Here are a couple of ammo tests 9mm/40/45

[Dragonfighter]

There is a lot to be said for someone who will take the time to run a scientific, empirical test and then post the results for our edification. Any ballistics test will be comparative and the results relative. What the man did here was take a consistent medium, used consistent delivery and came up with velocities and energies delivered as well as a comparative physical analysis of the results.

Ballistic gelatin is "supposed" a more realistic medium because it is mostly water as is human tissue. But there are no bones (except in very rare constructs) no differential density and the blocks are not normally clothed. And guess what, the results are comparative also. Ballistic gelatin has the advantage of being easier to quality control than wet news paper, but it has limited applicability as well.

Browning, or Wesson or one of those had the right idea in a rather macabre experiment. They hung cadavers from pins in there skull, 1" off the ground and fired a huge cross section of ammunition into them. They intended to measure two things, amount of energy translated (how far would the cadaver swing?) and the energy delivered measured by expansion, penetration and shock tunneling. Interestingly, none of the rounds caused any of the cadavers to swing.

I for one appreciate the effort and I find the results fascinating.

Kyle

[WildBill]

I think it would be an interesting experiment to dissect Ranger and Ranger-T rounds to compare the two. Weigh the bullets, the powder charge and cross section the bullets. This would show if the T's are just repackaged Rangers. Since I don't have any of these rounds I will have to leave this experiment to some one else.

[Xander]

Xander: what's your opinion of the Winchester Ranger T-series in 9mm? it's 147gr and comes in at 1030f/ps (IIRC).
anyone else have an opinion?
they are cheap, that's [abbreviated profanity deleted] sho!

Are they really the Ranger-Ts, or the regular Rangers?

Assuming they're the Ranger-Ts, it wouldn't be my personal choice, but if I were carrying it, I wouldn't feel under-armed either. I believe that's the round Dallas PD is currently using in 9mm, in fact, and it seems to have worked decently from what I've seen and heard. As to the velocity, remember that that's going to depend heavily on the length of the barrel of the gun that you're shooting it out of. If they're the regular non-T Rangers, I wouldn't use them. The couple of bucks you'd save aren't worth the difference for bullets you may be trying to save your life with.

I think it would be an interesting experiment to dissect Ranger and Ranger-T rounds to compare the two.

They are actually different, and the Ranger-T is a newer, better design. The Ranger Bonded is an even newer, and arguably better design. That's what I would personally choose out of the Ranger lineup, though I personally prefer a 124gr +P to the 147gr rounds. The 124gr +P really seems to have the best track record, and it's been chosen by some major police departments including the NYPD who chose it for it's ballistic performance after seeing abysmal results from the 147gr subsonic FBI loads.

[WildBill]

Xander - Thanks for the info!

[DoubleJ]

Well, got my box o' ammo yesterday. got to say, they look cool
they are the T's, and I agree, shoulda went with the 124 +P+ but at only $20 a box, I can get some of those, too.
I think your sentiment is seconded by several others I have seen over the last little bit, so it makes sense.
if the stinking search thing worked, maybe I coulda found that before... que ser a...
I'll be using them in a full size Beretta92, so I think I'll be getting maximum velocity out of them.

you guys always post the pertinent info/opinions on something AFTER I've already bought it!
ah, well. thanks anyway.

[Abraham]

Midway USA and Graf and Sons sell Speer Gold Dots much cheaper than Ammotogo.

Plus, no state sales tax.

Graf and Sons has a set cost of $3.95 to get it to you.

I quit trying to buy them from Prodefense as they are so often out.

[txinvestigator]

Just received an email from a friend in the Bureau. Here is what they currently issue;

.45auto : Remington Golden Saber 230 grain (gr) Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP)

.40 S&W : Speer GoldDot 165 gr JHP

9mm : Speer GoldDot 147 gr JHP



He is going to try to find a Reader's Digest Condensed version of the last comprehensive test they did. He used to be in training, and had up to date info at his fingerprints, but he is in counter-terrorism now and has to find time to look.