I must be the lone ranger in choosing handgun ammunition because the procedures I follow don’t get much attention in the popular press. I have a long journey in experience and some of it is unadorned clinical work. But this work is done on a verifiable and repeatable basis and the results are valid. Handgun and ammunition selection are important. The other part of personal defense is training. This displacement activity requires physical training and a deep safety dimension. Training and tool selection have something in common. A history in interpersonal combat has clear data available for those who study and this study allows the creation of models which make a basis for procedure.
The first test is reliability- this Bersa TPR aced the firing test with its chosen load.
The Procedure
Testing ammunition falls broadly into internal and external ballistics. Internal ballistics include powder burn rate which affects muzzle signature. External ballistics include velocity and wound potential. On an individual basis we may test our defense ammunition we simply don’t have the resources that institutional testing may marshal. As an example one state test of service handguns expended 228,000 cartridges in 190 handguns. Even a small scale test may involve 15,000 rounds. Duty and service loads are tested against a wide range of barriers. While we may rely on test programs by the major agencies and by ammunition companies there are other considerations. As an example we really don’t need the barrier penetration the FBI needs. Most of us will be better armed with a loading that expands more quickly. As an example recently Fiocchi released the Covert X load to meet the requirements of concealed carry handgunners. While Hornady won the FBI contract with their exceptional Critical Duty load they offer the Critical Defense for personal defense. I have applied the principles I used in choosing service loads for a number of agencies to the defense loads I deploy. I have developed a procedure and truth be told I enjoy the testing. Relying on official testing is great, but they don’t test the .30 Super Carry, .380 ACP loads, or .357 Magnum. We can do so accurately and safely.
Testing ammunition is interesting. Expansion isn’t the whole picture.
The Gold Dot Gen 2 with its elastomer sump insert is a good performer.
The Baseline
My first test may be surprising. I don’t jump straight to ballistic testing qualifying expansion and penetration. I fire a representative sample of the load, usually a hollow point, sometimes an all copper design, to confirm reliability. Sure modern handguns such as the Glock or a top quality 1911 are feed reliable by reputation. But I wish to be certain. Feed reliability is the smoothness of the load as it moves from the magazine across the feed ramp. The bullet nose should angle into the chamber of the handgun smoothly. Occasionally a cartridge case rim isn’t compatible with a particular extractor. Cycle reliability is vital. Most handguns function reliably with a certain balance of bullet weight and velocity. Go too low in velocity or use too light a bullet and a handgun may malfunction. +P loads may increase slide velocity to the point the ability of the magazine to feed is compromised. Malfunctions are more likely with the short slide pistols we carry for personal defense. I fire the prospective loading in a handgun and only accept perfect reliability. I also gauge recoil. It is counterproductive to use a load with too much recoil and sometimes the powder choice generates recoil energy that doesn’t produce high velocity. A full powder burn is essential in defense ammunition but may not be a demand in affordable practice ammunition. A full powder burn means less powder ash in the action and less muzzle signature. Muzzle blast is unburned powder burning outside the barrel. A warm glow is fine but excess blast isn’t.
Bullet expansion differs according to barrel length and velocity.
All loads do not prove reliable. The major makers got to their preeminent position with good quality control. That is why the Federal HST, Hornady Critical Duty, Speer Gold Dot and Winchester Ranger are respected loads. I take the defense load to be tested and soak an example in oil, water, and solvent respectively. An overnight soak is good. Then I take the loads to the range to make certain they crack off. Some loads feature a good primer sealant. You will see a nice blue or red splash with service grade loads. This is the handgun equivalent of military rifle loads with crimped in primers. If the ammunition has gotten this far then I take a fresh cartridge and load it in the magazine and chamber the round. The proper way to load a handgun to ensure function is to load a few cartridges, tap the back of the magazine, and proceed in this manner until the magazine is loaded. Lock the slide to the rear and allow it to snap forward to load the pistol. I conduct a test at the range using good safety procedure and chamber the same cartridge four times. The bullet should not be moved into the cartridge case. Some loads don’t have the same cartridge mouth seal and few practice loads do. If the bullet is jammed into the case by chambering numerous times pressure goes up and case mouth seal is broken.
These bullets were fired from a short barrel revolver. There is some expansion but not ideal.
Hornady’s Critical Defense uses a polymer insert to instigate expansion. It works as designed.
(No point in applying this test to training loads- they are not designed with the same fail safes as defense loads.)
Next I use a Chronograph to measure velocity. With the major makers almost always velocity is well within specifications. A 9mm 1911 with a five inch barrel may have an advantage in velocity over a Glock 19 while a SIG P365 with 3.1 inch barrel may lose 50 to 65 fps compared to a full size pistol. There are plenty of loads that I have found to have grossly inflated claims regarding velocity. Buyer beware when venturing off the beaten path. Next I test accuracy. My standards for accuracy are higher than most but then my training in public safety once included fifty yard qualifications. I keep the standards in perspective. A good average accuracy for a Glock 17 9mm will not vary much at all between quality loads. I fire from a solid braced bench rest firing position. I take my time and take every advantage for accuracy. A three inch group at 25 yards is good for most full size 9mm handguns. I fire subcompact handguns at a more realistic 15 yards. This tells us something about quality control and powder burn. I sometimes get distracted at this point and spend too much time in testing accuracy but I find it very interesting even fascinating. Quality handguns like one load more than others. On the other hand- absolute accuracy isn’t the most important attribute of a defense load. All will cut a single ragged hole at 7 yards.
Federal Punch ammunition has consistently offered good feed reliability and performance.
When all other criteria are met I move to testing expansion and penetration. I have heard and read some pretty ‘interesting’ things on testing bullet effect. One fellow thought that firing into a mud bank at a creek told us a lot about wound potential. Another told us to fire into sand dig two to three inches and a flat bullet as good. Some use modeling clay or ductseal. Each overstates expansion even instigating expansion from bullets that do not expand in more realistic media. Water isn’t out of the question. Expansion in water is often similar to identical to ballistic gelatin and penetration slightly understated. The advantage of ballistic gelatin such as that offered by Clear Ballistics is that not only is the bullet captured the wound channel is visible. Some bullets begin to expand more quickly. Others reach maximum expansion at the end of travel. When you use Clear Ballistics your results are repeatable and verifiable. No guess work. Another shooter across the country testing a load may find validity in his testing. Be careful in testing and stabilize the gelatin on a heavy table and carefully place the bullet in the center of the block. Some bullets tumble and it isn’t unlikely for a bullet to exit gelatin at a lateral angle. It is possible to fire several bullets into Clear Ballistics and dig them out and heat and re-use the material. For personal defense my criteria is for a bullet to expand to 1.5 its original diameter. A 9mm should expand to .55. Often expansion is greater. The balance of penetration and expansion is important. Without adequate penetration we have nothing. There are heavy bones in the body. Clothing including heavy garments may impede penetration. Arms are extended in front of the assailant as he fires at you and the bullet may have to penetrate heavy arm bones. An angling shot is common. You cannot count on an assailant being squared to you. Penetration of 12 inches is minimal, I prefer 14 to 16 inches. The 9mm, .38 Special, and .45 ACP easily exhibit good penetration and expansion. The .380 ACP struggles to demonstrate both expansion and penetration and you usually must choose one or the other. I err on the side of penetration.
Fiocchi’s Covert X hollow offers reliable expansion. This is the .45 ACP loading.
If you are able to do only one portion of the test due to a lack of time or resources conduct the reliability testing. Reliability is the bottom line that cannot be compromised. If you are interested in performing your own personal defense ammunition testing you need a few tools. A chronograph, clear ballistics gel, a solid rest for firing, and a basic knowledge of tools. Safety comes first. Take your own counsel and be thorough in testing and you will be able to choose well.
