jeffreybehr
Member
I've been testing the expansion of .45-caliber bullets in my S&W M&P 45c, the compact version. I've posted a bunch of results here...
http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...873-45-acp-bullet-expansion-test-results.html
...but I decided to post my latest results here.
After buying and using Barnes TAC/XP bullets in three different calibers and guns and being very impressed with them, I became fascinated with the less-expensive C.O.P.-brand bullets that MidwayUSA sells and finally bought some. They're lots less expensive than Barnes TAC/XPs and not much more than other premium-quality bullets...AND...they're available.
Following Hodgdon's recipes for the TAC/XPs and then carefully increasing for +P loads (and using new R-P-brand +P cases), I've got these running at around 1050FPS at 10 feet. Probably I'll quit at a couple tenths of a grain higher and should end up around 1075FPS from my 4"-barreled compact and 1100FPS from my full-size.
I'll not save the conclusion for later--these are the best bullets I've ever tested for expansion and retention, and I'll be buying more and loading and carrying these for PD.
Expansion results:
ALL expanded bullets weighed from 159.4 thru 159.8 grains, essentially identical to the weight of new bullets.
Bullets 'zero' and 1 were shot into bare waterjugs. Bullet 2 was shot thru a medium-clothing layer of denim/2 terrytowels/denim. Bullet 3 passed thru a thicker layer of denim/4 terrytowels/denim. Since these bullets looked so good and I had enough waterjugs, I then tried one thru my thickest pad yet, denim/8 terrytowels/denim. As you can see, not even 10 layers significantly reduced the expansion of this bullet. All 4 bullets entered waterjug #3, with the last-2 bullets cracking the rear wall of jug 3.
The width of each of the 1st-4 bullets was about 0.8", while the 5th ('4') was about 0.78".
As I wrote earlier, I'm buying more and will be carrying these soon. Now I need to find someone local with ballistic jell to confirm penetration.
--------------------------------
Dec15 update--have some COP 185s on the way. We'll see how they do.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...873-45-acp-bullet-expansion-test-results.html
...but I decided to post my latest results here.
After buying and using Barnes TAC/XP bullets in three different calibers and guns and being very impressed with them, I became fascinated with the less-expensive C.O.P.-brand bullets that MidwayUSA sells and finally bought some. They're lots less expensive than Barnes TAC/XPs and not much more than other premium-quality bullets...AND...they're available.
Following Hodgdon's recipes for the TAC/XPs and then carefully increasing for +P loads (and using new R-P-brand +P cases), I've got these running at around 1050FPS at 10 feet. Probably I'll quit at a couple tenths of a grain higher and should end up around 1075FPS from my 4"-barreled compact and 1100FPS from my full-size.
I'll not save the conclusion for later--these are the best bullets I've ever tested for expansion and retention, and I'll be buying more and loading and carrying these for PD.
Expansion results:
ALL expanded bullets weighed from 159.4 thru 159.8 grains, essentially identical to the weight of new bullets.
Bullets 'zero' and 1 were shot into bare waterjugs. Bullet 2 was shot thru a medium-clothing layer of denim/2 terrytowels/denim. Bullet 3 passed thru a thicker layer of denim/4 terrytowels/denim. Since these bullets looked so good and I had enough waterjugs, I then tried one thru my thickest pad yet, denim/8 terrytowels/denim. As you can see, not even 10 layers significantly reduced the expansion of this bullet. All 4 bullets entered waterjug #3, with the last-2 bullets cracking the rear wall of jug 3.
The width of each of the 1st-4 bullets was about 0.8", while the 5th ('4') was about 0.78".
As I wrote earlier, I'm buying more and will be carrying these soon. Now I need to find someone local with ballistic jell to confirm penetration.
--------------------------------
Dec15 update--have some COP 185s on the way. We'll see how they do.
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