Ballistic gelatin test results : 9x19mm Federal EFMJ

[Brass Fetcher]

Special thanks to J.K. for funding this test in full.

Cartridge : Federal 105gr Expanding Full Metal Jacket

Firearm : Recoil-operated handgun with 4.0" barrel length

Block calibration : All depths corrected (From 9.2cm @ 578 ft/sec (bare gelatin shot) and 8.6cm @ 588 ft/sec (denim and overpenetration shot))

All shots fired at 10 feet distance from muzzle to the front face of the gelatin block.

Shot 1 - Bare gelatin shot. Impacted at 1169 ft/sec, penetrated to 9.3". Bullet was recovered at 0.584" average diameter and 103.4gr weight.

Shot 2 - Heavy clothing shot. Impacted at 1150 ft/sec, penetrated to 8.8". Bullet was recovered at 0.580" average diameter and 104.9gr weight.

Shot 3 - Overpenetration shot. A 16" pistol block is cut roughly in half, with one half placed in front of an interior wall and the other half placed behind the interior wall. This simulates the effect of a bullet that overpenetrates a thin portion of a target and then assesses the potential danger to persons on the other side of the wall. Bullet impacted at 1148 ft/sec, penetrated to 6.9" in the initial block, completely through the interior wall and was found at the base of the second block, having inflicted no damage to the secondary gelatin block. Recovered at 0.591" average diameter and 103.4gr weight.

 

[McCall911]

Shot 1 - Bare gelatin shot. Impacted at 1169 ft/sec, penetrated to 9.3". Bullet was recovered at 0.584" average diameter and 103.4gr weight.

Shot 2 - Heavy clothing shot. Impacted at 1150 ft/sec, penetrated to 8.8". Bullet was recovered at 0.580" average diameter and 104.9gr weight

So...best just to stick with a .380 if all you've got is EFMJ!!!



Thanks again, JE223. Sometimes enlightenment can be negative, I guess.

 

[BHPshooter]

So...best just to stick with a .380 if all you've got is EFMJ!!!

I'm gonna disagree. Those penetration numbers are about equal to what I'd expect from a FMJ out of a .380, but you're overlooking the expansion.

I'm not sure exactly what you expected. Can you clarify?

I can see how that demonstration would be a BIG comfort to someone with kids or to an apartment dweller. It shows that the bullet will do what it's designed to do without over-penetrating.

Please note that I'm not saying that it blows my skirt up. My big beef with EFMJ is that the projectiles are always too light for my preferences; However, even with my personal biases, I can't look at that test and see it as anything but satisfactory.

Wes

 

[Gordon]

Heck I'd use it if I lived in New Jersey . A .60 hole 10" deep thru heavy clothes or not seems pretty badazz to me.

 

[Gordon]

Heck I'd use it if I lived in New Jersey . A .60 hole 10" deep thru heavy clothes or not seems pretty badazz to me.:banghead:

 

[CPshooter]

I am totally liking these new EFMJ rounds..my only beef is exactly what somebody else already said: they are too light! Why can't they make them heavier for better penetration?

Were these bullets designed to have less penetration for a specific market or what? Would the bullets not expand/perform correctly unless they are a lighter weight for each caliber? What's the deal here...the expansion and consistency of those suckers is unreal for 9mm! Why not make them heavier for better penetration?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Thank you for the great work, as usual...

Are you going to get to those 7.65mm Browning rounds I sent you?
When you do remember all three I sent, the Fiocchi 60 gr SJHP, Fiocchi 73 gr FMJ and CorBon 60 gr JHP rounds. (Or was it four? Did I also send you Winchester Silver Tips?)

 

[McCall911]

I'm not sure exactly what you expected. Can you clarify?

Here's one .380 test that comes to mind. Of course, expansion is not the greatest in this example:


http://www.firearmstactical.com/test_data/380acp/hor380-90xtp-b85.htm

But their test of another .380 sorta makes my above comment look like a negative exaggeration (which it probably was ):

http://www.firearmstactical.com/test_data/380acp/win380-95ssxt-b85.htm

So...best just to stick with a .380 if all you've got is EFMJ!!!

What I meant was "might as well" instead of "best."

I suppose I've just been prejudiced by the 12-inch rule from the FBI tests. I realize in the end there's more to a bullet's performance than just penetration and expansion.

 

[fletcher]

Penetration a little low, but expansion is not that bad.

 

[GunNut]

The only reason I would ever consider using the EFMJ round is if hollow points were banned in my state/city. Even then I would probably be better served by a FMJ in .45ACP.

If they could figure out a way to increase the total weight of the 9mm round to 147gr without increasing the size of the round, then we'd probably have a winner.

Steve

 

[fletcher]

Has anyone cross-sectioned one of these to see exactly what it's made of?

 

[GunNut]

From the pictures above, looks to be copper and plastic.

What these really need are a solid base similiar to the Barnes X-Bullet, then the plastic wad in the top with a jacket. You would lose some expansion, but gain penetration, IMHO.

Steve

 

[the naked prophet]

The silicone rubber ball in the tip is fairly large. It's also extremely light weight. Therefore, the 105 grain bullet takes up more space than a much heavier lead bullet.

Normally, a lightweight bullet would leave more room in the case for powder, allowing for much faster velocities. A heavier bullet will leave less room for powder. In this case though, a lightweight bullet leaves less room for powder. You can't get this type of bullet any heavier than this without seriously compromising the volume of powder. I think they've already gone too far in that regard.

I mean, it's a 105 grain bullet moving at just over 1100 fps. A standard WWB 115grain FMJ moves at 1200 fps. If you drop the weight of a standard lead bullet down to 105 grains, it should be moving along quite a bit faster. You move on up to +P in the defensive loads, you can get 147 grain JHPs moving at or nearly at the same speed.

Unless you're in New Jersey, I personally wouldn't use these. There are far better loads out there. I also refuse to carry any load which does not penetrate 12 inches (though, I suppose 11.5 inches is close enough...) in ballistic gelatin. For a caliber under .38 special (.380 and under) I'll carry a FMJ or solid lead. I try to avoid those calibers, but if I had to carry a .22 I'd carry Aguila SSS 60 grain solids. Expansion is nice, but penetration is necessary. My point of view, anyway.

 

[McCall911]

From the pictures above, looks to be copper and plastic.

Yeah, I was wondering what that white goo was. It sorta looked like marshmallow to me. Hey, JE223, did you taste it?

Whatever it is, it seemed like it held together pretty well during the penetration. I'd have to wonder if it would do the same if it encountered bone. Hmm...

 

[Brass Fetcher]

I keep anything that touched gelatin well away from my digestive system. Trust me on this.

 

[Candiru]

Federal also makes a 124-grain +P EFMJ round for law enforcement; ammoman.com is the only place I've found to buy some. Looking at the crimped case, the bullet takes up most of the volume, hence the high pressure. Recoil-wise, it's fairly mild, as the ballistics are more along the lines of a light standard-pressure round.

I carry EFMJ in my spare mag, mainly because there's no hollowpoint to gather lint from my pocket.

 

[the naked prophet]

I keep anything that touched gelatin well away from my digestive system. Trust me on this.

This sounds like the lead-in to an amusing story... enlighten us!

 

[McCall911]

Quote:
I keep anything that touched gelatin well away from my digestive system. Trust me on this.

This sounds like the lead-in to an amusing story... enlighten us!

I think it's for the same reason that I avoid eating gelatin and products made from it: Gelatin is a derivative from hides and bones.

http://www.snopes.com/food/ingredient/jello.asp

 

[Brass Fetcher]

Awright... but remember that it was you asking me to tell the story!

I believe that Petri dishes are closely the same to ballistic gelatin, and they are used to grow bacteria in a lab setting. So yeah, you apparently should be careful with the gelatin (especially the stuff that spills out and is left on food or on the counter, etc) - it gets wild bacterial infections and so do you if you eat it or its on your hands (sometimes).

The first time it happened was in early 2006... all that I could do was go to bed for ~ 5 hours, interrupting my sleep every 30 minutes to use the restroom. I was exhausted - I assume this is what dysentary is like.

The second time (a few months ago), I was playing tennis and the facility I was playing at was closed for the holidays (except for the tennis court). This time it was over a lot quicker, but I did make about 6 latrine calls in 2 hours.

The 'sickness' basically creeps up on you with about 30min warning and then it's on from there until its over. I hope that ya'll appreciate the gelatin results, because I've paid for them heavily at times.

JE

 

[Brass Fetcher]

@ArchAngelCD - Paid tests have priority, I will get to that ammunition when time becomes available.

 

[McCall911]

Awright... but remember that it was you asking me to tell the story!

Oh, that story.



I didn't realize that about gelatin. I just suspect you go to a lot of trouble to do what you do, but I didn't realize the extent. My hat's off to you!