Gelatin test results

[5pins]

Test Gun: Sig P229, Beretta Nano.
Barrel length: 3.9, 3 inches.
Ammunition: Megtech 147gr JHP Bonded
Test media: 10% Clear Ballistics Gel.
Distance: 10 feet.
Chronograph: Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph G2.
Five shot velocity average: 969, 930 fps
Gel Temperature 80 degrees.



This is a first in a series of "budget" 9mm ammo. With Federal's sharp increase in 50 round boxed HST's numerous people on several forums have been seeking reasonably priced alternatives. In order to be considered budget ammo, It must come in 50 round boxes at a price under $20. With that criteria in mind, I dragged my Visa through Target Sports USA and purchased 11 different loadings. I went with Target Sports only because it had the most 9mm ammo that fit my definition of budget at the time.



After receiving the ammo I fired one round of each type into the bare gel from a Sig P229 in an attempt to decide on how to start. The one round that caught my attention was the Magtech 147gr JHP. The price of this ammo from Target Sports was $16.99.     



Five shot average from the Sig P229 was 969fps with a high of 985fps and a low of 966fps. Point of aim at ten yards was fine. 



Five shot average from the Beretta Nano was 930fps with a high of 940fps and a low of 914fps. The Nano didn't shoot this round very well at all at ten yards. It's also posable I was having a bad day with the Nano, it's not an easy gun for me to shoot.

 

From the P229 the first round in the bare gel had a velocity of 992fps and penetrated to 16 inches. Recovered weight was146.3 grains and expanded to .66 inches. Round two hit the gel at 971fps and penetrated to 16.25 inches. Recovered weight was 147.7 grains and it expanded to .61 inches.



The results in the clothing covered gel were mixed. The first rounds velocity was not recorded. It penetrated to 22.5inches with an expansion of .52 inches and a recovered weight of 146..4 grains. Round two had a velocity of 974fps and penetrated to 19 inches. There was no expansion and the bullet tumbled and was recovered base forward. Two pedals broke off the bullet and the recovered weight was 142.9 grains.     



Out of the Nano, the first round penetrated to 18 inches with a velocity of 953fps. The recovered weight was 146.5 grains and expanded to .63 inches. Round two's velocity was 950fps and it penetrated to 16 inches. Recovered weight was 146.8 grains and it expanded to .62 inches. 

[Intercooler]

I have some Magtech +P+ screamers I always wanted to see hit the gel block 

[5pins]

I have some Magtech +P+ screamers I always wanted to see hit the gel block 

http://www.general-cartridge.com/blog/magtech-9mm-115gr-jhp-p-in-clear-ballistics-gel

[Intercooler]

Didn't seem too bad! They rock for sure!

[5pins]

Test Gun: Sig P229, Beretta Nano.
Barrel length: 3.9, 3 inches.
Ammunition: Fiocchi 115gr JHP
Test media: 10% Clear Ballistics Gel.
Distance: 10 feet.
Chronograph: Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph G2.
Five shot velocity average: 1080, 1039fps
Gel Temperature 70 degrees.

The second installment in the 9mm budget series is the Fiocchi Pistol Shooting Dynamics 115gr JHP. The price was $13.99 for a 50 round box from Target Sports U.S.A. This bullet is not a Hornady XTP like Fiocchi's that come in the 25 round boxes and it's about half the cost. This load is also on the flashy side.


The Sig gave an average five-shot velocity of 1080fps with a high of 1094fps and a low of 1066fps.


Ten yards off hand five shots with the Sig P229

In the Nano, I got an average velocity of 1039fps with a high of 1063fps and a low of 1030fps.


Ten yards off hand five shots with the Beretta Nano

The first round in the bare gel, fired from the Sig P229, had a velocity of 1081fps. It penetrated to a depth of 18.5 inches with a recovered weight of 115.2 grains and a recovered diameter of .48 inches. The second round had a velocity of 1071fps and also penetrated to 18.5 inches. It expanded to .47 inches and came in at 115 grains.



When shot through the gel covered with heavy clothing the first round penetrated 22 inches with a recovered weight of 114.9 grains and a diameter of .49 inches. No velocity reading was recorded. The second round hit the block at 1066fps and penetrated to 23 inches. The recovered diameter was .43 inches and the recovered weight was 115.2 grains.



Out of the Beretta Nano, the first round impacted the bare gel block at 1072fps and penetrated to 20.5 inches. The diameter of the recovered bullet was .46 inches and the recovered weight was 115.2 grains. The chronograph did not get a reading but the bullet also penetrated to 20.5 inches. The recovered weight was 115 grains and recovered diameter was .44 inches.

[5pins]

Test Gun: Sig P229, Beretta Nano.
Barrel length: 3.9, 3 inches.
Ammunition: Remington 124gr +P BJHP Bonded
Test media: 10% Clear Ballistics Gel.
Distance: 10 feet.
Chronograph: Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph G2.
Five shot velocity average: 1108, 1055fps
Gel Temperature 70 degrees.


In the third installment of the budget 9 series, we take a look at the Remington 124gr +P Golden Saber Bonded. This ammo is the highest priced tested to $19.99 a box, coming in just under the $20 limit. There are a couple of interesting things of note about this ammo. It's called a brass jacked hollow point but it appears to be a standard copper jacket, with the offset jacket skives.


Of greater concern was the number of what appeared to be miss formed hollow points. The box consisted of about half of them. The depth of the points seemed to be shallower and the lead around the jacket rim was thicker. The obvious question was if it would affect performance. I decided to pick the tested rounds at random with the thought that anyone using this ammo would do the same when loading their magazine.



From the Sig P229, I got a five average velocity of 1108fps with a high of 1128fps and a low of 1078fps.


Ten yards off hand five shots with the Sig P229

Out of the Nano, I got a five shot average velocity of 1055fps with a high of 1091fps and a low of 1040fps


Ten yards off hand five shots with the Beretta Nano

From the Sig P229, the first round into the bare gel had a velocity of 1123fps and penetrated 19.25 inches. The expanded diameter was .60 inches and recovered weight was 124 grains. Round two hit the block at 1068fps and to a depth of 16.25 inches. The expansion was .65 inches and it weighed 124.9 grains.



In the clothing covered gel, the first round from the P229 had a velocity of 1111fps and penetrated 21.25 inches. The expansion was .61 inches and recovered weight was 124.3 grains. The second round had a velocity of 1099fps and completely passed through both 16-inch blocks and was not recovered.



With the Nano, the first round in bare gel the bullet penetrated to 14.5 inches and expanded to .64 inches with a recovered weight of 125.2 grains. The velocity was not recorded. Round two hit the block at 1083fps and penetrated to 16.5 inches. It expanded to .60 inches and weighed 123.4 grains.



I also decided to shoot two rounds of each type of different hollow points from the P229. The first two were the miss-formed bullets. The first round had a velocity of 1068fps and penetrated to 14.47 inches. The recovered weight was 124 grains and it expanded to .64 inches. Round two had a velocity of 1077fps and penetrated to 15.5 inches. The recovered weight was 125 grains and expansion was also .64 inches.




With the properly formed bullets, the first went 17.5 inches, expanded to .58 inches, and had a recovered weight of 122.6 grains. The velocity was not recorded. And the last round had a velocity of 1145fps and penetrated to 16 inches. The recovered diameter was .62 inches and weight was 123.4 grains.

[The_Shadow]

All very nice work 5pins!  Wish you were doing some pull-down documentations, to show & measure powder being used...

[SPDSR]

Very interesting info...GS bullets have always had brass looking jackets, I wonder why these didn't. That's why they named them "Golden" Sabre lol. Also interesting deviations with the cavities. I'd probably call Remington with the lot number and inquire.

[5pins]

Test Gun: Sig P229, Beretta Nano.
Barrel length: 3.9, 3 inches.
Ammunition: Remington 147gr BJHP Golden Saber
Test media: 10% Clear Ballistics Gel.
Distance: 10 feet.
Chronograph: Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph G2.
Five shot velocity average: 894, 883 fps
Gel Temperature 72 degrees.

Round four in the budget 9 series is featuring the Remington 147gr Gloden Saber BJHP. This ammo came in at a price of $16.99 per 50 rounds.

From the Sig 229, I got an average five-shot velocity of 894 fps with a high of 928 fps and a low of 872 fps.


Ten yards off hand five shots with the Sig P229

From the Nano, I got a five-shot velocity of 883 fps with a high of 896 fps and a low of 868 fps. This must be the best group I have shot form the Nano.


Ten yards off hand five shots with the Beretta Nano

The first round for the P229 hit the bare gel at a velocity of 916 fps and penetrated to 14.5 inches. Recovered diameter was .67 inches and recovered weight was 147.4 grains. The second round had a velocity was 918 fps and penetrated to 16.25 inches. Recovered diameter was .66 inches and the recovered weight was 146.9 grains.



The first round in the cover gel velocity was 903 fps and penetrated to 15.5 inches. The recovered weight was 147.2 grains and it expanded to .66 inches.  The second round had a velocity of 925 fps. The jacket and lead core separated and the core was recovered at 16.25 inches and the jacket was recovered at 15.25 inches. The jacket expanded to .66 inches and the core .41 inches. The recovered weight of the jacket was 36 grains and the lead core was 110.3 grains.



Out of the Nano, the first round in the bare gel had a velocity of 870 fps and penetrated to 16 inches. The recovered diameter was .65 inches and it weighed 147.6 grains. The second round had a velocity of 908 fps and penetrated to 16.5 inches. It expanded to .62 inches and had a recovered weight of 147.1 grains.



http://www.general-cartridge.com

[5pins]

Test Gun: Sig P229, Beretta Nano.
Barrel length: 3.9, 3 inches.
Ammunition: Remington 147gr BJHP Golden Saber
Test media: 10% Clear Ballistics Gel.
Distance: 10 feet.
Chronograph: Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph G2.
Five shot velocity average: 1036, 997fps
Gel Temperature 70 degrees.

In the fifth installment of the budget 9 series, we take a look at the lighter weight brother of the last cartridge we shot. The Remington 124gr BJHP Golden Saber. The price on this one comes in at $15.99 a box of fifty, a dollar less than the 147gr version.

From the Sig P229, I got an average velocity of 1036fps with a high of 1065fps and a low of 984.


Ten yards off hand five shots with the Sig P229

In the Nano, I got a five-shot velocity average of 997 fps with a high of 1020fps and a low of 975fps.


Ten yards off hand five shots with the Beretta Nano

From the Sig, the first round in the bare gel had a velocity of 967fps and penetrated to 16.5 inches. The expansion was .64 inches and recovered weight was 122.4 grains. The second round had a velocity of 1012fps and penetrated to 15.5 inches. the bullet expanded to .64 inches also and had a recovered weight of 123.3 grains.



When shot in the clothing covered gel the first round had a velocity of 1003fps and penetrated to 20 inches. There was no expansion but part of the hollow point had separated. Recovered weight was 121.4 grains. Round two hit the gel block at a velocity of 1093fps and penetrated to 18 inches. The bullet expanded to .64 inches and had a recovered weight of 120.1 grains.



From the Nano, the first round in the gel had a velocity of 1007fps and penetrated to 16 inches. It expanded to .63 inches and had a recovered weight of 123.9 grains. The last round traveled at 991fps and penetrated to 15.75 inches. The expansion was also .63 inches and the recovered weight was 123.4 grains.

[Kenk]

Thank you all,  I'm grateful for the time  and effort you all put into these

Ken

[5pins]

Test Gun: Sig P229, Beretta Nano.
Barrel length: 3.9, 3 inches.
Ammunition: Remington 115gr JHP HTP
Test media: 10% Clear Ballistics Gel.
Distance: 10 feet.
Chronograph: Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph G2.
Five shot velocity average: 1052, 1041fps
Gel Temperature 70 degrees.

If I'm counting with my fingers correctly this is the sixth in the Budget 9 series. This time we are taking a look at the Remington 9mm 115gr JHP High Terminal Performance. The price for this round was $13.99 and was tied for the lowest price.

The five shot velocity from the Sig P229 was 1052fps with a high of 1087fps and a low of 1029fps. The one round out of the group was totally me.


Ten yards off hand five shots with the Sig P229

From the Nano, I got a five-shot velocity of 1041fps with a high of 1070fps and a low of 1003fps.



The first shot fired for the P229 into the bare gel has a velocity of 1078fps and penetrated to 18.25 inches. The recovered diameter of the bullet was .51 inches and the recovered weight was 115.8 grains. The second round hit the block at 1089fps and penetrated to 16 inches. the bullet expanded to .52 inches and weighed 115 grains.



When shot into the heavy clothed gel the first round's velocity was 1132fps and penetrated to 17.5 inches. The recovered weight was 114.9 grains and the diameter was .52 inches. Number two had a velocity of 1091fps and penetrated to 20.5 inches and was recovered base forward. The recovered diameter was .51 inches and recovered weight was 114.9 grains.



Round one from the Nano into the bare gel had a velocity of 997fps and penetrated to 17 inches. The expansion was .43 inches and the recovered weight was 114.2 grains. The second round's velocity was 1009fps and penetrated to a depth of 20.5 inches. The expansion was .50 inches and recovered weight of 115 grains.

[The_Shadow]

Nice additions to the testing, Thanks 5pins! 

[5pins]

I had a typo on the penetration depth of the first round. It is 18.25 inches not 10.25.

[Intercooler]

Do you keep an Excel file, or other for your test videos? Have you done the Magtech 9mm +P+?