All three loads tested in this event offer acceptable terminal performance for LE duty use. The Federal HST, like the Winchester Ranger Talon and Speer Gold Dot, offers a bit more expansion and slightly less penetration, a possible advantage for municipal LE agencies patrolling urban or crowded suburban environments. Like Hornady Critical Duty, the Speer G2, and Winchester bonded loads penetrate a bit deeper, but have less expansion than HST and might offer an advantage for agencies with a significant number of engagements around vehicles or for rural agencies where larger animals are a potential threat.
It is strongly recommended that LE agencies approve at least two similar loads from different manufacturers, to help ensure a consistent supply of ammunition in times of scarcity. In other words, if an agency adopts HST, it would be prudent to also approve a load with similar terminal performance, like Ranger Talon or loads using Barnes Tac-XP projectiles; alternatively, if an agency adopted Speer G2, it would be smart to also authorize Hornady Critical Duty or Winchester bonded loads, as they will perform in like fashion.
Vyse Type 250 A ordnance gelatin was mixed into 8 x 12 x 20 blocks of 10% concentration and stored at 4 deg. All gel was validated with a standard .177 inch BB fired into the blocks with a velocity of 590 f/s +/- 15 f/s, with an ideal range of penetration defined as 8.5 cm +/- 1.0 cm of penetration (although up to +/- 1.5 cm was considered acceptable). In this test, five rounds of each handgun ammunition type were fired into the blocks of validated ordnance gelatin from a range of ten feet. Shots were made into bare gelatin, gelatin covered with 4 layers of denim (IWBA protocol), and through laminated automobile windshield glass angled at 45 degrees, placed 18 inches in front of the gelatin block. All test shots were conducted using a 9 mm Glock 19 with OEM barrel.
9 mm Fed 147 gr HST had an average velocity of 1017 fps
9 mm Speer 147 gr G2 had an average velocity of 987 fps
9 mm Win 147 gr RA9B had an average velocity of 992 fps
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9 mm Fed 147 gr HST BG: Pen = 13.8, RD = 0.66, RL = 0.35, RW = 148.4 gr
9 mm Speer 147 gr G2 BG: Pen = 16.4, RD = 0.48, RL = 0.44, RW = 146.6 gr
9 mm Win 147 gr RA9B BG: Pen = 15.5, RD = 0.52, RL = 0.44, RW = 146.9 gr
Recovered from BG--Top row is Speer 147 gr G2 PT, Far right is Fed 147 gr HST control round, Bottom row is Winchester 147 gr RA9B JHP
Comparison in BG: Top is Win RA9B, middle is Speer G2, bottom is HST
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9 mm Fed 147 gr HST 4LD: Pen = 15.5, RD = 0.52, RL = 0.53, RW = 148.5 gr
9 mm Speer 147 gr G2 4LD: Pen = 17.4, RD = 0.49, RL = 0.45, RW = 145.6 gr
9 mm Win 147 gr RA9B 4LD: Pen = 19.4, RD = 0.46, RL = 0.49, RW = 146.6 gr
Recovered from 4LD--Top row is Speer 147 gr G2 PT, Far right is Fed 147 gr HST control round, Bottom row is Winchester 147 gr RA9B JHP
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9 mm Fed 147 gr HST AG: Pen = 12.5, RD = 0.51, RL = 0.54, RW = 146.2 gr
9 mm Speer 147 gr G2 AG: Pen = 15.7, RD = 0.51, RL = 0.49, RW = 145.0 gr 9 mm
Win 147 gr RA9B AG: Pen = 16.3, RD = 0.53, RL = 0.46, RW = 146.1 gr
Recovered from AG--Top row is Speer 147 gr G2 PT, Far right is Fed 147 gr HST control round, Bottom row is Winchester 147 gr RA9B JHP