I decided to copy the performance numbers from Winchester's testing data on their latest Winchester Ranger Talon series. It serves as a good comparison between the common service calibers. According to Winchester, all their testing is in accord to standarded FBI testing protocal. The first test is against bare gel which is 10% ballistic gel calibrated to mimick human muscle tissue. The other tests involve placing various materials in front of the gel to demonstrate how a bullet will perform should you shoot somebody through those materials. I don't remember the barrier requirements off the top of my head though.
.380 95gr(1000fps): (Penetration/Expansion)
Bare Gel: 7.65”/.65”
Through Denim: 7.95”/.64”
Through Heavy Cloth: 7.85”/.64”
Through Wallboard: 15”/.36”
Through Plywood: 15.5”/.36”
Through Steel: 9.3”/.36”
Through Auto Glass: 4.5”/NA
9mm+P 124gr(1180fps): (Penetration/Expansion)
Bare Gel: 12.2”/.70”
Through Denim: 13.9”/.67”
Through Heavy Cloth: 13.3”/.68”
Through Wallboard: 14”/.66”
Through Plywood: 13.1”/.65”
Through Steel: 18.9”/.40”
Through Auto Glass: 10.6”/.48”
9mm+P+ 127gr(1250fps): (Penetration/Expansion)
Bare Gel: 12.3”/.64”
Through Denim: 12.2”/.68”
Through Heavy Cloth: 12.2”/.68”
Through Wallboard: 12.1”/.66”
Through Plywood: 12”/.68”
Through Steel: 20.5”/.40”
Through Auto Glass: 9.4”/.48”
9mm 147gr(990fps): (Penetration/Expansion)
Bare Gel: 13.9”/.65”
Through Denim: 14.5”/.66”
Through Heavy Cloth: 14”/.66”
Through Wallboard: 15”/.67”
Through Plywood: 14.8”/.62”
Through Steel: 17”/.45”
Through Auto Glass: 10.8”/.52”
.357sig 125gr(1350fps): (Penetration/Expansion)
Bare Gel: 10.9”/.63”
Through Denim: 12.1”/.66”
Through Heavy Cloth: 10.7”/.69”
Through Wallboard: 15.4”/.48”
Through Plywood: 12.2”/.66”
Through Steel: 23.4”/.41”
Through Auto Glass: 10.3”/.49”
.40S&W 165gr(1140fps): (Penetration/Expansion)
Bare Gel: 12.7”/.61”
Through Denim: 13.2”/.70”
Through Heavy Cloth: 14.3”/.68”
Through Wallboard: 11.4”/.69”
Through Plywood: 13.1”/.71”
Through Steel: 20.4”/.48”
Through Auto Glass: 11.3”/.61”
.40S&W 180gr(990fps): (Penetration/Expansion)
Bare Gel: 13.8”/.60”
Through Denim: 14.3”/.70”
Through Heavy Cloth: 13.4”/.64”
Through Wallboard: 13.1”/.66”
Through Plywood: 15.1”/.64”
Through Steel: 17”/.52”
Through Auto Glass: 12”/.61”
.45acp/.45gap 230gr(905fps): (Penetration/Expansion)
Bare Gel: 11.6”/.75”
Through Denim: 12.7”/.72”
Through Heavy Cloth: 12.3”/.75”
Through Wallboard: 15.2”/.69”
Through Plywood: 18”/.453”
Through Steel: 16.5”/.53”
Through Auto Glass: 12”/.58”
.45acp+P 230gr(990fps): (Penetration/Expansion)
Bare Gel: 13.2”/.79”
Through Denim: 15.2”/.78”
Through Heavy Cloth: 15.7”/.78”
Through Wallboard: 13.8”/.75”
Through Plywood: 14.6”/.77”
Through Steel: 20.6”/.53”
Through Auto Glass: 13.6”/.60”
After penetrating a barrier, the bullet may become deformed or plugged with material(wood/cloth) which will prevent it from expanding to its full potential. This is why you see deeper penetration and less expansion after punching through some barriers.
Keep in mind, the conclusions of every FBI laboratory study since 1987 has recommended that you use ammunition for defense that penetrates a minimum of 12" in 10% ballistic gel. Most of these loads will fit that requirement against bare gel, but the .45acp+P seems to offer the the best overall performance and meets the minimum requirement in all of the testing protocals. This is a result of its heavy bullet weight, good sectional density, and of course increased velocity.
Also, keep in mind that Winchester is likely being very up-front and honest with this testing data because several of their loads do NOT meet the FBI requirements. The fact that they are willing to publically admit that some of their ammo doesn't perform well shows that they are giving us factual data.
.380 95gr(1000fps): (Penetration/Expansion)
Bare Gel: 7.65”/.65”
Through Denim: 7.95”/.64”
Through Heavy Cloth: 7.85”/.64”
Through Wallboard: 15”/.36”
Through Plywood: 15.5”/.36”
Through Steel: 9.3”/.36”
Through Auto Glass: 4.5”/NA
9mm+P 124gr(1180fps): (Penetration/Expansion)
Bare Gel: 12.2”/.70”
Through Denim: 13.9”/.67”
Through Heavy Cloth: 13.3”/.68”
Through Wallboard: 14”/.66”
Through Plywood: 13.1”/.65”
Through Steel: 18.9”/.40”
Through Auto Glass: 10.6”/.48”
9mm+P+ 127gr(1250fps): (Penetration/Expansion)
Bare Gel: 12.3”/.64”
Through Denim: 12.2”/.68”
Through Heavy Cloth: 12.2”/.68”
Through Wallboard: 12.1”/.66”
Through Plywood: 12”/.68”
Through Steel: 20.5”/.40”
Through Auto Glass: 9.4”/.48”
9mm 147gr(990fps): (Penetration/Expansion)
Bare Gel: 13.9”/.65”
Through Denim: 14.5”/.66”
Through Heavy Cloth: 14”/.66”
Through Wallboard: 15”/.67”
Through Plywood: 14.8”/.62”
Through Steel: 17”/.45”
Through Auto Glass: 10.8”/.52”
.357sig 125gr(1350fps): (Penetration/Expansion)
Bare Gel: 10.9”/.63”
Through Denim: 12.1”/.66”
Through Heavy Cloth: 10.7”/.69”
Through Wallboard: 15.4”/.48”
Through Plywood: 12.2”/.66”
Through Steel: 23.4”/.41”
Through Auto Glass: 10.3”/.49”
.40S&W 165gr(1140fps): (Penetration/Expansion)
Bare Gel: 12.7”/.61”
Through Denim: 13.2”/.70”
Through Heavy Cloth: 14.3”/.68”
Through Wallboard: 11.4”/.69”
Through Plywood: 13.1”/.71”
Through Steel: 20.4”/.48”
Through Auto Glass: 11.3”/.61”
.40S&W 180gr(990fps): (Penetration/Expansion)
Bare Gel: 13.8”/.60”
Through Denim: 14.3”/.70”
Through Heavy Cloth: 13.4”/.64”
Through Wallboard: 13.1”/.66”
Through Plywood: 15.1”/.64”
Through Steel: 17”/.52”
Through Auto Glass: 12”/.61”
.45acp/.45gap 230gr(905fps): (Penetration/Expansion)
Bare Gel: 11.6”/.75”
Through Denim: 12.7”/.72”
Through Heavy Cloth: 12.3”/.75”
Through Wallboard: 15.2”/.69”
Through Plywood: 18”/.453”
Through Steel: 16.5”/.53”
Through Auto Glass: 12”/.58”
.45acp+P 230gr(990fps): (Penetration/Expansion)
Bare Gel: 13.2”/.79”
Through Denim: 15.2”/.78”
Through Heavy Cloth: 15.7”/.78”
Through Wallboard: 13.8”/.75”
Through Plywood: 14.6”/.77”
Through Steel: 20.6”/.53”
Through Auto Glass: 13.6”/.60”
After penetrating a barrier, the bullet may become deformed or plugged with material(wood/cloth) which will prevent it from expanding to its full potential. This is why you see deeper penetration and less expansion after punching through some barriers.
Keep in mind, the conclusions of every FBI laboratory study since 1987 has recommended that you use ammunition for defense that penetrates a minimum of 12" in 10% ballistic gel. Most of these loads will fit that requirement against bare gel, but the .45acp+P seems to offer the the best overall performance and meets the minimum requirement in all of the testing protocals. This is a result of its heavy bullet weight, good sectional density, and of course increased velocity.
Also, keep in mind that Winchester is likely being very up-front and honest with this testing data because several of their loads do NOT meet the FBI requirements. The fact that they are willing to publically admit that some of their ammo doesn't perform well shows that they are giving us factual data.
