Best of the Best 45 ACP Bullets: Clothing and Hard Barrier Terminal Ballistics Test
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- Опубликовано: 29 июн 2022
- A terminal ballistics performance test of the three best .45 bullets I have used so far. This test includes clothing, a hard barrier, and ballistic gelatin.
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I did 8 years as an Advanced Emergency Technician (Paramedic) Two capitol cities, and one large metropolitan city. I've seen more than my fair share of gunshot wounds. My takeaway (anecdotal evidence) is that bullet placement is THE most important factor as to if the person shot will be stopped, or not.
Absolutely. The same has been said about hunting as well. In both cases, once you put the bullet in the right place, it needs to do its job. Thanks for watching and taking the time to post. a comment.
Really well done video, testing and verbal summaries. The Federal HST has been shown {by multiple videos} to be one of THE most reliable expanders in 45 ACP without it suffering in penetration. Even in shorter barrels. Would have liked to have seen the HST included in your excellent test. Thank you
Hello Krashdude,
Thanks for watching and posting. I have done quite a few tests with the HST in 9mm and I agree it is an excellent bullet. You will be happy to know that I purchased some 230 gr. 45 ACP HST rounds and will be testing them in the future.
Take care and thanks again for watching.
So smart to add bone very few do it which is odd with humans having well over 200 of them
Thanks Lou.
Bullets don't always perform in the real world as these test results, you can shoot several rounds of the same load and get different results. Besides one thing the gelatin is missing? Bone.
No complaints but I personally would really like to have seen the captured bullets of the Hydra Shock & the Hornady. Again, not a criticism.
Appreciate the time, energy, resources & thought invested.
In hind sight it would have been good to see the recovered bullet. The fact it went through means it did not expand but still the recovered bullet may have told even more. Thanks for watching!
I mean it is called hydra shok deep and critical duty also is known to penetrate through for hard barriers...you gota know what your buying.
Thank you for the Video! With Respect my load with the Speer Gold Dot utilizes Enforcer Powder which drives the 230 Grain JHP at around 1040 feet per second without +P pressures. Again it launches the 230 grain JHP Gold Dot at near supersonic speeds at standard pressures and produces an absolutely beautiful .80" mushroom and penetration right at 15 inches with 99% weight retention (I wish we could post pictures here!!!). Muzzle energy is right at 552 foot pounds. It is my carry round in a full size Taurus PT 1911 & a Springfield Professional. You can Google I also wish we could post links here!!!
Hello Boom
I have not seen a load for .45 ACP using Ramshot Enforcer. It sounds like you are getting good performance from it though. Have you shot it through a clothing/soft barrier? That is really a rough test on a bullet...not to penetrate the soft barrier but rather to expand as desired after passing through the barrier without clogging.
Thanks for watching.
@@sdkweber My Son In Law (who owns the Springfield Professional) shot it into a 10% ordnance gel made by mixing 250A bloom gelatin with 9 parts hot water. He used no barrier like Denim or shirt material. It was a very cold day and the gelatin was pretty dirty having been used, melted down, and re-cast multiple times.
@@boomschofield3148 Thanks Boom for the details. Have a good day.
Reliability of weapon and ammo, function of round in weapon, accuracy, penetration to get to vitals in odd angle shoulder, though arm or leg, heavy clothing or barrier then to body penetrating to vitals. Lastly ease of carry, meaning you will have it on your person when or if you need it. Those are for me most important. A hard test for sure. The Miami shoot out gave law enforcement a wakeup call and brought to light the 9mm with Silvertip, (at that time) lack of penetration to vitals coupled with the resistance of some to give up easily. I have 9s and 45s. I always plan to use those tools to get to a better tool for the job, a long gun if possible.
There are indeed many considerations. We are certainly seeing advances in bullet design and performance and my PAC-T series helps us identify good, better, best bullets. At the same time we cannot expect a handgun to perform to the level of a rifle like a 5.56 which may be an excellent choice for home defense. Thanks for watching and posting.
@@sdkweber
I agree. For me, in my opinion, there is a sweet spot for penetration and expansion. So much importance on expansion by most is deceiving for the total package bullet. Just my opinion but I will take penetration over expansion. I understand the bystander, over penetration consideration also. I found the Hornady 135gr +p Critical Duty to perform very well for my purposes. I carry Gold Dot, (was my duty round) Federal HST 124gr, Underwood 124gr Unicore +p, Underwood 147gr Hardcast for timber in my 9mm pistols. Hornady Critical defense 115 in my wife's 9mm. Same brands in my 45acp 185gr, 230gr, Underwood 255 hardcast for timber. I haven't had a chance to checkout all your work yet but hope to soon.
Great job testing the limits.
Keep'em coming!
@@kentuckywindage222 I really like Gold Dot and V-Crowns. You are right, there is a sweet spot and some trade-offs must might need to be made to identify the round you will trust your life to. I am starting to wonder if a mag loaded with a few different rounds might be a good solution. So often we hear of 5 rounds were fired, or 9 rounds or 15 rounds before the assailant was stopped. Maybe some good JHP plus Underwood Maximum expansion bullets. Not sure at this point.
You might be interested in our "what the numbers don't tell" video regarding terminal ballistics. Here is a link ruclips.net/video/Vwxdzr8iho0/видео.html
@@sdkweber
I do stagger my loads. Mostly Unicore 2 and 3rd is a Hornady 135 gr Critical duty +p. Couldn't do this with my duty weapon but it was worth asking. This was long ago. Retired and disabled now. Hit with a shotgun at 5 feet. Almost cut me in two halves. Lots of serious damage internally and external. 127 frag in my spine, 5 in the half liver I have left, one kidney, 7 sections of rib, half the muscle in my right lower flank, part of my intestine, pancreas damage hole in back size of a large grapefruit and hole through abdominal wall, paralyzed my diaphragm, got my right lung, 13 pints of blood etc. Pretty serious. I went back to work as a city officer in my small town. Body just wouldn't take it. I've seen a few shootings besides being in one where I was the victim left for dead.
I carry 95% of the time. Shower and bed puts it near me but not on me. I generally have a long gun around close if at all possible. A good shotgun is hard to beat up close and personal. Imagine being hit with a sledgehammer and a blow touch stuck inside or a hornets nest. Lots of power there.😱
I will check the link out. Thank you for your testing and time invested.
Keep'em coming!
@@kentuckywindage222 It is good to hear this from you... and you say it was "pretty serious"... more than pretty serious, sounds extremely serious. Glad you pulled through. It is also good to know we are on the right track with our testing. I realize there are so many variables and ballistic gel simulates soft tissue, etc. but it is the best we can do to help us all prepare. Years ago no one thought about carrying a gun, that was something for the police or criminals. Things have certainly changed.
EXCELLENT EXCELLENT VIDEO. Over penatration to me personally means nothing. Most handgun rounds will bounce off of pine board leaving a dent. Magnum rounds are different yet I've never heard or seen any documentation of a person being shot through another person from over penatration. Could it happen? Yes.
Thanks again Adonikam! I have read that over penetration from a personal defense handgun is rarely an issue. It is good to see some confirmation on this from others.
@@sdkweber I believe the fear of over penetration comes from an NYPD shooting in the early days of 9mm adoption when they carried fmj and a bystander was hit from an over penetrating round.
@@jason_m_schmidt622 I bet you are right Jason. Thanks for posting this.
I think the bigger risk is missing your target entirely, and perhaps hitting someone else.
I would like to see a video testing the Sierra V-crown in 45ACP
I think we have what you are looking for. The V-Crown was one of our best of the best .45 bullets we shot in the hard barrier test. I also tested this bullet in bare gelatin but did not make a video of it. Here is a link ruclips.net/video/hBUY8QovVXM/видео.html
If a state were to limit us to 10 rounds, as some do, and to non-expanding bullets, as New Jersey does, that HK Tactical of yours is looking good!
That's a very good point to consider John. And the HK 45T is a very nice pistol. Thanks for posting that.
@@sdkweber I'm a 1911 guy, so I'm 8+1 and two spares. If I ever need that, or even more...
I'm having a VERY bad day.
@@johngregory4801 I really like my 1911's. I have a couple of them and carried the 1911 in the Army (then transitioned to the M9 before getting out of the service). So I am fond of the 1911 and love their triggers. BUT, the HK 45T is quite a gun and in a self defense situation carrying a .45 ACP I would choose the HK for its mag capacity (fire power). How about you?
@@sdkweber My first pistol was a S&W 659. 14 rounds of 9mm. It was more accurate than me. Then a friend let me try out his grandfather's Remington Rand 1911 from WW II. I've never shot anything better. I'll stick with it because I'm comfortable with it. 😁
@@johngregory4801 That really is key. Being able to shoot a gun well makes the decision easy. Take care!
200gr+p golddot.
Is there a bulk jhp that people could train A LOT with, and load for self defense that's affordable you could recommend?
Edit: I'm okay with overpenetration as long as it consistently expands. Sorry for the complicated question, but you document everything so well!!
You know, I used to buy the Hornady XTP in bulk but today it is very hard to fine in bulk But I see Midsouth has it now and on sale a bit, here is the link: www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0035035540s/9mm-point355-diameter-115-grain-hollow-point-xtp-500-count-sleeve-(5-boxes-of-100-count). It is a decent bullet for self defense, easy enough to load for and for the price it is very reasonable. I will get this reply sent while they are in stock and if you have a follow-up question just let me know.
BTW. were you looking for 9mm or 45 bullets?
I'm actually better with my 1911 than any 9mm I've ever touched
That is very important Kirby. That is your gun then, stick with it and become the best you can with it.
Thanks for watching and posting.
Hi, I just subscribed. I would like to know if you guys tried the Lehigh Underwood Defender or Penetrator ammo?
Hello Jorge
Welcome to our channel and thanks for subscribing. We have tested a few of these bullets in 9mm Luger, the Extreme Penetrator ruclips.net/video/5kUf8w765N8/видео.htmlsi=s6AIM7Unw-0wPYJ2 and the Maximum Expansion bullet ruclips.net/video/WWcX4W46ryw/видео.htmlsi=BX90jP_vQxRrCT86
We have a new season coming up soon also.
@@sdkweber Thank you for getting back. I greatly appreciate you guys sharing your knowledge, experience and time that you put into it ..GREAT JOB... 👍
@@jorgemedina9650Thank you very much Jorge.
Long time reloader have read allot about prosecutors pursuing the vigilante angle for any alterations to your carry firearm and especially for reloaded ammunition claiming it to be more deadly. Any thoughts or experiences in this area ?
No personal experience with this but believe it could be true especially in places that are more anti-gun than others. Personally, I would not let it stop me from doing my best.
Isn't that the point, to be deadly?
Any interest in the Cor Bond +p?
Yes. We did a test of the Cor-Bon DPX in 9mm. Here is a link to that video ruclips.net/video/c6CZybPlp7c/видео.html
Thanks for watching and posting.
Try copper bullets.
Are you thinking something like a Barnes bullet or more of the Lehigh Defense?
@@sdkweber As Kosh, Vorlon ambassador to Babylon 5 would say...
Yes.
I like your testing, but you put too much emphasis on over penetration trust me until you get over 20 inches you have not over penetrated. Humans are much harder than ballistic jell. I have seen it first hand
Thanks for your note. I will bear this in mind as we start in new series in 2024. This is good information.
With the hottest loads possible in 9, 40 or 45 the ballistics are nearly indistinguishable. But….9mm has more rounds, expands more reliably because of its velocity and penetrates further in most mediums. The real difference in power doesn’t become distinguishable until you get to 357sig, 10mm, etc. The top 3 (9,40,45) is a wash.
What you describe is not what we are seeing in all our tests over the years. Instead, we are seeing many differences between bullets. It has become clear that a defensive round is not about power (i.e., energy), it is about performance.