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Thread: New Service Caliber Handgun Tests

  1. #1
    Site Supporter DocGKR's Avatar
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    New Service Caliber Handgun Tests

    Thanks to Kyle's Gun Shop in Cincinnati, OH and San Diego Police Equipment for generously providing much of the ammunition used in this testing.

    We tested the new Hornady Critical Duty ammunition using Fed HST and BH Barnes Tac-XP as control loads.

    9 mm Hornady 135 gr Critical Duty at 1085 fps:
    BG: Pen = 15.7, RD = 0.52, RL = 0.49, RW = 134.6
    4LD: Pen = 17.8, RD = 0.47, RL = 0.55, RW = 134.1

    (dime)

    9 mm Fed 147 gr HST at 1005 fps:
    BG: Pen = 14.0, RD = 0.65, RL = 0.41, RW = 147.6
    4LD: Pen = 16.5, RD = 0.60, RL = 0.53, RW = 147.5



    9 mm Hornady 135 gr +P Critical Duty at 1185 fps:
    BG: Pen = 17.9, RD = 0.52, RL = 0.50, RW = 135.6
    4LD: Pen = 18.1, RD = 0.48, RL = 0.53, RW = 134.1

    (dime)

    9 mm Fed 135 gr +P bonded Tactical (LE9T5) at 1069 fps:
    BG: Pen = 14.5, RD = 0.58, RL = 0.34, RW = 134.6
    4LD: Pen = 15.0, RD = 0.56, RL = 0.43, RW = 134.1

    9 mm BH 115 gr +P Barnes Tac-XP at 1069 fps:
    BG: Pen = 15.0, RD = 0.52, RL = 0.49, RW = 115.4
    4LD: Pen = 14.0, RD = 0.52, RL = 0.49, RW = 115.7



    9 mm 147 gr +P HST (P9HST4) at 1069 fps:
    BG: Pen = 14.4, RD = 0.64, RL = 0.41, RW = 147.5
    4LD: Pen = 16.3, RD = 0.59, RL = 0.43, RW = 147.8

    (dime)

    9 mm Fed 147 gr HST (P9HST2) at 1005 fps:
    BG: Pen = 14.0, RD = 0.65, RL = 0.41, RW = 147.6
    4LD: Pen = 16.5, RD = 0.60, RL = 0.53, RW = 147.5



    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    .40 Hornady 175 gr Critical Duty at 985 fps:
    BG: Pen = 16.9, RD = 0.51, RL = 0.56, RW = 175.1
    4LD: Pen = 19.4, RD = 0.45, RL = 0.60, RW = 174.6

    (dime)

    .40 Fed 180 gr HST (P40HST1) at 986 fps:
    BG: Pen = 13.8, RD = 0.70, RL = 0.33, RW = 181.5
    4LD: Pen = 15.8, RD = 0.65, RL = 0.48, RW = 183.5

    .40 Fed 165 gr HST (P40HST3) at 1129 fps:
    BG: Pen = 13.5, RD = 0.69, RL = 0.39, RW = 165.6
    4LD: Pen = 18.0, RD = 0.60, RL = 0.47, RW = 167.8

    .40 Fed 155 gr HST (P40HST2) at 1150 fps:
    BG: Pen = 12.5, RD = 0.67, RL = 0.34, RW = 155.4
    4LD: Pen = 15.5, RD = 0.61, RL = 0.41, RW = 156.6

    .40 BH 140 gr Barnes Tac-XP at 1267 fps:
    BG: Pen = 13.5, RD = 0.63, RL = 0.48, RW = 139.5
    4LD: Pen = 14.5, RD = 0.61, RL = 0.47, RW = 142.2



    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    .45 Hornady 220 gr +P Critical Duty at 951 fps:
    BG: Pen = 16.0, RD = 0.65, RL = 0.52, RW = 219.3
    4LD: Pen = 16.4, RD = 0.63, RL = 0.55, RW = 218.3

    (quarter)

    .45 Fed 230 gr +P HST (P45HST1) at 936 fps:
    BG: Pen = 13.8, RD = 0.82, RL = 0.42, RW = 231.2
    4LD: Pen = 14.5, RD = 0.76, RL = 0.50, RW = 234.4

    .45 BH 185 gr +P Barnes Tac-XP at 810 fps:
    BG: Pen = 13.3, RD = 0.64, RL = 0.56, RW = 185.6
    4LD: Pen = 12.5, RD = 0.64, RL = 0.56, RW = 185.5



    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In general, the Hornady Critical Duty ammunition did NOT perform as well as several current JHP loads. The best performing Critical Duty load was the .45 Auto 220 gr +P and the worst performing was the .40 S&W 175 gr. In areas where conventional JHP designs are prohibited, the Hornady Critical Duty joins the Federal EFMJ as an option that is better than the Corbon Powerball or FMJ loads.

    The Barnes all copper JHP bullets are an outstanding choice when lighter weight service caliber handgun projectiles are desired.

    The Fed HST line is among the best duty loads currently available for service caliber pistols. HST’s tend to work best using heavier bullets (147 gr, 180 gr, 230 gr) at moderate velocities, with standard pressures.
    Last edited by DocGKR; 02-28-2013 at 04:52 AM.

  2. #2
    Hokey / Ancient JAD's Avatar
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    Doc,

    Thanks for the data! I'm confused by your conclusions.

    I was under the impression that if a bullet penetrated adequately, had a sharp cutting surface like a shoulder or petals, and retained its weight through the wounding process, it was a good bullet; the expanded diameter isn't that meaningful, or you'd carry a .45 since they get at least a little bigger.

    If the CD's defect was that it expanded to 0.5ish rather than 0.6ish, who cares? It penetrated way better than the other stuff, and if its supposed benefit on barriers holds up to factory test levels, it would seem to be the best choice among the tested loads.

    Further, I don't get why you liked the XPBs. They expanded about like the CDs and didn't penetrate nearly as well.

    What am I missing?
    Ignore Alien Orders

  3. #3
    Member Sparks2112's Avatar
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    Cool. I've been looking forward to this
    J.M. Johnston
    Host of Ballistic Radio - Sundays at 7:00 PM EST on Cincinnati's 55KRC THE Talk Station, available on iHeartRadio

  4. #4
    The 9mm (can't remember what weight) yaws consistently and badly through laminated glass also.

  5. #5
    THE THIRST MUTILATOR Nephrology's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SouthNarc View Post
    The 9mm (can't remember what weight) yaws consistently and badly through laminated glass also.
    The 9mm Hornady CD?

  6. #6
    Site Supporter JM Campbell's Avatar
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    Damn good info Doc! Thanks for the continued support and the support of great vendors that supplied the ammo.

    Information will set you free, ignorance is a liability.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2
    AKA: SkyLine1

  7. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by Nephrology View Post
    The 9mm Hornady CD?
    That's the one with the plastic thingy right? If so..yes.

  8. #8
    Hokey / Ancient JAD's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SouthNarc View Post
    That's the one with the plastic thingy right? If so..yes.
    There are two with the plastic thingy -- Critical Defense and Critical Duty (I am not in love with Hornady's marketing department). Defense *appears* to be non-Interlocked, Duty is heavier and Interlocked. I have not seen any tests but Hornady's of the Critical Duty through glass. Hornady, natch, did not cop to a yaw.

    I would not care -- there are lots of good loads out there -- but a) the 9 CDuty has been more available than other defensive 9 loads lately and b) I have a P35 coming back from Mars Armament that loves the stuff.

  9. #9
    Member orionz06's Avatar
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    Critical Duty continues to not impress. I saw 3 or 4 rounds last year fail to expand through denim (all that were shot failed to expand) and later saw some really odd deflections through windshields where other rounds were predictable.
    Think for yourself. Question authority.

  10. #10
    Site Supporter DocGKR's Avatar
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    doctorpogo--I am sorry you are confused. To the best of my knowledge, I am not confused. The Hornady CD loads simply do not work as well as other options when looked at in aggregate. Is it better than an FMJ? Yes, but the CD are not as good as many other options, so I cannot recommend them for general use. If I had a pistol that only fed FMJ and CD, then I would carry the CD or better yet, get a more reliable pistol...

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