Federal Premium LE Barns XPB 9mm?

[MikePaiN]

My LGS got special pricing on tons of this ammo and is selling the 9mm @ $20/50...I gabbed a box but know very little about the stuff.

-Federal Premium LE Tactical XM9XB1 9mm +P 115g "Barns Expander" muzzle velocity 1140fps
Seems like very nice SD at a great price...What I've been able to read up this says it has an all copper HP bullet with enhanced barrier penetration and excellent weight retention.

Should I go get more before they sell out?

 

[NOLAEMT]

How do they only get 1140 fps with a 115g +p round? I would expect closer to 1300+

but other than that, it should do as well or better than any other 115 grain self defense load, the Barnes bullets are known for good penetration and expansion.

and it is a good price for 50 rounds

 

[357 Terms]

I cant even buy the Barnes bullets for reloading for that price!! You sure? Buy them ALL!!

 

[MikePaiN]

How do they only get 1140 fps with a 115g +p round? I would expect closer to 1300+

Since these are LE rounds with bullets known as a high penetrator my guess is they are loaded to reduce over penetration and/or minimize recoil

Think I'll head back today and pick up a few more boxes

 

[MikePaiN]

I don't want to start a mad rush on CT or anything but here they are

 

[smogmage]

From the tag I would guess that its just a local shop that messed up on their pricing!

 

[MikePaiN]

Nope Smog, this LGS is the biggest firearms dealer in CT, the price is no mistake. They have pallets full in several handgun calibers...I was picking up a gun and there was blizzard in progress so I was preoccupied and this great ammo deal didn't fully register.....until today. I'm on my way shortly...
Look what I found

http://www.hoffgun.com/SP-AmmoSale.htm

 

[orionengnr]

The Barnes bullet does not need to hit hyper-drive speeds to expand reliably. It is designed to expand at modest to moderate velocities, and is a reliable expander regardless of intermediate obstacles.

At that price, (if I were a 9mmm guy) I'd buy every box I could afford.

I only own one 9mm, and only carry it occasionally, but if you contact me via pm, I'd like $100 worth if you don't mind shipping them legally through UPS.

The copper bullets themselves (for reloading purposes) are at least $1 a piece.

 

[SoulLessGinger]

The Barnes bullet does not need to hit hyper-drive speeds to expand reliably. It is designed to expand at modest to moderate velocities, and is a reliable expander regardless of intermediate obstacles.

The reason they are slower than other +P 115gr rounds, is because the Barnes XPB is an all copper bullet.

Copper has less density than lead, so a copper bullet weighing 115gr is about the size of a 147gr lead/copper projectile. This means less room for powder, thus the slower velocity. Also without lead the bullet does not seal the bore as well, also resulting in lower velocities.

Still a great SD round though.

 

[TeamPrecisionIT]

I wish those prices would have been there about two weeks ago when I was in the area. This link to midway shows truly just how cheap that loaded ammunition is:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=113594

A box of 40 of just the bullets are more expensive!

Damian

 

[MikePaiN]

I did go back and pick up more. I shot a box though my Kahr K9 Sunday. This ammo shot and cycled without issue, no problem with accuracy either...its my new carry round and a bargain too

 

[jbrown50]

It's the same bullet that Corbon uses in their 115 gr. 9mm DPX. I keep that in my Kahr PM9. It's a very accurate round with zero feeding problems.

Black Hills (+P 115 gr. TAC-XP) and Double Tap (+P 115 gr. TAC-TX) also sell that load.

http://www.barnesbullets.com/products/loaded-ammunition/

At $20.00 for a box of 50 I'd certainly get a couple more boxes as Corbon DPX usually costs $30.00+ for only a box of 20.

 

[orionengnr]

Copper has less density than lead, so a copper bullet weighing 115gr is about the size of a 147gr lead/copper projectile. This means less room for powder, thus the slower velocity. Also without lead the bullet does not seal the bore as well, also resulting in lower velocities.

Your first two sentences are correct, but largely irrelevant to the discussion. The XPB all-copper bullet is used in many calibers, and in each, it is designed to expand reliably at a moderate velocity. This includes .38 Spl, .357 Mag, .41 Mag, .45LC, and .10mm, none of which are lacking in case capacity. A variant is also used in rifle cartridges as a premium hunting round.

I cannot go along with your third sentence. A JHP or FMJ has a thick copper jacket. The copper still "upsets" enough to seal the bore. The lead has nothing to do with it.

 

[REB]

I have played some with different loads using the XPB bullets and from my experience you can not achieve the same velocities that you can with a copper jacketed lead core bullet. My assumption which may be wrong is these bullets are much longer that a lead core design and have more bearing surface creating more friction.

 

[TheGrimReaper]

WOW!!! I wish we had that around here for that price. You are lucky to have such a good gunshop close and with the prices on ammo they do!!!

 

[SoulLessGinger]

Your first two sentences are correct, but largely irrelevant to the discussion. The XPB all-copper bullet is used in many calibers, and in each, it is designed to expand reliably at a moderate velocity. This includes .38 Spl, .357 Mag, .41 Mag, .45LC, and .10mm, none of which are lacking in case capacity. A variant is also used in rifle cartridges as a premium hunting round.

I cannot go along with your third sentence. A JHP or FMJ has a thick copper jacket. The copper still "upsets" enough to seal the bore. The lead has nothing to do with it.

I doubt they use the same soft gilding metal that most bullet jackets are made of.

To get the good penetration the XPB gets despite being so light, I would assume the copper alloy used to make them would have to be a good bit tougher. Hornady does make rifle bullets made entirely of gilding metal, but no SD type rounds use such bullets.