TAP vs. PDX1
- Thread starter maseden
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XTP probably penetrates a little more than the PDX, but the PDX probably expands slightly more. I think the PDX is much like a Gold Dot, but penetrates a little more, expands a little less, looks like it is made in a pretty similiar way and works in a similiar way.
Kingofthehill
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you have ran BOTH of those brands through your own Colt Officers model? I don't know your level of knowledge so don't take this as a jab against you but more for anyone new who may be reading this thread. Even if your gun is identical to another one that feeds that ammo reliably doesn't mean they all will.
You can't go wrong with either one of those brands. I would choose based on availability, cost and most importantly reliability.
just as an example, I have 2 glock 19's... purchased both brand new 2 months apart. 1 will not feed Remington Golden saber's... the other one has never had a problem with them. go figure. I also suggest at least 200rds of either HP's with a 100% reliability before trusting any gun or any ammo with my life.
JOe
Full Metal Jacket
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the FBI issue PDX1 bonded ammo. that would be my choice of the two. tap's not bad, but it doesn't expand that much, and penetrates a bit more.
You know, I think I blew it a little. They are both designed for penetration>expansion, XTP is known to be a reliable, but small, expander, I believe the PDX1 is made to penetrate over 16", about the same as the XTP, so they probably expand to a pretty similiar diameter.
Differences being the PDX1 is bonded, so a core-jacket separation could only happen if it completely destructed, not going to happen at those velocities, and the XTP is one of the toughest non-bonded JHP bullets out there. Not known for separations.
Between the two, I would buy the cheaper, to get more practice with that particular load, and have a bigger stash of it for later, for cheaper.
Differences being the PDX1 is bonded, so a core-jacket separation could only happen if it completely destructed, not going to happen at those velocities, and the XTP is one of the toughest non-bonded JHP bullets out there. Not known for separations.
Between the two, I would buy the cheaper, to get more practice with that particular load, and have a bigger stash of it for later, for cheaper.
TAP is usually a bit less expensive in the 20-round boxes than PDX1, however if you can get Ranger Bonded in the 50-round boxes, it's the same as PDX1 but significantly cheaper per cartridge than both.
Sheepdog1968
Member
One of the major gun mags (American Rifleman or Guns and Ammo) did a big review of these two. Both seemed to work well. The one point that stuck with me was that the PDX was testing by the FBI and that is what they are using the The TAP wasn't tested. As such, I would lean to the PDX.
Except for the bonding process on the PDX1, they're pretty similar on a technological level. Between the two, I'd personally choose PDX1 because I tend to stay away from +P loads, and the difference here is not all that huge anyway, being 920 fps for standard-pressure PDX1 (432 ft-lb energy) versus 950 fps for +P TAP (461 ft-lb energy).
By the way, I realize that the choice for whatever reason is between these two loads, but if you like energy, then neither compares to this (at standard pressure, no less):
http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_34&products_id=95
.45 ACP prices being what they are, the Double Tap load, which uses a bonded Speer Gold Dot bullet, isn't necessarily more expensive and may even be less expensive (not counting shipping). As for myself, I don't feel the need for more blast and recoil as long as I can get the terminal ballistics I want, but you may have different requirements.
REAPER4206969
Member
Bummer...what bullet are they using now for "Bonded Defense"?
REAPER4206969
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Thank you then. You are a great asset to the online Arms community.
That's what they're using now for their "Controlled Expansion" series:
http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_34&products_id=277
However, their "Bonded Defense" series bullets still look just like Gold Dots:
http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_34&products_id=95
I have the 230 TAP +P rounds in my mags at the moment. I just saw the PDX1 in .45 for the first time pretty recently so when I switch these out I might see how they work for me. I usually buy a bunch of rounds and test them out.... if they work reliably I'll carry them. Then after a year I'll do the same again. It's way too expensive to keep switching SD rounds multiple times per year because buying enough to do an effective test is good money..especially since some of them are over $1/round now.
Sheepdog1968
Member
The reliability is the key. I know what I currently use I have thoroughly tested in my specific home defense pistol. To switch to a new round for home defense, I'd want to run 200 rounds through my pistol when it's both clean and filthy, limp wrisiting it, shooting at funny angles, etc. I suspect there is a very low chance it wouldn't feed properly (everything feeds fine through my HD pistol) but I would rather check it out first.
No worries, at least you went and got the latest info straight from the source.
You're correct that they had previously used XTP bullets for their "Controlled Expansion" series, and now that they're using Montana Gold JHPs they might as well change the series name to "Pretend Expansion" as we can judge for ourselves in the following video:http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=tnoutdoors9#p/u/37/hsGnDtgVHc0
So the bottom line is that if one wants an expanding bullet in a super-hot, maxed-out load, then go with the Gold Dot (generally a good one, although it varies by each caliber and weight) in Double Tap's "Bonded Defense" series, and not their "Controlled Expansion" series.
CoRoMo
Member
I'll be the first to mention this?
If both run like water in your officer and you can't cause either to stop up, choose the more accurate of the two. But if they both also shoot as accurate as the other (grouping at 25 yards from a rest)... I'd go with the PDX. Both are good.
If both run like water in your officer and you can't cause either to stop up, choose the more accurate of the two. But if they both also shoot as accurate as the other (grouping at 25 yards from a rest)... I'd go with the PDX. Both are good.
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