New Service Caliber Handgun Tests

[Nemecsek]

Doc, the Critical Duty 9mm 135 +p lists velocity at 1185. Is that accurate? It seems a bit higher than I would expect, especially compared with the standard load's velocity of 1085. Did the +P "feel" that much more stout?

[CaptainN8]

Doc,

Thanks for this and all you do for the shooting community.

[DocGKR]

It was the average noted for the 15 rounds we fired through a G19 during the testing...

[Swatdude1]

wow look at that 9mm 147 hst2 and hst4...no reason to bother with the +p with that bullet.

I carry the +P in my Glock 19 Gen4 to assure reliable cycling. I am always a little bugged that Ballistic Gel tests are done at very close to muzzle velocity.

Maybe Doc can address this, but I wonder how the results would differ between standard and +P 147gr HST into Gel at 25 yards?? Would the difference then be more pronounced? Also, when testing rifle rounds, why don't they move the gel out to 100, 200, 300 yds, etc to get a better idea of performance in the field. I know much of the metric is to compare one load to the other, but it would be interesting to see how the rounds perform at the lower end of their minimum expansion velocities.

Doc, does Federal state what the minimum velocity is for reliable expansion of the 9mm HST Bullet design??

[DocGKR]

There is no difference between P9HST2 and P9HST4 at 25 yds.

Rifle testing is typically done at 3-10 yds, 100 yds and 300 yds; just because it is not easily located on the internet does not mean such testing has not been done. Out beyond 300 yds, almost every projectile simply enters tissue, yaws 180 degrees, then exits.

[lyodbraun]

So Doc, with all the testing you have done what's the go to round in .45 acp... ??? ,..

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[DocGKR]

Likely one of the ones listed here: https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=19887.

I personally used .45 Auto 230 gr HST (P45HST2) when I carried a M&P45 in 2011 and when carrying a 1911 prior to that.