CorBon Pow’RBall 9mm +P Ballistic Gel Test & Review

CorBon’s Pow’RBall 9mm +P (100‑grain polymer‑tipped hollow point) has been a trusted defensive option for years. Its design features a polymer insert in the nose, which helps prevent clogging when shooting through barriers. This insert also ensures reliable and controlled expansion. This review evaluates how the Pow’RBall performs when fired from two common service pistols and recorded in calibrated ballistic gel behind a heavy clothing barrier.

Test Setup and Objectives

The evaluation used two handguns with different barrel lengths. A Canik METE MC9 with a 3.1‑inch barrel and a Glock 17 with a 4.5‑inch barrel were chosen. Additionally, a heavy clothing barrier made of denim, fleece, and two cotton layers was placed over calibrated ballistic gel. This setup simulated practical barrier conditions. A LabRadar chronograph recorded muzzle and near‑muzzle velocities.

The main goals of the test were to measure velocity and consistency. It also aimed to evaluate penetration, expansion, weight retention, and the performance of the polymer tip in preventing clogging and initiating expansion.

Velocity and Consistency

CorBon claims 1,475 feet per second (fps) from a 4‑inch test barrel. In testing, the Glock 17 (4.5‑inch barrel) produced a five‑shot average of 1,463 fps. The extreme spread was 39 fps, with a standard deviation of 16.3.

Meanwhile, the Canik MC9 (3.1‑inch barrel) produced a five‑shot average of 1,385 fps. Its extreme spread was 25 fps, with a standard deviation of 10.8.

These results show that the longer barrel closely matches the advertised velocity. Moreover, even the compact MC9 delivers enough speed for a 100‑grain bullet. Overall, the data shows consistent shot-to-shot performance suitable for defensive use.

Barrier Performance and Gel Penetration

Each pistol fired a single round through the heavy clothing barrier into the gel blocks. In both cases, the polymer tip worked as designed. It separated at roughly three inches of penetration, allowing immediate hollow-point expansion.

The Canik MC9 round penetrated about 13.25 inches. The Glock 17 round reached roughly 14 inches. These penetration depths fall within accepted defensive standards. Therefore, even with a lighter 100‑grain bullet, the Pow’RBall delivers sufficient penetration for real-world scenarios.

Expansion and Wound Channel Characteristics

After the polymer tip separated, both bullets expanded quickly and evenly. The Glock 17 rounds expanded to around 0.544″–0.552″, while the MC9 rounds expanded slightly wider, about 0.621″–0.623″.

Because of its higher velocity, the Glock rounds peeled the hollow-point petals back slightly more. Still, both barrels produced similar wound channels. Gel tracks showed clean, consistent cavities and strong tissue disruption. Expansion remained reliable even through multiple clothing layers.

Weight Retention and Construction

Post-test weighing confirmed excellent weight retention. The MC9 round measured 100.0 grains, while the Glock 17 round measured 99.7 grains. Minimal fragmentation was observed.

The polymer tip did not count toward projectile mass. It is a separate hard polymer piece that was shed during penetration. The bullets showed stable construction and consistent performance across tests.

Practical Analysis

The Pow’RBall’s polymer tip provides two major advantages. First, it resists clogging through clothing barriers. Second, it ensures predictable expansion across different barrel lengths and velocities.

Despite the 100‑grain weight, both pistols delivered enough penetration for defensive use. Energy transfer on target was effective, especially from the longer barrel. Feeding was smooth, expansion was uniform, and weight retention was excellent. In short, the round balances stability with terminal performance.

Conclusion

The CorBon Pow’RBall 9mm +P 100-grain performs as advertised. A 4.5‑inch full-size service pistol nearly reaches the claimed 1,475 fps. Even a compact 3.1‑inch pistol delivers solid performance. Gel testing with heavy clothing confirmed reliable polymer tip shedding at around three inches, clean expansion, uniform wound channels, and excellent weight retention.

For shooters seeking a fast, lightweight defensive 9mm that feeds smoothly and expands consistently through clothing, the Pow’RBall is a dependable choice.