9mm Ammunition Tests

This is the testing results of 9mm defense ammunition. It is not my intention to determine which one ammunition is "best." All I am attempting to do is provide additional information so that YOU can make an informed decision. The most important criteria for selecting a defense ammunition is reliability in YOUR weapon. The next most important thing is your ability to place your shots accurately, so practice practice, practice. Only after you satisfy the first two, does ammunition performance come into play.

9mm Ammunition Test Chart is optimized for 800 x 600 resolution

Exotic Velocity fps / st dv FPE Penetration inches / st dv Expansion inches / st dv Pic Federal EFMJ +P 124gr 1094 17.24 330 15.2 0.15 .505 0.01 all rounds expanded RBCD 60gr 1776 32.87 420 8.0 0.12 2.1 0.12 expansion is actually area of dispersion 2" wide, 5" deep area was completely pulverized click here pic will open in a new window

Hollow Point Velocity fps / st dv FPE Penetration inches / st dv Expansion inches / st dv Pic Cor Bon +P 90gr 1394 12.45 388 10.3 0.38 .514 0.02 all rounds expanded bits of jacket left along wound path Cor Bon +P 115gr 1220 17.73 380 17.2 0.21 .561 0.01 all rounds expanded bits of jacket left along wound path Cor Bon +P 125gr 1148 14.41 366 17.7 0.16 .579 0.02 all rounds expanded bits of jacket left along wound path Federal Personal Defense 135gr 976 10.03 286 13.1 0.09 .551 0.02 all rounds expanded Georgia Arms +P 124gr 1143 15.03 360 14.5 0.17 .522 0.01 all rounds expanded PMC Eldorado Starfire 124gr 1017 10.03 285 14.4 0.22 .530 0.03 all rounds expanded Pro Load +P 115gr 1174 33.80 352 12.5 0.14 .455 0.00 all rounds expanded Remington Golden Sabre 124gr 1009 5.87 280 15.2 0.19 .621 0.03 all rounds expanded Samson IMI 115gr 1040 20.2 276 18.7 0.96 .365 0.02 1/4 rounds expanded Winchester Silvertip 115gr 1064 2.87 289 13.8 2.02 .551 0.03 2/3 rounds completely expanded 1/3 rounds mostly expanded Winchester Super X 147gr 889 10.9 258 16.1 1.68 .484 0.02 all rounds expanded

Full Jacket Velocity fps / st dv FPE Penetration inches / st dv Expansion inches / st dv Pic Federal American Eagle 115gr 1048 9.81 280 23.0+ - .355* - All rounds penetrated 23 inches of gelatine and kept right on going. *Assumed no expansion NA

• 9mm Chronograph Tests

• Analysis Spreadsheet

• A look at the making of ballistic gelatine

Test pistol was a Kel-Tec P11 3.1 inch barrel

 

Velocity - Readings are a running average of all shots I have chronographed of the particular brand of ammunition. A running average provides the greatest possible number of readings and averages out the effects of environmental conditions.

FPE - The foot pounds of energy calculated using the advertised weight.
(M x V x V / 450240)

Penetration - Test rounds were fired through two layers of denim into 10% gelatine. Depth is measured in a straight line from point of entry to point of deepest penetration.

Expansion - Recovered rounds were measured at multiple points and then averaged to account for uneven expansion.

These tests were made possible by the generous contributions of many fellow firearms enthusiasts who have my sincere gratitude.

Back