riddleofsteel
Member
I have been doing some reading over at the Ammo Lab web site. The topic I am interested in is .45 defensive ammo for the G36.
One tidbit I picked up on was that most of the testing staff says the G36 compares closer to the Commander size .45's than the popular crop of 3" models out there.
"The G36 usually logs a fairly high muzzle velocity that closely approximates the Commander length speeds so I would not worry too much about the 3" test results. Your G36 velocities will be about 30-50fps less then 5" velocities in general."
end quote
It seems that most of the ammo out there is giving some sub standard performance out of these 3" .45's.
http://pub57.ezboard.com/fammolabforumfrm27.showMessage?topicID=552.topic
"We have just wrapped on the 3" short barreled 45acp tests and although I do not have the time to put it all together yet I wanted to share this as an FYI:
In testing with 4 layers of 14oz denim and calibrated 10% gelatin the only loads to expand and not over penetrate the 18.5" gelatin blocks when fired from the 3" Springfield 45acp test pistol were the following:
Winchester RA45TA 230gr +P
Federal 230gr Tactical +P
Corbon 165gr PowRBall
Corbon 185gr jhp +P
Triton 165gr Quick Shok
Triton 165gr +P Hi Vel jhp
Out of these loads only the RA45TA and the Federal Tactical 230gr +P penetrated to sufficient depth to penetrate to 14â€
The following loads all failed to expand and over penetrated the 18.5" test blocks:
Winchester 185gr Silvertip
Speer 185gr, 200gr +p, 230gr GDJHP
Federal 165gr PD
Federal 230gr Hydra Shok
Remington 185gr, 185gr+P, 230gr Golden Saber
Federal 200gr EFMJ+P
PMC Starfire 230gr jhp
Federal 230gr classic jhp
Triton 185gr, 230gr HI-Vel jhp
Triton 230gr QSHP +P
Corbon 200gr, 230gr jhp +P
Hornady CQ 185, 230gr jhp
Hornady XTP 185, 200, 200+p, 230gr +P
Winchester 230gr SXT jhp
Winchester 230gr USA jhp
Glaser 145gr +P blue and silver
Black Hills 230gr +P XTP
Black Hills 230gr GD"
end quote
So I am really thinking here about bullet performance and ammo for short barreled .45's. I have run threads here before about what ammo to use ect. and got a real mixed bag of results.
What do you think of the Ammo lab results and opinions? From where I sit it looks as though the 165 grain Powerball +P is the best performer on targets that are not behind much of a barrier in barrel lengths from 3" to 5". My own testing of 200 grain +P Federal EFMJ from my 3.78" G36 leads me to believe that it would do the job even throught a car door, sheet rock or plywood.
I guess that I may be trying to get the best of both worlds. I like the idea of an anti-personel round that can be relied on to expand and transfer as much energy as possible. I also know that barrier penetration may not be as much of an issue for private citizens as for an LEO.
One tidbit I picked up on was that most of the testing staff says the G36 compares closer to the Commander size .45's than the popular crop of 3" models out there.
"The G36 usually logs a fairly high muzzle velocity that closely approximates the Commander length speeds so I would not worry too much about the 3" test results. Your G36 velocities will be about 30-50fps less then 5" velocities in general."
end quote
It seems that most of the ammo out there is giving some sub standard performance out of these 3" .45's.
http://pub57.ezboard.com/fammolabforumfrm27.showMessage?topicID=552.topic
"We have just wrapped on the 3" short barreled 45acp tests and although I do not have the time to put it all together yet I wanted to share this as an FYI:
In testing with 4 layers of 14oz denim and calibrated 10% gelatin the only loads to expand and not over penetrate the 18.5" gelatin blocks when fired from the 3" Springfield 45acp test pistol were the following:
Winchester RA45TA 230gr +P
Federal 230gr Tactical +P
Corbon 165gr PowRBall
Corbon 185gr jhp +P
Triton 165gr Quick Shok
Triton 165gr +P Hi Vel jhp
Out of these loads only the RA45TA and the Federal Tactical 230gr +P penetrated to sufficient depth to penetrate to 14â€
The following loads all failed to expand and over penetrated the 18.5" test blocks:
Winchester 185gr Silvertip
Speer 185gr, 200gr +p, 230gr GDJHP
Federal 165gr PD
Federal 230gr Hydra Shok
Remington 185gr, 185gr+P, 230gr Golden Saber
Federal 200gr EFMJ+P
PMC Starfire 230gr jhp
Federal 230gr classic jhp
Triton 185gr, 230gr HI-Vel jhp
Triton 230gr QSHP +P
Corbon 200gr, 230gr jhp +P
Hornady CQ 185, 230gr jhp
Hornady XTP 185, 200, 200+p, 230gr +P
Winchester 230gr SXT jhp
Winchester 230gr USA jhp
Glaser 145gr +P blue and silver
Black Hills 230gr +P XTP
Black Hills 230gr GD"
end quote
So I am really thinking here about bullet performance and ammo for short barreled .45's. I have run threads here before about what ammo to use ect. and got a real mixed bag of results.
What do you think of the Ammo lab results and opinions? From where I sit it looks as though the 165 grain Powerball +P is the best performer on targets that are not behind much of a barrier in barrel lengths from 3" to 5". My own testing of 200 grain +P Federal EFMJ from my 3.78" G36 leads me to believe that it would do the job even throught a car door, sheet rock or plywood.
I guess that I may be trying to get the best of both worlds. I like the idea of an anti-personel round that can be relied on to expand and transfer as much energy as possible. I also know that barrier penetration may not be as much of an issue for private citizens as for an LEO.
