On of the local shops in my area ordered a BUNCH of this ammo for a cop who decided not to buy it. I can get it for about 8.00 a box of 20. I fired one box and it seems like really good and hot ammo. Has anyone seen any tests of this ammo? Maybe gelatin or wetpack? The hollowpoint seems pretty small but it would be my summer carry ammo (I use DPX in the winter) and it seems from what little I have seen that it is a reliable expander. Do any of you have any experience with this ammo or do you know of a link where I can find some more info?
Magtech Guardian Gold 115gr 9mm +p?
- Thread starter jon_in_wv
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Clipper
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...You know, in the olden days before the internet, we used to investigate our own stuff. Heck, I'd have tried some myself at that price without worrying about getting someone else's approval first. Take a walk on the wild side... 
Thanks for you help. Its always great when people can offer sound and helpful input to help you out when your trying to learn something!
And if you READ the post, reading is something we did in the old days, you we see that I stated I had already bought some of the ammo and tried it myself already. I'm sure you have all the resources to do all of you own ballistics testing but I do not so I was merely requesting some info from the shared wisdom of "The High Road".
And if you READ the post, reading is something we did in the old days, you we see that I stated I had already bought some of the ammo and tried it myself already. I'm sure you have all the resources to do all of you own ballistics testing but I do not so I was merely requesting some info from the shared wisdom of "The High Road".
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MustangHowie
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I have never had any problems with the regular ammo, but I got a trial pack of the gold +p a few years ago and recently tried it in a Taurus PT-92 and the shell blew out at the feed ramp. It blew out the trigger and cracked the grips. I took the gun apart and checked the barell and didn't find any bulging and no squib. I did find the brass and was suprised to find 2 shells that ruptured 1 worse than the other. Both shells were bulged at the feed ramp and primers fell out, but only one had a hole in it. I threw out the rest of them. Assembled the gun and continued to use with standard ammo. I got the ammo about 8 years ago so it may not have a problem with new stuff, but I don't think I will try it again.
Stephen A. Camp
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Hello. The closest I can come to providing information on the 115-gr. version in +P is the standard pressure 124-gr. JHP.
Based on 10 shots fired from a Browning Mk III approx. 10' from chronograph screens:
Average Velocity: 1106 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 63
Std. Deviation: 23
In my own informal "tests", the bullet always fragmented whether fired into water or into super-saturated (soaked 24 hours and drained 30 mins before shooting) newsprint.
Average expanded bullet measurements: 0.61 x 0.48 x 0.27" tall
Average Penetration in soaked newsprint: 8" (This should be in the 11 to 12" range in 10% ballistic gelatin.)
This is pretty well typical of the 124-gr. Guardian Gold's expansion when fired into super-saturated newsprint. The recovered bullets & jacket usually weighed about 116 to 118 grains. I would expect the 115-gr. +P to expand and fragment more and possibly penetrate a bit less.
The Guardian Gold 124-gr. JHP expanded and fragemented consistently when fired into water. I would expect more of the same with the faster 115-gr, assuming that the bullets are similarly constructed.
Accuracy was satisfactory as was feeding and extraction.
I am sorry that I didn't have the exact load that you were inquiring about but maybe some of this can be at least tangentially useful.
Between this and the DPX, my personal choice would be to use the DPX year round. It seems to consistently expand when fired through intermediate targets and I've found it to be very accurate, reliable, and consistant over the chronograph. As you know, it penetrates very well in 9mm.
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Corbon 9mm 115.htm
Best.
Based on 10 shots fired from a Browning Mk III approx. 10' from chronograph screens:
Average Velocity: 1106 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 63
Std. Deviation: 23
In my own informal "tests", the bullet always fragmented whether fired into water or into super-saturated (soaked 24 hours and drained 30 mins before shooting) newsprint.
Average expanded bullet measurements: 0.61 x 0.48 x 0.27" tall
Average Penetration in soaked newsprint: 8" (This should be in the 11 to 12" range in 10% ballistic gelatin.)
This is pretty well typical of the 124-gr. Guardian Gold's expansion when fired into super-saturated newsprint. The recovered bullets & jacket usually weighed about 116 to 118 grains. I would expect the 115-gr. +P to expand and fragment more and possibly penetrate a bit less.
The Guardian Gold 124-gr. JHP expanded and fragemented consistently when fired into water. I would expect more of the same with the faster 115-gr, assuming that the bullets are similarly constructed.
Accuracy was satisfactory as was feeding and extraction.
I am sorry that I didn't have the exact load that you were inquiring about but maybe some of this can be at least tangentially useful.
Between this and the DPX, my personal choice would be to use the DPX year round. It seems to consistently expand when fired through intermediate targets and I've found it to be very accurate, reliable, and consistant over the chronograph. As you know, it penetrates very well in 9mm.
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Corbon 9mm 115.htm
Best.
As usual Stephen you are a wealth of knowledge. I know fragmentation is sooo "aweful" to most but it doesn't seem to keep Corbons from working and it indicates to me that the rounds is likely to expand when it hits tissue. I fired some 115gr corbon into wetpack along with several other brands and while it did fragment it actually penetrated deeper than the toher rounds and caused one heck of a "wound". DPX is my personal favorite as well, it kicks less than the 115gr corbons and its seems to have very reliable expansion and performance, but for 8 bucks for a box of 20 vs $21.00 for a box of 20 in DPX the Magtech will allow me a lot more practice. I'll switch back to the DPX when the winter coats come back out.
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