Test Gun: Delta Elite
Barrel length: 5 inches.
Bullet: Everglades 40 cal 180gr JHP (Handload).
Test media: 10% Clear Ballistics Gel.
Distance: 10 feet.
Chronograph: Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph G2.
Five shot velocity average: 1272fps
Gel Temperature 70 degrees.
Everglades ammunition is a small ammunition manufacture and reloading supplier located in Naples, FL. They also have an inhouse line of bullets for reloading. I’m not sure if they make the bullets themselves or if someone makes them for them but they look similar to other generic bullets I have used in the past.
The first time I used their bullets were some of their 9mm 124gr JHP. The performance was very good and held together at over 1400fps. Encouraged by their 9mm bullet, I decided to try Their 40 cal 180gr JHP in the 10mm.
This bullet reminds me of the Hornady XTP and so I felt the Hornady manual would be a good place to start for load development. For this load, I decided to use Blue Dot with new Starline brass and CCI large pistol primer. Working up a load with Blue Dot was very easy and I stopped at Hornady’s max of 10.7 grains. The load showed normal signs of pressure and I got a five-shot average velocity of 1272fps with a high of 1289 and a low of 1249fps.
Five rounds at 10 yards offhand
So how did it do in gel? The first round had a velocity of 1298fps and penetrated to 16 inches. However, it began to come apart at about the 9-inch mark leaving bits of lead and jacket behind. It completely shed the majority of the jacket between the 13.5 and 15-inch mark. The recovered weight of the main core was 94.1 grains and the diameter was .52 inches.
The second round was very similar to the first. The velocity was 1305fps and this time the maximum penetration was 17.5 inches. Just like the first round the bullet began braking apart at the 11-inch mark and lost most of the jacket at the 13 to 15-inch mark. The main core’s weight was 92.8 grains and the diameter was .51 inches.
The story becomes much better when going through heavy clothing. Heavy clothing tends to retard expansion and this time it worked for the better.
Round one’s velocity was 1300fps and it penetrated to 16 inches. Recovered weight was 176.8 grains and expansion was .70 inches. The second bullet hit at a velocity of 1286fps and also penetrated to 16 inches. It’s recovered expansion was .73 inches and its weight was 180.1 grains.
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