Gary K. Roberts, D.D.S.

750 Welch Road, Suite 118

Palo Alto, CA 94304

01 March 2013

Ammunition Testing Update

In order to investigate recent additions to LE ammunition options and assess whether current
issued ammunition is still adequate, terminal performance testing was conducted.

All testing was performed at the Santa Clara County Peace Officers Association outdoor
firing range on 25 February 2013. Vyse Type 250 A ordnance gelatin was mixed into 8” x
12” x 20” blocks of 10% concentration and stored at 4 deg. To first calibrate the gelatin, a
Crossman "Pumpmaster 760" air rifle was used to fire a standard .177 inch BB into the
blocks. Both velocity and penetration were recorded. At a velocity of 590 f/s +/- 15 f/s, an
ideal range of penetration was 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
calibrated 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. In this
limited testing at 10 feet, only one shot of each rifle caliber was fired into bare gelatin and
one shot into gelatin placed behind automobile windshield glass as noted above.

Test shots were conducted with the following firearms:

-- 9 mm Glock 19: 115 shots

-- .40 S&W M&P40: 65 shots
-- .45 Auto M&P45: 45 shots
-- 16” barrels: 6 shots 6.8 mm & 4 shots .300 BLK

The velocity of each shot was calculated using an Oehler Model 35 chronograph and three
Skyscreen II photoelectric screens placed at 2 foot intervals beginning 3 feet from the
muzzle. Measurements of the penetration depth and temporary cavity size in gelatin were
made. The bullets were recovered and weighed on a Lyman LE-1000 scale. The largest and
smallest diameter at the leading edge of the deformed bullet, as well as the length of each
recovered bullet was measured using Mitutoyo "Digimatic" vernier calipers. The recovered
diameter of each bullet was calculated by averaging the largest and smallest diameters.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Wound Ballistic Research and Consulting
Tel: (650) 328-6684 Page: (650) 723-8222, ID#10702
FAX: (650) 328-6685 Stanford University Medical Center E-Mail: DocGKR@hotmail.com
9  mm  Hornady  135  gr  Cri1cal  Duty  at  1085  fps:   9  mm  Fed  147  gr  HST  at  1005  fps:  
BG:  Pen  =  15.7,  RD  =  0.52,  RL  =  0.49,  RW  =  134.6   BG:  Pen  =  14.0,  RD  =  0.65,  RL  =  0.41,  RW  =  147.6  
4LD:  Pen  =  17.8,  RD  =  0.47,  RL  =  0.55,  RW  =  134.1   4LD:  Pen  =  16.5,  RD  =  0.60,  RL  =  0.53,  RW  =  147.5  
AG:  Pen  =  15.0,  RD  =  0.47,  RL  =  0.41,  RW  =  134.1   AG:  Pen  =  13.0,  RD  =  0.47,  RL  =  0.53,  RW  =  143.7  
 

Top  row  in  BG;  bo-om  row  4LD  

Le3  of  dime  is  135  gr  Cri<cal  Duty;  to  the  right  is  Fed  147  gr  HST  

9  mm  Fed  135  gr  +P  bonded  (LE9T5)  at  1069  fps:  
BG:  Pen  =  14.5,  RD  =  0.58,  RL  =  0.34,  RW  =  134.6  
4LD:  Pen  =  15.0,  RD  =  0.56,  RL  =  0.43,  RW  =  134.1  
9  mm  Hornady  135  gr  +P  Cri1cal  Duty  at  1185  fps:   AG:    Pen  =  12.5,  RD  =  0.48,  RL  =  0.44,  RW  =  118.5  
BG:  Pen  =  17.9,  RD  =  0.52,  RL  =  0.50,  RW  =  135.6    
4LD:  Pen  =  18.1,  RD  =  0.48,  RL  =  0.53,  RW  =  134.1  
9  mm  BH  115  gr  +P  Barnes  Tac-­‐XP  at  1069  fps:  
AG:  Pen  =  15.5,  RD  =  0.48,  RL  =  0.44,  RW  =  123.0   BG:  Pen  =  15.0,  RD  =  0.52,  RL  =  0.49,  RW  =  115.4  
4LD:  Pen  =  14.0,  RD  =  0.52,  RL  =  0.49,  RW  =  115.7  
AG:    Pen  =  13.5,  RD  =  0.39,  RL  =  0.55,  RW  =  115.3  

Top  row  in  BG;  bo-om  row  4LD  

Le3  of  dime  is  Cri<cal  Duty;  moving  to  the  right  are  Fed  135  gr  +P  bonded  &  BH  115  gr  +P  Barnes  Tac-­‐XP  
Fed  HST  124  gr  +P  JHP  (P9HST3)  at  1208  f/s:   Fed  HST  147  gr  JHP  (P9HST2)  at  1014  f/s:  
BG:  Pen  =  12.2,  RD  =  0.64,  Ave  RL  =  0.38,  RW  =  123.8   BG:  Pen  =  12.2,  RD  =  0.63,  RL  =  0.39,  RW  =  147.5  
4LD:  Pen  =  14.4,  RD  =  0.53,  Ave  RL  =  0.39,  RW  =  124.1   4LD:  Pen  =  15.4,  RD  =  0.53,  RL  =  0.50  RW  =  147.2  
AG:  Pen  =  14.2",  RD  =  0.46",  Ave  RL  =  0.50”,  RW  =  123.0   AG:  Pen  =  13.0,  RD  =  0.50,  RL  =  0.59,  RW  =  143.6  
 

Top  row  in  BG;  bo-om  row  4LD  

Le3  of  dime  is  Cri<cal  Duty;  to  the  right  is  Fed  147  gr  HST  

9  mm  147  gr  +P  HST  (P9HST4)  at  1069  fps:   9  mm  Fed  147  gr  HST  (P9HST2)  at  1005  fps:  
BG:  Pen  =  14.4,  RD  =  0.64,  RL  =  0.41,  RW  =  147.5   BG:  Pen  =  14.0,  RD  =  0.65,  RL  =  0.41,  RW  =  147.6  
4LD:  Pen  =  16.3,  RD  =  0.59,  RL  =  0.43,  RW  =  147.8   4LD:  Pen  =  16.5,  RD  =  0.60,  RL  =  0.53,  RW  =  147.5  

Top  row  in  BG;  bo-om  row  4LD  

Le3  of  dime  is  Fed  147  gr  +P  HST;  to  the  right  is  Fed  147  gr  HST  
 .40  Fed  155  gr  HST  (P40HST2)  at  1150  fps:  
.40  Hornady  175  gr  Cri1cal  Duty  at  985  fps:   BG:  Pen  =  12.5,  RD  =  0.67,  RL  =  0.34,  RW  =  155.4  
BG:  Pen  =  16.9,  RD  =  0.51,  RL  =  0.56,  RW  =  175.1   4LD:  Pen  =  15.5,  RD  =  0.61,  RL  =  0.41,  RW  =  156.6  
4LD:  Pen  =  19.4,  RD  =  0.45,  RL  =  0.60,  RW  =  174.6    
AG:  Pen  =  14.5,  RD  =  0.50,  RL  =  0.47,  RW  =  139.4   .40  Fed  165  gr  HST  (P40HST3)  at  1129  fps:  
  BG:  Pen  =  13.5,  RD  =  0.69,  RL  =  0.39,  RW  =  165.6  
.40  Fed  180  gr  HST  (P40HST1)  at  986  fps:   4LD:  Pen  =  18.0,  RD  =  0.60,  RL  =  0.47,  RW  =  167.8  
BG:  Pen  =  13.8,  RD  =  0.70,  RL  =  0.33,  RW  =  181.5    
4LD:  Pen  =  15.8,  RD  =  0.65,  RL  =  0.48,  RW  =  183.5   .40  BH  140  gr  Barnes  Tac-­‐XP  at  1267  fps:  
AG:  Pen  =  12.5,  RD  =  0.57,  RL  =  0.45,  RW  =  153.7   BG:  Pen  =  13.5,  RD  =  0.63,  RL  =  0.48,  RW  =  139.5  
4LD:  Pen  =  14.5,  RD  =  0.61,  RL  =  0.47,  RW  =  142.2  
AG:  Pen  =  13.5,  RD  =  0.49,  RL  =  0.50,  RW  =  140.0  

Top  row  in  BG;  bo-om  row  4LD  

Le3  of  dime  is  Cri<cal  Duty;  moving  to  the  right  are  Fed  HST  180,  155,  165,  &  BH  Barnes  Tac-­‐XP  

.45  Fed  230  gr  +P  HST  (P45HST1)  at  936  fps:  
BG:  Pen  =  13.8,  RD  =  0.82,  RL  =  0.42,  RW  =  231.2  
4LD:  Pen  =  14.5,  RD  =  0.76,  RL  =  0.50,  RW  =  234.4  
.45  Hornady  220  gr  +P  Cri1cal  Duty  at  951  fps:  
AG:  Pen  =  13.5,  RD  =  0.59,  RL  =  0.57,  RW  =  229.5  
BG:  Pen  =  16.0,  RD  =  0.65,  RL  =  0.52,  RW  =  219.3  
 
4LD:  Pen  =  16.4,  RD  =  0.63,  RL  =  0.55,  RW  =  218.3  
.45  BH  185  gr  +P  Barnes  Tac-­‐XP  at  810  fps:  
AG:    Pen  =  14.5,  RD  =  0.61,  RL  =  0.49,  RW  =  210.6  
BG:  Pen  =  13.3,  RD  =  0.64,  RL  =  0.56,  RW  =  185.6  
4LD:  Pen  =  12.5,  RD  =  0.64,  RL  =  0.56,  RW  =  185.5  
AG:  Pen  =  15.5,  RD  =  0.48,  RL  =  0.58,  RW  =  186.5  

Top  row  in  BG;  bo-om  row  4LD  

Le3  of  quarter  is  Cri<cal  Duty;  moving  to  the  right  is  Fed  HST  &  BH  Barnes  Tac-­‐XP  
 Shots  through  automobile  windshield  intermediate  barrier  

Top  row  .45  Auto,  L-­‐R:    BH  185  gr  +P  Barnes  Tac-­‐X,  Horn  220  gr  +P  Crit  Duty,  Fed  230  gr  +P  HST  
Middle  row  .40,  L-­‐R:    BH  140  gr  Barnes  Tac-­‐X,  Horn  175  gr  Crit  Duty,  Fed  180  gr  +P  HST  
Bo-om  row  9  mm,  L-­‐R:    BH  115  gr  +P  Barnes  Tac-­‐X,  Horn  135  gr  Crit  Duty,  Horn  135  gr  +P  Crit  Duty,  Fed  147  
gr  HST  
 Radiographic  Study  of  Hornady    
Cri1cal  Duty  ammuni1on.  
 
Images  of  45  Auto  220  gr  +P  Cri1cal  Duty    
 
7mA  60kV  DC  on  Kodak  E-­‐speed  film  
Exposure  Ome  reduced  by  factor  of    five  
1.0  sec   on  each  subsequent  image.  
Images  were  digitally  filtered  and  
enhanced  to  improve  ability  to  iden<fy  
polymer  plugs  recovered  from  shots  in  gel.  
 
The  polymer  plugs  used  on  the  Hornady  
CriOcal  Duty  ammuniOon  are  frequently  
dislodged  within  the  wound  track  inside  
0.20  sec   gelaOn  blocks.    If  this  occurs  in  living  
Ossue  during  OIS  incidents,  these  foreign  
bodies  may  prove  problemaOc  for  
a[ending  health  care  providers  to  locate.    
As  noted  in  the  radiographic  images,  the  
polymer  plugs  are  NOT  readily  visible  on  
radiograph;  health  care  personnel  will  
need  to  be  vigilant  to  have  any  hope  of  
0.04  sec   idenOfying  these  polymer  plugs.  
 
Note  that  the  1980  Protocol  I  to  the    
UN  ConvenOon  on  Certain  ConvenOonal  
Weapons  for  military  (not  LE)  use  states:  
 “It  is  prohibited  to  use  any  weapon  the  
primary  effect  of  which  is  to  injure  by  
fragments  which  in  the  human  body  
escape  detec<on  by  X-­‐rays.”  
As  noted  in  the  image  below,  Federal  HST  duty  ammuniOon  remains  among  the  best  
performing  opOons  currently  available  for  LE  agency  procurement.    The  HST  design  
tends  to  work  best  with  heavy  for  caliber,  moderate  velocity  projecOles:    9  mm  147  
gr,  .40  S&W  180  gr,  .45  Auto  230  gr.    There  is  no  need  for  +P  pressures  with  HST,  thus  
leading  to  less  recoil  and  longer  weapon  service  life.    If  a  non-­‐lead  duty  projecOle  is  
desired,  the  Barnes  Tac-­‐XP  is  a  good  choice.  

BG   4LD  

.45  Auto  

.40  S&W  

9  mm  

HST                  Tac-­‐XP                  HST                    Tax-­‐XP  

 Tes1ng  was  also  conducted  on  newer  6.8  mm  
and  .300  BLK  loads  to  assess  their  current  
viability  for  LE  use.  
 
The  new  Federal  6.8  mm  90  gr  Gold  Dot  JSP  was  
made  specifically  for  a  very  large  contract  for  a  
foreign  government.    
 
This  loading  offers  opOmal  barrier  blind  
performance  for  LE  use  

6.8  mm  Federal  90  gr  Gold  Dot  JSP  at  2604  f/s  
BG:  Pen=12.3",  RD=0.62",  RL=0.26",  RW=83.6gr  
AG:  Pen=13.0",  RD=  0.54",  RL=0.22",  RW=75.0gr  

.  

Shot  into  BG  above  one  through  AG  

6.8  mm  SSA  85  gr  TSX  OTM  at  3024  f/s  
BG:  Pen=18.5",  RD=0.56",  RL=0.41",  RW=85.3gr  
AG:  Pen=17.0",  RD=  0.58",  RL=0.39",  RW=65.4gr  

Shot  into  BG  depicted;  AG  wound  profile  not  shown,  but  nearly  iden<cal  
6.8  mm  SSA  100  gr  Accubond  PT  at  2680  f/s  
BG:  Pen=16.0",  RD=0.48",  RL=0.47",  RW=83.5gr  
AG:  Pen=18.5",  RD=  0.48",  RL=0.41",  RW=78.1gr  

Shot  into  BG  above  one  through  AG  

At present time, the best 6.8 mm projectiles for LE use in barrels from 12-16" are
the Federal 90 gr Gold Dot JSP, Nosler 100 gr Accubond PT, Hornady 110 gr OTM,
Barnes 85 gr TSX OTM, and Remington 115 gr Core Lokt JSP.

If a reduced penetration 6.8 mm load is needed, the 110 gr Hornady VMAX and 90 gr
Speer JHP work. For deep penetration, the Barnes 95 gr TTSX and 110 gr TSX, as well
as the Nosler 110 gr Accubond PT are all outstanding. For long range shooting, the
Berger 140 gr VLD is available.
.300  BLK  Rem  110  gr  TTSX  at  2250  f/s  
BG:  Pen=20+",  RD=0.54",  RL=0.50",  RW=107.6gr  
AG:  Pen=17.0",  RD=  0.58",  RL=0.22",  RW=65.4gr  

Shot  into  BG  above  one  through  AG  

.300  BLK  Rem  125  gr  SMK  OTM  at  2236  f/s  
BG:  Pen=20+",  projecOle  not  recovered  

Bi-­‐lobed  yaw  cycle  with  curvature  and  no  hyper-­‐expansion/fragmenta<on,  very  much  like  the  
5.45x39mm  M74/5N7  FMJ  
.300  BLK  Rem  UMC  115  gr  FMJ/CTFB  at  2242  f/s  
BG:  Pen=20+",  RD=0.30",  RL=1.14",  RW=112.6gr  

Short  NL  with  very  long,  broad  single  cycle  yaw  cycle  with  curvature  and  no  hyper-­‐expansion/
fragmenta<on  

InteresOngly,  the  .300  BLK  Rem  UMC  115  gr  FMJ/CTFB  offers  the  longest  single  yaw  cycle  that  we  
have  ever  seen.    Note  that  prior  to  this,  the  6.8  mm  Rem  115  gr  FMJ  had  the  disOncOon  of  offering  
the  longest  yaw  cycle  we  had  seen:  

6.8  mm  Remington  115  gr  FMJ  at  2436  fps  

BG:  pen=15"+,  NL=7cm,  Max  TC  diam=14cm@18cm  from  7-­‐32cm,  RD=0.40x0.15”  (bullet  fla-ened),  
RL=1.09”,  RW=96.3gr  

Long,  broad  single  cycle  yaw  cycle  with  curvature  and  no  hyper-­‐expansion/fragmenta<on  
Both  6.8  mm  and  .300  BLK  are  excellent  cartridge  choices  for  individuals  and  organizaOons  
requiring  a  caliber  larger  than  .223,  that  funcOons  reliably  in  an  AR15.  At  this  Ome,  the  major  .300  
BLK  loadings  all  penetrate  deeper  than  the  12-­‐18"  ideal  range  for  LE  use;  in  contrast  there  are  
mulOple  6.8  mm  loads  which  currently  meet  this  criteria,  along  with  offering  acceptable  
intermediate  barrier  capability.  
 Top  row:  .300  BLK  Rem  110  gr  
TTSX.  
 
 
 
 
 
 Below  the  dime  in  descending  
order  are  the  6.8mm  SSA  85  gr  
TSX,  Federal  90  gr  GD  JSP,  and  SSA  
100  gr  Accubond  PT.    
 
 
 
 
 
Le3  column  in  BG,  right  column  
through  automobile  windshields.    

While  the  .300  BLK  TTSX  is  a  superb  loading  for  military  and  hunOng  purposes,  penetraOon  is  a  
bit  deeper  than  ideal  for  LE  use.  An  LE  opOmized  .300  BLK  loading  engineered  with  proper  feed  
profile,  12-­‐18"  penetraOon  depth,  that  is  blind  to  barriers  will  be  a  great  addiOon.  

.300  BLK  Rem  110  gr  TTSX  vs.  .300  

BLK  Rem  UMC  115  gr  FMJ/CTFB  in  
BG