Ballistic gelatin testing results : .380ACP Federal Hydrashok

[TomNash]

Hello. I am posting here the results of a few tests that I conducted last summer because the results are posted on other websites and not on this one. Really I just wanted to the share the information with you, because when my gelatin powder runs out (~ 3 weeks), that will be the end of the line for me, as far as ballistic gelatin testing is concerned. :

"

TEST ONE

.380ACP Federal Personal Defense (90 gr. Hydrashok)

Calibration = 3.1875" velocity = 582 ft./s.

Shot 1 - Penetrated 12.5"

Shot 2 - Exited block at 11.9375"

Shot 3 - Penetrated 12.4375"

Shot 4 - Penetrated 11.9375"

Shot 5 - Penetrated 12.0625"

Average impact velocity = 843 ft./s.

Average recovered diameter = 0.469"

Firearm = Kel-Tec P3AT


TEST TWO

Hello. I tested 5 rounds of .380ACP Federal Personal Defense from a P3AT in Ballistic Gelatin last weekend.

The gelatin was Vyse brand, mixed at 10% concentration into an FBI sized block (6x6x16)". Calibration BB traveled at 594 fps and penetrated 9.4cm.

The front of the block was covered in 1 layer of 100% cotton, new and unwashed, fruit-of-the-loom T-shirt material. This material was chosen after reviewing several 100s of mugshot photos of violent criminals and their choice of upper body clothing. It also is representative of clothing worn most of the time in the southern US, where I live.

Average penetration was 12.0"
Average expansion was 0.476"
Average impact velocity was 839fps.

Lot number = 2 09H449

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This test was undertaken to find an expanding load for a semiauto .380ACP with a short barrel, that would penetrate to FBI minimum penetration depth. This turned out to be a very hard thing to do, with only the Federal load making the cut. I would seriously recommend to short-barreled .380ACP owners to test your bullets in a valid medium or have them tested by someone qualified to do so.

Please look at the third pic, that of the bullets. The first one on the left was loaded by hand into the barrel, the rest were magazine fed. It is my opinion that the feed ramp on the barrel was damaging the hollowpoint, causing one side not to open up. While these subsequent bullets do penetrated satisfactorily, the expansion is just not as good as the first round. Does anyone know how to correct this on a Kel-Tec ? I.E. stop the barrel from eating up the shape of the bullet?

Thank you.

Tom

[steelersfan0000]

I love reading these reports they are very informitive on choices for SD round choice. Keep up the good work

[res1b3uq]

I tested PowRball using gallon jugs of water at 15 yards. About the only difference in our results was the PowRball bullet separated. The lead bullet penetrated 3 jugs. The outer shell of the bullet went out the side of the second jug.

[Glock19Fan]

Tom- I think the problem may be a design flaw for the KT. Have you tried different ammo? Try hand cycling a few rounds and see what the bullets look like.

Other bullets such as PowRball, EFMJ, or even Gold Dot may not have the same problems.

[Duxman]

Nice test.

This is why I use the superior Makarov. in 380 ACP.

[TN-popo]

TomNash, thank you for the tests.
Those are some pretty deep channels for the .380 HydraShok. Not doubting you, but they're usually in the 7"-9" range. Interesting...

[TomNash]

TN-popo : Love the name! I am likely to agree with you on the tendancy of .380ACP HPs to penetrate to that shallow of a depth. Every JHP in .380 that I could think of and buy as current production was tried out in gelatin. Winchester SXT and Speer Golddot were both outstanding in terms of expansion in bare and lightly clothed gelatin. The problem was that the SXT went 10" while the Golddot about 9" .

If I could leave the folks reading this message (and those concerned with their firearms terminal performance) a word of advice that I have found to be true through gelatin testing : each firearm will shoot a particular brand of ammunition to different velocities, and in handgun JHPs especially, the expansion of the bullet is dependant largely on velocity. A bullet that is larger diameter will penetrate shallower than a bullet that is smaller diameter, everything else being the same.

Combine that with the fact that powerful pistol bullets have about 33 percent of the momentum of a light rifle cartridge, the reason for variation of JHP performance from pistol to pistol might hopefully become clearer.

That idea is what really started me in on this gelatin-testing business. I had an IWBA publication of .380ACP performance from a Colt Mustang pistol and compared the diameters of the listed cartridges to water-tested bullets fired out of my Kel-Tec P3AT (same barrel length 2.75" ) . The results in both the water and my later gelatin tests were wildly different. In a calibrated block of gelatin, the 102gr. Golden Saber (my tests) went about 8.5" in the block, while in the aforementioned test, it met FBI standards at about 12.5" of penetration (but it expanded much less than did mine in both test events).

Tom

[TN-popo]

Tom...thanks again.
I know you said it was the end of your gel testing career, but if you change you're mind and want some financial/labor help, I'm in the Smyrna/M'Boro area.
Best

[TomNash]

You are very much welcome. I have talked with the people at Oak Ridge National laboratory regarding employment when I graduate later this year. I think they are in Nashville area... ? Never know, if that shakes out, I'll have to take you up on it...

Tom

[Glock19Fan]

Tom- Where in TN are you located?

[TomNash]

G-19 ... I'm actually in Florida at the moment. I was fortunate enough to get an interview with a person at ORNL ... So if I am even more fortunate and get a job working there, I would end up in Oak Ridge, which is just west of Knoxville.

Tom

[Glock19Fan]

That would be nice- Im supposedly around an hour west of Knoxville, although I never been there so im not sure of the exact time.

Good luck!

[TomNash]

Good deal. Can I ask how you like Tennessee? Going by the few persons I have met who are from there, I am reminded of what real Southerners are like.

I am from Florida and since the early 1990s, a person could reasonably call us 'New York City, reloaded' . So I would like to get back to a familiar environment.

Not to throw the thread off-topic ... I am planning a .223 Remington test in 3-4 days with the Remington 55 gr. soft point bullet. My goal is to find a .223 load that is accessible to almost everyone, the only limitation being that the cartridge will be handloaded. These particular cartridges cost approximately 1/5 of what a 'premium' factory bonded-bullet cartridge would cost. Will keep you all posted.

Tom

[Glock19Fan]

Tom- I used to live in Kansas City, KS, so moving to the country (I believe the population here is around 15,000 or so, probably less) is a relief. Most people are nice, well mannered, and easy to get along with. They arent stubborn and rude like "city slickers".

I cant wait for the .223 tests. I will be getting an AR-15 soon and have started looking for a good home defense load for it.