9 mm 147 gr duty ammo testing

[DocGKR]

All three loads tested in this event offer acceptable terminal performance for LE duty use. The Federal HST, like the Winchester Ranger Talon and Speer Gold Dot, offers a bit more expansion and slightly less penetration, a possible advantage for municipal LE agencies patrolling urban or crowded suburban environments. Like Hornady Critical Duty, the Speer G2, and Winchester bonded loads penetrate a bit deeper, but have less expansion than HST and might offer an advantage for agencies with a significant number of engagements around vehicles or for rural agencies where larger animals are a potential threat.

It is strongly recommended that LE agencies approve at least two similar loads from different manufacturers, to help ensure a consistent supply of ammunition in times of scarcity. In other words, if an agency adopts HST, it would be prudent to also approve a load with similar terminal performance, like Ranger Talon or loads using Barnes Tac-XP projectiles; alternatively, if an agency adopted Speer G2, it would be smart to also authorize Hornady Critical Duty or Winchester bonded loads, as they will perform in like fashion.

Vyse Type 250 A ordnance gelatin was mixed into 8” x 12” x 20” blocks of 10% concentration and stored at 4 deg. All gel was validated with a standard .177 inch BB fired into the blocks with a velocity of 590 f/s +/- 15 f/s, with an ideal range of penetration defined as 8.5 cm +/- 1.0 cm of penetration (although up to +/- 1.5 cm was considered acceptable). In this test, five rounds of each handgun ammunition type were fired into the blocks of validated ordnance gelatin from a range of ten feet. Shots were made into bare gelatin, gelatin covered with 4 layers of denim (IWBA protocol), and through laminated automobile windshield glass angled at 45 degrees, placed 18 inches in front of the gelatin block. All test shots were conducted using a 9 mm Glock 19 with OEM barrel.

9 mm Fed 147 gr HST had an average velocity of 1017 fps
9 mm Speer 147 gr G2 had an average velocity of 987 fps
9 mm Win 147 gr RA9B had an average velocity of 992 fps

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9 mm Fed 147 gr HST BG: Pen = 13.8”, RD = 0.66”, RL = 0.35”, RW = 148.4 gr
9 mm Speer 147 gr G2 BG: Pen = 16.4”, RD = 0.48”, RL = 0.44”, RW = 146.6 gr
9 mm Win 147 gr RA9B BG: Pen = 15.5”, RD = 0.52”, RL = 0.44”, RW = 146.9 gr

Recovered from BG--Top row is Speer 147 gr G2 PT, Far right is Fed 147 gr HST control round, Bottom row is Winchester 147 gr RA9B JHP

Comparison in BG: Top is Win RA9B, middle is Speer G2, bottom is HST

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9 mm Fed 147 gr HST 4LD: Pen = 15.5”, RD = 0.52”, RL = 0.53”, RW = 148.5 gr
9 mm Speer 147 gr G2 4LD: Pen = 17.4”, RD = 0.49”, RL = 0.45”, RW = 145.6 gr
9 mm Win 147 gr RA9B 4LD: Pen = 19.4”, RD = 0.46”, RL = 0.49”, RW = 146.6 gr

Recovered from 4LD--Top row is Speer 147 gr G2 PT, Far right is Fed 147 gr HST control round, Bottom row is Winchester 147 gr RA9B JHP

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9 mm Fed 147 gr HST AG: Pen = 12.5”, RD = 0.51”, RL = 0.54”, RW = 146.2 gr
9 mm Speer 147 gr G2 AG: Pen = 15.7”, RD = 0.51”, RL = 0.49”, RW = 145.0 gr 9 mm
Win 147 gr RA9B AG: Pen = 16.3”, RD = 0.53”, RL = 0.46”, RW = 146.1 gr

Recovered from AG--Top row is Speer 147 gr G2 PT, Far right is Fed 147 gr HST control round, Bottom row is Winchester 147 gr RA9B JHP

 

[Lane C]

Great info sharing as usual Doc! Thanks.

 

[IkeInTexas]

Thank you for posting this Doc! Looking forward to seeing more posted here.


Ike

 

[Slim]

Appreciate the info Doc! Great stuff as always

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[JD Williams]

Awesome.


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[Unobtanium]

Seems like it's almost hard to make a bad choice if you stick with the top players.

 

[RowdyYates]

I've been hearing lately reports of case separation with the 147 HST through glass. Have you experienced any of this in your recent testing?


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[DocGKR]

We have seen no jacket separation with the 147 gr HST (P9HST2) loads we have tested.

 

[RowdyYates]

That's good to hear. Thank you.


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[Jackrabbit]

I think he may be referring to an interesting result I had, on 28 APR we had jacket separation of 4/5 rounds with the P9HST2 in the glass protocol. We had an opportunity to re-shoot with a different lot of ammunition on 25 MAY and had no jacket separation.

(Photo is not all the rounds fired, just an overview format I use to jog my memory)

 

[RowdyYates]

I think he may be referring to an interesting result I had, on 28 APR we had jacket separation of 4/5 rounds with the P9HST2 in the glass protocol. We had an opportunity to re-shoot with a different lot of ammunition on 25 MAY and had no jacket separation.

(Photo is not all the rounds fired, just an overview format I use to jog my memory)

Your post on FB was one of the instances. Most recent for sure. It also came up during a vehicle class I did back in February through.


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[back spin]

From the test data I've seen gathered from other ballistic shoots, 147 HST tends to penetrate less than 12" in ballistic gel through auto glass. I know some like Doc Roberts have had good results with HST's through glass. Anyone have an idea as to why the numbers vary greatly from one test to another?

 

[John L. Ca]

All three loads tested in this event offer acceptable terminal performance for LE duty use. The Federal HST, like the Winchester Ranger Talon and Speer Gold Dot, offers a bit more expansion and slightly less penetration, a possible advantage for municipal LE agencies patrolling urban or crowded suburban environments. Like Hornady Critical Duty, the Speer G2, and Winchester bonded loads penetrate a bit deeper, but have less expansion than HST and might offer an advantage for agencies with a significant number of engagements around vehicles or for rural agencies where larger animals are a potential threat.

It is strongly recommended that LE agencies approve at least two similar loads from different manufacturers, to help ensure a consistent supply of ammunition in times of scarcity. In other words, if an agency adopts HST, it would be prudent to also approve a load with similar terminal performance, like Ranger Talon or loads using Barnes Tac-XP projectiles; alternatively, if an agency adopted Speer G2, it would be smart to also authorize Hornady Critical Duty or Winchester bonded loads, as they will perform in like fashion.

Vyse Type 250 A ordnance gelatin was mixed into 8” x 12” x 20” blocks of 10% concentration and stored at 4 deg. All gel was validated with a standard .177 inch BB fired into the blocks with a velocity of 590 f/s +/- 15 f/s, with an ideal range of penetration defined as 8.5 cm +/- 1.0 cm of penetration (although up to +/- 1.5 cm was considered acceptable). In this test, five rounds of each handgun ammunition type were fired into the blocks of validated ordnance gelatin from a range of ten feet. Shots were made into bare gelatin, gelatin covered with 4 layers of denim (IWBA protocol), and through laminated automobile windshield glass angled at 45 degrees, placed 18 inches in front of the gelatin block. All test shots were conducted using a 9 mm Glock 19 with OEM barrel.

9 mm Fed 147 gr HST had an average velocity of 1017 fps
9 mm Speer 147 gr G2 had an average velocity of 987 fps
9 mm Win 147 gr RA9B had an average velocity of 992 fps

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

9 mm Fed 147 gr HST BG: Pen = 13.8”, RD = 0.66”, RL = 0.35”, RW = 148.4 gr
9 mm Speer 147 gr G2 BG: Pen = 16.4”, RD = 0.48”, RL = 0.44”, RW = 146.6 gr
9 mm Win 147 gr RA9B BG: Pen = 15.5”, RD = 0.52”, RL = 0.44”, RW = 146.9 gr

Recovered from BG--Top row is Speer 147 gr G2 PT, Far right is Fed 147 gr HST control round, Bottom row is Winchester 147 gr RA9B JHP

Comparison in BG: Top is Win RA9B, middle is Speer G2, bottom is HST

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

9 mm Fed 147 gr HST 4LD: Pen = 15.5”, RD = 0.52”, RL = 0.53”, RW = 148.5 gr
9 mm Speer 147 gr G2 4LD: Pen = 17.4”, RD = 0.49”, RL = 0.45”, RW = 145.6 gr
9 mm Win 147 gr RA9B 4LD: Pen = 19.4”, RD = 0.46”, RL = 0.49”, RW = 146.6 gr

Recovered from 4LD--Top row is Speer 147 gr G2 PT, Far right is Fed 147 gr HST control round, Bottom row is Winchester 147 gr RA9B JHP

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9 mm Fed 147 gr HST AG: Pen = 12.5”, RD = 0.51”, RL = 0.54”, RW = 146.2 gr
9 mm Speer 147 gr G2 AG: Pen = 15.7”, RD = 0.51”, RL = 0.49”, RW = 145.0 gr 9 mm
Win 147 gr RA9B AG: Pen = 16.3”, RD = 0.53”, RL = 0.46”, RW = 146.1 gr

Recovered from AG--Top row is Speer 147 gr G2 PT, Far right is Fed 147 gr HST control round, Bottom row is Winchester 147 gr RA9B JHP

Thank you sir, for the concise scientific testing!
I absolutely agree with you, in the adoption or selection of at least two similar cartridges.
We stumbled upon the Federal HST 124gr. +P when Speer Gold Dot 124 gr. +P was in short supply.
Now both loads are approved.
Personally, although the HST seems a spectacular performer, I carry the Gold Dot +P in winter months.
Thank you again sir.
j