New Service Caliber Handgun Tests

[ToddG]

At that demo, we shot our then issued.45 ACP duty ammo, which has Gold Dots bullets...

Is it actually Speer Gold Dot ammo, or something loaded by another manufacturer claiming to use Gold Dots? (Quite a few reputable smaller ammo companies do this)

[jlw]

Is it actually Speer Gold Dot ammo, or something loaded by another manufacturer claiming to use Gold Dots? (Quite a few reputable smaller ammo companies do this)

Our ammo was loaded by the same company that loads the AMU's ammo. The Winchester Ranger SXT came straight from a Winchester box.

We weren't the only folks that shot/provided ammo.

[ToddG]

Understood. Nonetheless, Gold Dot bullets by their design shouldn't do what you experienced. If you have any of that ammo left, you might want to send it to ATK. I'm sure they don't want bad bullets -- if that's what it is -- out there in the holsters of cops.

[DocGKR]

Several individuals expressed interest in seeing the test results for shots thorough automobile windshields; below is some data:

9 mm Hornady 135 gr Critical Duty at 1085 fps:
AG: Pen = 15.0, RD = 0.47, RL = 0.41, RW = 134.1

9 mm Fed 147 gr HST at 1005 fps:
AG: Pen = 13.0, RD = 0.47, RL = 0.53, RW = 143.7

9 mm Hornady 135 gr +P Critical Duty at 1185 fps:
AG: Pen = 15.5, RD = 0.48, RL = 0.44, RW = 123.0

9 mm BH 115 gr +P Barnes Tac-XP at 1069 fps:
AG: Pen = 13.5, RD = 0.39, RL = 0.55, RW = 115.3

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

.40 Hornady 175 gr Critical Duty at 985 fps:
AG: Pen = 14.5, RD = 0.50, RL = 0.47, RW = 139.4

.40 Fed 180 gr HST (P40HST1) at 986 fps:
AG: Pen = 12.5, RD = 0.57, RL = 0.45, RW = 153.7

.40 BH 140 gr Barnes Tac-XP at 1267 fps:
AG: Pen = 13.5, RD = 0.49, RL = 0.50, RW = 140.0

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

.45 Hornady 220 gr +P Critical Duty at 951 fps:
AG: Pen = 14.5, RD = 0.61, RL = 0.49, RW = 210.6

.45 Fed 230 gr +P HST (P45HST1) at 936 fps:
AG: Pen = 13.5, RD = 0.59, RL = 0.57, RW = 229.5

.45 BH 185 gr +P Barnes Tac-XP at 810 fps:
AG: Pen = 15.5, RD = 0.48, RL = 0.58, RW = 186.5



Top row is .45 Auto, middle is .40, bottom is 9 mm
Left column is Barnes Tac-XP, middle is Hornady Critical Duty, right is Federal HST

[Super J]

Thanks for sharing

[Morbidbattlecry]

Doc, or anyone really. I'm about to pick up some 147gr hst p+ 9mm for self defence. I'll be running out of a glock 17. Do you see it being a problem that the round is over driven out of 4.5 inch barrel?

[Sparks2112]

Doc, or anyone really. I'm about to pick up some 147gr hst p+ 9mm for self defence. I'll be running out of a glock 17. Do you see it being a problem that the round is over driven out of 4.5 inch barrel?

What other options do you have for 9mm duty ammo? I'd take the standard pressure if you can get it, but I wouldn't feel bad about it either.

[Rich]

Thanks Doc.

[VolGrad]

I have read a million ballistics test and frankly get overwhelmed.

As a regular Joe Civilian concealed carry guy with the following 9mm ammo options available what would you choose and why?

Hornady Critical Duty 135gr+P (or std pressure)
Federal HST 147gr std pressure
Speer Gold Dot 124gr+P

Assume price is same as is availability. Break it down for me if you don't mind.

[ToddG]

1. Speer Gold Dot 124gr+P
2. Federal HST 147gr std pressure
3. Hornady Critical Duty 135gr+P (or std pressure)

I know DocGKR's seen great results both in jello and actual on-duty reports with the 147gr HST but I remain a fan of the faster bullets because, well, voodoo. The 124gr +p Gold Dot is probably the most proven 9mm duty/defense round on the market having been in use by NYPD for many years now with very positive results. The Hornady stuff has no real track record yet. It wouldn't surprise me if the 135+p load performs well (the old Federal Tactical 135gr +p had some amazing success stories), though.