Ballistic Research - A very short non-definitive study

[Wichaka]

There are two HP loads that I recommend and work as advertised. Federal HST and Remington Golden Saber (non-bonded) in all calibers.

From what I've personally witnessed along with reports from shootings from LE agencies, they work well. Consistent reliable expansion, excellent crush cavity, HST can hold its own through windshield glass, and reliable feeding.

 

[Blue Feather]

I live on a 40K acre lake surrounded by mountains but work in Memphis and Little Rock. The .40 is a good option for both two and four legged threats.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

There are two HP loads that I recommend and work as advertised. Federal HST and Remington Golden Saber (non-bonded) in all calibers.

From what I've personally witnessed along with reports from shootings from LE agencies, they work well. Consistent reliable expansion, excellent crush cavity, HST can hold its own through windshield glass, and reliable feeding.

I've been carrying Speer Gold Dots for several years now. However, I keep looking at those HSTs and wonder if I should make the switch.

 

[JR24]

I've been carrying Speer Gold Dots for several years now. However, I keep looking at those HSTs and wonder if I should make the switch.

Sgammo.com occasionally has some good prices on HST.

 

[Wichaka]

Here's a HST (Left) and a Gold Dot side by side...both shot into a gel block.

You won't get the expansion with a heavy constructed bonded bullet as you will with a non-bonded. The bonded bullets are made to hold together and maintain weight retention when going thru media.

 

[Wichaka]

Speer 200gr Gold Dot +P
Weight retained: 100%
Expanded Diameter: .731"
Medium: 2 thicknesses of wallboard, partial solid wood wall stud, heavy sweatshirt, t-shirt.
Distance: Approx. 17'
Firearm: SigSauer P220




Subject that owned the Sig had an AD in a motel room. The round went through the first layer of wallboard, clipped the wall stud, went through the next layer of wallboard in the neighboring room, struck a female on the left side of her rib cage about mid height, and came to rest against the rib cage on the far side.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Here's a HST (Left) and a Gold Dot side by side...both shot into a gel block.

You won't get the expansion with a heavy constructed bonded bullet as you will with a non-bonded. The bonded bullets are made to hold together and maintain weight retention when going thru media.

View attachment 793310

Well you inspired me to take the leap. Ordered 150 rounds of Federal HST Tactical 230 gr +p, 45 acp ammo for my carry gun.

 

[Wichaka]

As I tell my students...find a load that will give the best results through a wide variety of conditions, then move on and don't look back.

Then train to fight like you're the third monkey on the ramp to Noah's Ark...and friend...its starting to rain.

 

[JR24]

Well you inspired me to take the leap. Ordered 150 rounds of Federal HST Tactical 230 gr +p, 45 acp ammo for my carry gun.

Good stuff. Feeds perfect in my 1911s as well (and Glocks and Sigs and... well you get the idea).

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Good stuff. Feeds perfect in my 1911s as well (and Glocks and Sigs and... well you get the idea).

I haven't read a single bad review or watched a bad video. I look forward to trying them out. Still have a lot of gold dots and Hornady TAP, but it's probably time for an upgrade. Ignoring latest offerings is only a disadvantage.

 

[Wichaka]

Can't recall the last time I was attacked by a gel block.

 

[Wichaka]

Here's a run down on the major carry caliber specific recommendations, some I personally witnessed, some recommended by Dr Gary Roberts;

9mm - I don't recommend any 115gr, the performance is too inconsistent. I found 115gr bullets that were almost in perfect condition that one could almost reload them, to specimens that appeared to have exploded...and everything in between

Winchester Ranger-T 124 gr +P JHP (RA9124TP)
Winchester Ranger Bonded 124 gr +P JHP (RA9BA)
Winchester Ranger-T 127gr JHP +P+ (RA9TA)
Winchester Ranger-T 147gr JHP (RA9T)
Winchester Bonded 147gr JHP (RA9B/Q4364)
Speer Gold Dot 124gr JHP
Speer Gold Dot 124gr JHP +P
Speer Gold Dot 147gr JHP
Remington Golden Saber 124 gr +P JHP bonded (GSB9MMD)
Remington Golden Saber 147gr JHP (GS9MMC)
Federal Tactical 124gr JHP (LE9T1)
Federal Tactical 135gr JHP +P (LE9T5)
Federal HST 147gr JHP (P9HST2)
Federal HST 124gr JHP +P (P9HST3)

38/357 - A very good short barrel/snub-nose round.
Speer Gold Dot 135gr +P


40
Winchester Ranger 180gr JHP (RA40T)
Winchester Ranger 165gr JHP (RA40TA)
Winchester Partition Gold 165gr JHP (RA401P)
Winchester Bonded 180gr JHP (Q4355)
Speer Gold Dot 155gr JHP
Speer Gold Dot 180gr JHP
Federal Tactical 165gr JHP (LE40T3)
Federal Tactical 180gr JHP (LE40T1)
Federal HST 180gr JHP (P40HST1)
Remington Golden Saber 180 gr JHP (GS40SWB)


45 - Although I think the +P loads are unnecessary, they performed very well.

Winchester Ranger-T 230gr JHP (RA45T)
Winchester Ranger-T 230gr JHP +P (RA45TP)
Federal Tactical 230gr JHP (LE45T1)
Federal HST 230gr +P JHP (P45HST1)
Federal HST 230gr JHP (P45HST2)
Speer Gold Dot 230gr JHP
Speer Gold Dot 230gr +P JHP

As you see above, there are no Ranger SXT in the mix, as they are about as inconsistent as a Federal Hydra-Shok.

 

[Wichaka]

Federal's HST 230gr. Non-Bonded HP catalog #P45HST1
Retained weight: 226.5gr.
Expanded diameter: .772"
Medium: Vehicle Windshield
Distance: 15 feet
Firearm: 1911





Officer shot subject inside a car at approx. 15 feet. There was very little deviation from point of impact on the windshield to point of impact on the subject.
In the tests I have observed, this tends to be a problem with most rounds when impacting windshields because of the angle, smoothness, and hardness of the surface. HST's have proved to be very good in this area. They will pretty much hit where you aim thru all media tested.
Bullet entered center of mass on the subject, penetrating the sternum, heart and coming to rest on it's back side. The subject never moved from their initial position in the car, thus deviation of the bullet was easily obtained.

The pic you see does have some gelatin on it, because I had it in a box in my car on a hot day with others that had been shot into gelatin, and the gelatin decided to melt over some of the others.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Just ordered 200 rounds of 9mm 124 gr +p ammo. Making the change, provided they hit where I want out of my particular guns.

 

[the Black Spot]

Wichaka, any data on the performance of wadcutters?

 

[Wichaka]

Sorry for the late reply, I have looking and should have said I'd search and get back to you.

I knew I had some with lead, which was three...but none were straight wad cutters. 2 45acp round nose and 1 38 special semi-wad cutter.

Will post the actual info later.

 

[Wichaka]

LSWC bullets don't give any advantage over FMJ in terms of wounding characteristics. A full wadcutter offers a better terminal effect than LSWC or FMJ, as the permanent wound cavity is greater, but none of these are as effective as a JHP...that said;

45 ACP 230gr RNL Hardcast hand loads; two rounds same victim...unknown which bullet was fired first.
Hand loads were tested with a velocity avg. of 805fps...no load data available.

1) Retained weight: 230gr
Expanded Diameter: .472"
Medium: Heavy clothing - Heavy denim coat, Long sleeve T-Shirt, and LW Thermo underwear shirt.
Distance: Approx. 17 feet
Firearm: 1911

Bullet 1 struck below rib cage, passing through both gall bladder and liver and coming to rest on backside of rib cage.

2) Retained weight: 226.7gr
Expanded Diameter: .498"
Medium: Heavy clothing - Heavy denim coat, Long sleeve T-Shirt, and LW Thermo underwear shirt.
Distance: Approx. 17 feet
Firearm: 1911

Bullet 2 struck center chest, taking out heavy metal button. Penetrated sternum and heart coming rest just shy of spine.


Will post 38 SWC data in a bit.

From what I've read and talking to Doc Roberts years ago, the only thing that will help RNL or SWC is doing surgery to them, ala Jim Cirillo.

 

[Flechette]

Any info on .357?

The testing seemed to concentrate on .38 spl for BUGs but today there are several small, lightweight .357s.

And of course a full sized .357 is hard to beat for a handgun.

 

[Wichaka]

I've got some data for both 357 and some 38 Special.

I'll start with my on experience with a 357 shooting;

Remington 158gr JHP

Retained weight: Fragmented on contact
Expanded Diameter: Unknown
Medium: None
Distance: Approx.: 42"
Firearm: S&W 686

Bullet struck lower teeth, just left of center with a fairly flat trajectory angle. Bullet shattered on contact, with one fragment entering base of brain.

Did bullet fail? I wasn't happy with its performance that being shattering on contact. I've seen plenty of bullets that stayed in tact after passing through teeth.

 

[Wichaka]

38 Special LSWC;

Retained weight: 157.6gr
Expanded Diameter: .359
Medium: T-shirt & Medium Sweatshirt
Distance: Approx.: 12 feet
Firearm: S&W Model 10

Entered torso, just under rib cage, slightly right of center, fairly level front to back. Went through small portion of stomach and came to rest just before left kidney. Subject survived, as subsequent rounds missed target.