10mm gel tests

Raggedyman · November 18 2012 05:06:17 PM MST

Me too. I'd like a relatively heavy (180 gr+) bullet pushed as fast as is reasonable and I want it to just expand a little bit while still penetrating pretty deeply. From the test today, it looks like I might be on the right track with the 200 gr XTP.

REDLINE · November 18 2012 08:02:17 PM MST

In regard to being on track with the 200XTP, is that with 800-X or No.9?

Raggedyman · November 19 2012 11:29:52 AM MST

Quote from: REDLINE on November 18 2012 08:02:17 PM MST
In regard to being on track with the 200XTP, is that with 800-X or No.9?

800-X.

Raggedyman · November 19 2012 11:31:24 AM MST

All the relevant data is in the description for each video. To read it, click the "Watch on YouTube" link.

The_Shadow · November 19 2012 01:49:16 PM MST

Raggedyman, Very nice...what was the depth of penetration on the Hornady 200XTP's? ${$default_huh_smiley}$
I think the 200's need to be pushed to at least 1200 fps for best expansion. If they were the polymer tipped like the Critical Defense i would think they would actually open faster and lower velocity. It is hard to beat the performance of the Dold Dot lineup! I wish Speer made the Gold Dots in 190 or 200 grain. ${$default_cool_smiley}$

Raggedyman · November 19 2012 04:03:31 PM MST

Quote from: The_Shadow on November 19 2012 01:49:16 PM MST
Raggedyman, Very nice...what was the depth of penetration on the Hornady 200XTP's? ${$default_huh_smiley}$
I think the 200's need to be pushed to at least 1200 fps for best expansion. If they were the polymer tipped like the Critical Defense i would think they would actually open faster and lower velocity. It is hard to beat the performance of the Dold Dot lineup! I wish Speer made the Gold Dots in 190 or 200 grain. ${$default_cool_smiley}$

At 1,133 fps impact velocity, 17"
At 1,151 fps impact velocity, 22"

I'd kinda like to find a speed where they XTPs only open a little so they still drive really nice and deep.

Raggedyman · November 29 2012 08:42:50 PM MST

Tested Hornady 165 gr Critical Defense and Precision Cartridge 180 gr Golden Saber today. I'll probably post the pics and video as well as bullet measurements tomorrow if I get a chance to melt the blocks down but here are the numbers from today's test:

BB calibration: 599.3 fps, 3.6"

10mm Hornady Critical Defense 165 gr

Velocity, penetration

1,135 fps, 12.6"
1,148 fps, 12.2"
1,148 fps, 12.8"
1,144 fps, 12.7"

BB calibration: 594.0 fps, 3.75"

Precision Cartridge 180 gr Golden Saber:

Velocity, penetration

1,161 fps, 13.8"
1,150 fps, (this one actually angled up a bit and left one block, then left a small mark where it hit the second block and I couldn't find it)
1,162 fps, 13.8"
1,139 fps, 13.7"

Intercooler · November 29 2012 09:21:30 PM MST

My Chronograph numbers were a good bit higher. Don't know... time for a retest!

Raggedyman · November 30 2012 08:00:09 AM MST

I think it was about 80 yesterday. Was it hotter when you tested? Any chance the ammo sat in the sun before testing? You used your 4.5" Witness, right?

Intercooler · November 30 2012 09:21:57 AM MST

That sounds about right. I got my results from the Match 4.75". I noticed in Shadows recent test we Matched both using the same 1006 setup on all Underwood tested but a couple were off what I got from the others. It's hard to tell what causes these things but the hand Chrony never fails. I can pretty much tell by recoil and muzzle flip if it's real 10mm or not.

Raggedyman · November 30 2012 12:19:44 PM MST

Raggedyman · December 07 2012 01:23:14 PM MST

Raggedyman · December 23 2012 07:01:38 PM MST

I also tested 200 gr HAP over 8.3 gr of 800-X at 1,153 fps but I didn't get any video of it. Here are the numbers and pics, though:

Penetration: 19.4"
Weight retention: 198.1 gr
Max expansion: 0.623"
Min expansion: 0.442"

arttyszka · December 28 2012 03:07:54 PM MST

I've followed this thread and the one over on GT with great interest. I've been most impressed with the uniform expansion of the GDHPs, but see several comments that most are impressed with the XTPs, which to me, don't seem to expand well below 1200 fps, am I missing something that makes the XTP superior?

Thanks

REDLINE · December 28 2012 07:17:16 PM MST

I'm generally a Gold Dot fan over the XTP.

And no, you're not missing anything. It all boils down to different schools of thought.

One school of thought is that Gold Dots at true 10mm velocity overexpand and are therefore deemed by this group to be considered useless.

My school of thought is that the "overexpanded" and sometimes somewhat fragemented Gold Dots still penetrate as deep as I care for them too and do more terminal destruction in the process.

Another school of thought, simply based on the fact that XTP bullets penetrate deeper, is what some people feel is best. Especially when barrier penetration is thrown into the mix. I personally have no issue with this barrier aspect as Gold Dots make it through barriers just fine anyway, and by the time most JHP bullets get through some barriers they won't expand afterwards anyway. And when they do expand afterwards, the Gold Dots generally do it as well as any other bullet.

Both the XTP and Gold Dot bullets are superior from each other in different ways. It's simply a choice of the aspects the individual holds most dear.

You'll hear most say they also specifically prefer the XTP bullets for hunting over Gold Dots. If we're talking Whitetail Deer and smaller, I'm not in that crowd either. But to each their own.