9mm Carry Ammo: Federal HST vs. Speer Gold-Dot vs. Underwood Gold-Dot

[Badger89]

The 124gr round is a littler over driven with the Underwood loadings. The petals begin to curl back on themselves a bit. The 147 gold dot doesn't do that.

Great info, thanks! I had wondered about that. The 124gr. +P Speer loading already seems to open up rather nicely compared to the rather disappointing expansion of the Speer 147gr. loads. The Underwood 124gr. +P+ has less lead and more energy than the 147gr. +P+, so it makes sense that somethings gotta give sooner or later.

I may be overgeneralizing here, but I think lighter loads are more sensitive to velocity changes than heavier loads. A little off topic but I think still related, tnoutdoors9 still has the videos up from when he tested the Federal Hi-Shock 115gr. standard pressure and the Hi-Shock 115gr. +P+. Same bullet, different velocities, VERY different results. The high pressure load had good penetration and left a very large cavity, but broke up inside the ballistics gel. (You could make the argument that it's being driven too fast.) The standard pressure load did not expand at all and penetrated 18" of ballistics gel plus around a foot of water jugs. (You could make the argument that it's being driven too slow to expand.) Yet the difference in muzzle velocity was only 100 fps between the two.

[zeke4351]

Gel testing is interesting but there is nothing like the real thinghttp://info.publicintelligence.net/FBIAAROfficerShooting.pdf


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Brahmzy]

Sorry for the necro...
The HST 147s seem to have gotten a bit more attainable lately.
I have to cycle all my 124 +P Gold Dots out as its been approx 2 years.
I bought 5 boxes of the HST 147 Std Pressure to test out in my guns and use as my new carry ammo, assuming my guns behave with them.
These still at the top of the heap, or is there a new king for 9mm?

[ColtSeavers]

Generally speaking, HST is still King of the Hill AFAIK.

[Butch]

Also "on the list" Doc has written incessantly not to worry about subtle differences in ammunition performance. Pick one on the list you can actually purchase, make sure it cycles, then get some training. You will worry yourself sick searching for a magic bullet that doesn't exist.

[jwinch2]

Also "on the list" Doc has written incessantly not to worry about subtle differences in ammunition performance. Pick one on the list you can actually purchase, make sure it cycles, then get some training. You will worry yourself sick searching for a magic bullet that doesn't exist.

Agreed 100%. I like Speer and Hornady, but also have purchased Federal in the past depending on where I live. I think Ayoob's book on Concealed Carry says something about finding out what the local police department carries and going with that as it will be very defensible in court should it ever come to that (it's been several years since I read it so I might be wrong on him saying that). Either way, that seems like a logical move to me.

[ubet]

In 45acp, I use winchester ranger t or pdx1. Not a problem with either. My sa trp operator didn't like the tap or federal I tried.

sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

[XD40Colorado]

In 45acp, I use winchester ranger t or pdx1. Not a problem with either. My sa trp operator didn't like the tap or federal I tried.

sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

The thread is about 9 mm bro.

[ubet]

The thread is about 9 mm bro.

Yes I know. Other than weight/size is their any difference between 9mm or 45acp with the same bullet? None that I can think of. Guess I won't add any input from now on.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

[yoni]

My question is since they all expand and penetrate pretty much the same. I would love to see long term testing with different weather and other factors thrown in . My gut tells me if someone were to do this we might see the difference between different weight loads tighten up even more.

Then the only factor between a 147 grn and a 124 grain is the speed of the bullet.

So we have a 147 grain bullet that penetrates around 13" and expands to lets say 0.65 V a 124 grain bullet that penetrates around 13" and expands to around 0.70.

The 147 FPS is around 1000 and the 124 FPS is around 1150 for standard and up to 1250 for +p.

Does the extra velocity play a role?