Range report: 230 gr Ranger in G30

[lambertiana]

I like to test potential carry ammo in my carry pistol (Glock 30) to see how it behaves. Since the G30 has a 3.78" barrel, some brands that work well in a 5" barrel do not have the same performance in my G30. Lacking ballilstic gelatin, I use wet newspaper. My standard test is to fire a magazine (10 rounds) into wet newspaper with two layers of thick cotton t-shirt and two layers of denim in front (not many naked bad guys out there, and my testing has shown me that many brands of hollow points do not expand when fired through cloth). I soak the newspaper overnight, and fire from about 10' distance. This picture shows the result of today's test:


As you can see, only four out of ten expanded. Those that expanded did so in spectacular fashion. Penetration in wet newspaper was about 8-10". It looks like this is not suitable for short barrels. I think it will work well in my full size 1911, I'll have to test to confirm.

For comparison, here are examples from the brands that had at least some expansion fired out of my G30 under the same test conditions:


Top row, L to R: Ranger T 230 gr from today, Taurus 185 gr copper (standard pressure load with what I believe is the same bullet used by Corbon in the DPX, about half of the rounds looked like this, the rest did not expand fully), and Hornady Critical Defense 185 gr from a few weeks ago (all rounds looked like this).

Bottom row, L to R: Gold Dot 230 gr (all looked like this), Gold Dot 230 gr short barrel (all looked like this), and 230 gr Golden Saber (this was the best one, the rest were not quite as good and inconsistent).

The limited testing I have done with my full size 1911 shows that the Gold Dot 230 gr performs consistently well, the Taurus copper also performs consistently well, and the 230 gr Golden Saber does reasonably well, but not very consistent. Based on that, I think the Ranger 230 gr should do well in my 1911, also.

This is something very important to consider when you carry a 45 with a short barrel.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I think wet newsprint is a decent test media, best available to us commoners.
The Gold Dots look like winners.

 

[jon86]

Thanks for posting this info!

 

[Water-Man]

Try to test Federal HST 230gr. if you can locate them.

 

[mesinge2]

The Taurus 185 gr copper's expansion is impressive. I was thinking about this ammo and I think you sold me on it.


I wonder how Corbon's Pow'r ball would measure up to Hornady's Critical Defense, hmmm....
I may try this at the range myself, if you don't beat me to it, .


Thanks for the report!

 

[DasFriek]

I carry the Ranger T-series in both of my ccw guns.
The first is a full sized 1911 and i use the T-series 230gr +P and have full confidence in it.
But in a smaller barrel id use 200gr +P to maximize FPS so expansion will be more positive.
I may mention you did say if you used +P or not so id suppose not, That could make a difference in the end.

My second gun is a SA XD SC .40 and i use the T-series 165gr and not the 180gr as i feel the expansion odds would go down.

Expansion is a compromise just like carrying a handgun is.
Smaller guns and short barrels need lighter and faster bullets to expand more reliably.
When i say lighter and faster i mean compared to other bullets out of a 5" barrel.

 

[lambertiana]

This was standard pressure 230 gr. I may try the +P to see what difference it makes, and how it changes the recoil and followup shot capability. The bullets that expanded were very impressive.

I would love to try the HST, but finding it is the problem.

I don't know if Taurus still sells that ammo, I got that several years ago. In my G30 only half of them expanded like that, the others did not. But in my full size 1911 every round expanded beautifully, with the petals peeling back further. The Corbon DPX is probably the same bullet, and it is +P with about 100fps more muzzle velocity, so it may work better in a short barrel than the Taurus. If I weren't unemployed and on a strict budget, I would pick up some DPX to try it out, it's expensive stuff.

 

[Bill_G]

i use the Rem sabers....they've been very consistent in my G30.

also in my bersa 380.

as a plus....they feed in pistols that ordinarily wont feed HP..( these 2 feed anything though)

 

[fmcdave]

This is good input, I have switched to Rangers for all of my pistols (Kimber 1911 full-size, S&W 325pd 4inch, and my Glock 36. I'll have to think about this.

 

[MTS840]

Another shooter on GT posted chrono results from his G30 SF and the 230 gr. +P Winchester Ranger T-series (RA45TP) from his G30 SF:

http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1264284

 

[SIGLBER]

We chronographed some of the Winchester 230gr. +p Ranger ammo out of a 5" 1911, Glock 30, and a USP 45C. Out of the 5" barrel it was going on average 970 f.p.s., G30 940 f.p.s., USPc 910 f.p.s.. The polygon rifling really does keep velocity high. The USP had polygon rifling but was a bit slower. Just barrel to barrel difference. So you're only losing 25-30 f.p.s. in the G30. Nothing that should effect performance.
My body said they were the hottest 230gr. loads he had ever fired. He went hunting out West with one his 1911's loaded with 230gr. Speer Gold Dots. Another excellent load. Hit hit a Ram with it. The bullet was a perfect shot. Tore through the heart and both lungs. Ram was DRT. He found the fully expanded Gold Dot in the wool on the other side of the animal. Good 230gr. .45 loads are not affected to any great degree by their shorter barrels.

 

[bang_bang]

I think they all would hurt just about the same.

Nice thread.

 

[MTS840]

We chronographed some of the Winchester 230gr. +p Ranger ammo out of a 5" 1911, Glock 30, and a USP 45C. Out of the 5" barrel it was going on average 970 f.p.s., G30 940 f.p.s., USPc 910 f.p.s.. The polygon rifling really does keep velocity high. The USP had polygon rifling but was a bit slower. Just barrel to barrel difference. So you're only losing 25-30 f.p.s. in the G30. Nothing that should effect performance.

Wow! That is awesome performance out of a G30! With that load, I don't have any more reservations shooting it out of a short barrel. This is the kind of 'real world' information I've been looking for!

 

[K9american]

Thanks for the info. Much appreciated.

 

[nathan]

From what i read, they recommend the 185 gr .45 ACP on short barreled semi autos like the G 30 or G 36. ANd 230 gr bullets for full size 1911 with 5 inch barrels.

 

[Full Metal Jacket]

thanx, great post! RAT45 is what i have in my 4inch 1911!