suggesting that others never have malfunctions, or soliciting others to have the same problem you do with this. The question is “less than specific� so I will leave it alone.

What thought process do people go through when they make these decisions??

Sorry if this sounds really jerky, but this one put me over the top. I have a hard time thinking it is a good idea to buy a $1000 gun for your daughter and there be a good possibility that some types of ammo won't feed well in it. If that's the case, pack the gun up when you get it, and ship it back cause it isn't worth the packaging it came in.

I will combine this question/comment because they fit nicely.


“Thought Process�: There was no thought process, we just picked it because it was “cute�. O.K., not really!

Here’s your TP:

1. Daughter is in school here for one more year. She will then be moving to Houston to do her residency and complete her doctorate. She and I both recognize that she needs to have that “final layer� of protection available to her. She is about to turn 21 and intends to get her CHL.

2. Because of school… and her chosen profession, she will not be able to “carry� some places, and also not directly on her person at other times. Basically, this means “purse carry�, or in a belly band under her scrubs. This creates “criteria�.

3. Chief among those criteria are: The weapon must be small and fairly light, must shoot a reasonably powerful cartridge, must go bang every time, must fit HER hand, must not snag if drawn from purse/belly band.

4. The rest is a matter of “preference� (We are still allowed this): Her preference is a 1911 platform (something she is familiar with).

5. The Para seems to offer everything we both think she needs: 1911 platform with thumb & grip safeties, firing pin block, light double action, 9mm cartridge, bobbed grip safety and hammer, extra mag., small and light enough that she will actually carry it, lifetime guarantee.

6. As far as “feeding problems� go: I have no doubt it will feed several brands of personal defense ammo just fine. But, it is a 3� gun. That doesn’t mean it won’t be reliable (or I wouldn’t have bought it for her), but it does mean that it “could� have a propensity to be a bit finicky about certain types of ammo. Hence, I will be testing several brands to see what feeds and groups best.

I'm totally beside myself.

It will pass.

If you get a Glock or Xd for that matter (I am partial to the Glock) you won't have to go out and test 5 different boxes of ammo just to make sure they feed reliably. They WILL feed reliably. And at half the cost. There must be some reason behind you choosing the Para, I just don't know what. Your carry weapon doesn't need to look pretty because God willing no one will ever have to see it. Get a gun that is reliable in all situations and is a tried and tested battle gun. This isn't a race gun ISPC match.

Thank you for the input. I have no problem with Glocks (although I will contest the idea that they never have problems). I agree…your weapon does not have to look pretty, I do not buy defensive firearms predicated upon this, and the Carry 9 would most certainly not be considered a “race gun� so we needn’t discuss that.


Just a tip from someone who has been shooting Semi-Autos for over 40 years:

A. Prove every weapon you intend to “ carry� by shooting the exact ammo you intend to use in it. Do not “assume� it will digest any and everything you throw at it…regardless of the advertising hype you may have read, or even the testimony of others. Doesn’t matter if it’s a Glock, Para, Springfield, Les Baer….etc. It is a patently bad idea to not “prove� your pistol.

B. When its time to arm your Daughter (and only child), make sure she has a quality firearm (price completely ignored), make sure it fits her needs, and most importantly….require empirical evidence that it will perform when needed. That is what I am doing, and the reason for my questions here.

As for 9mm ammo, I'd go with Speer GoldDot 125gr. +P hollow point.

Thank you for this tidbit, I will include them in my testing.



Regards,

Flint.

[NcongruNt]

I can't say much for the Pow'rBall, but my pistol is picky with JHP rounds and absolutely loves the Hornady XTP rounds. I could feel a real difference in how smoothly it was feeding with this ammo. I think a lot of it had to do with the slick brass, but their JHP bullets are shaped a little more conically, so they didn't have issues catching on the feed ramp like with the blunter Silver Bear stuff.

[G.C.Montgomery]

Should have my Daughter's 9mm in by Monday.

Don't yet know what it will feed reliably, but the "Powerball" sounds promising.

Anyone have any experience with this round?

Her pistol (Para Carry 9) has a ramped barrel, but it is still a 3" gun...and as such, might be a little finicky. We'll see.

Flintknapper, it's my opinion that Pow’rBall isn’t the best JHP on the market with respect to terminal ballistic performance. I have seen better expansion and penetration results in standard testing with other ammunition. Pow’rBall does provide better expansion than FMJ but other JHP designs provide still more expansion. I’ve also seen more jacket and core separation in Pow’rBall than other bullets. Now, in light of all I’ve said here, I use Pow’rBall in my LW Commander when I carry that gun because I still think it’s superior to FMJ in .45ACP pistols. I don't know that I feel the same way about Pow'rBall in smaller diameter, higher velocity rounds like .40 and 9mm. YMMV.

[flintknapper]

Should have my Daughter's 9mm in by Monday.

Don't yet know what it will feed reliably, but the "Powerball" sounds promising.

Anyone have any experience with this round?

Her pistol (Para Carry 9) has a ramped barrel, but it is still a 3" gun...and as such, might be a little finicky. We'll see.

Flintknapper, it's my opinion that Pow’rBall isn’t the best JHP on the market with respect to terminal ballistic performance. I have seen better expansion and penetration results in standard testing with other ammunition. Pow’rBall does provide better expansion than FMJ but other JHP designs provide still more expansion. I’ve also seen more jacket and core separation in Pow’rBall than other bullets. Now, in light of all I’ve said here, I use Pow’rBall in my LW Commander when I carry that gun because I still think it’s superior to FMJ in .45ACP pistols. I don't know that I feel the same way about Pow'rBall in smaller diameter, higher velocity rounds like .40 and 9mm. YMMV.

This is my concern as well, but I have no experience with the round....so I thought I'd ask here. If it were offered in a 124 gr. with a bonded jacket...then I would be more inclined to look at it.

[9mmGuy]

Negative with scientific results:

http://www.thegunzone.com/powrball.html

I like what they said about the PowRball going through glass. I never thought about that before...

I have never shot Corbon ammo before mainly cause I dont have the funds to buy all that premium ammo to practice with. Although I have fired 50 rounds of Hydra Shoks with no prob though my pistol to see if they would feed.

Edited to say that Federal HS come in 147 gr JHP!!
http://www.streichers.com/ProductDetail ... rod=FC-9HS

And a non JHP expanding bullet
http://www.streichers.com/ProductDetail ... od=FC-9EX1

By the way I have a friend that carries a G30 and it wont load Federal Hydra Shoks from the slide locked back position every time. Sorry had to say it.

(Sorry for all the edits)

[Quick6]

Also try Corbon DPX. I have not done any scientific ballistic tests, but I've done in a lot of fruits and veggies with it.

Seriously, it has gotten some pretty good reviews and I've had no problems with it in my PX4 Storm. Whenever I carry that weapon it's packed full of DPX.