Hornady 223 Remington 55gr GMX | Ballistic Gel Test

General » General Discussion

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Hornady 223 Remington 55gr GMX | Ballistic Gel Test

Posted: 8/14/2017 12:07:38 PM EDT

@bluefalcon tests Hornady 223 Remington 55gr GMX

Hornady 223 Remington 55gr GMX | Ballistic Gel Test

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sbdXF4DKfQ

Impact Velocity: 3,270 FPS
Penetration: 21.4"
Retained Weight: 37.2gr
Max Expansion: 0.407"
Min Expansion: 0.347"
Neck: 1.5"
TSC: 3" x 5.5"

Posted: 8/14/2017 12:11:24 PM EDT

[#1]

Wondering how this round would do out of a 7" barrel?

Posted: 8/14/2017 12:13:51 PM EDT

[#2]

... Nice, thanks

Posted: 8/14/2017 12:50:11 PM EDT

[#3]

Good stuff ! Thanks.

Shoot a car door if you get the chance.

Posted: 8/14/2017 1:44:10 PM EDT

[#4]

I think my neighbor would be pissed.

Posted: 8/14/2017 3:35:25 PM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:
I think my neighbor would be pissed.

View Quote

Well, how about the other neighbor?
One of them HAS to be an asshole,and you do have a can, so?

No,was thinking of a junk car door.

I enjoy your vids.

Posted: 8/14/2017 4:46:02 PM EDT

[#6]

6.5mm Grendel 123 grain SST penetrates 21 inches.....that's too much for personal protection..gasp!!

.223 55 grain GMX penetrates 21 inches...it's good to go an barrier blind!!

Which is it....???

Posted: 8/14/2017 7:36:30 PM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:
6.5mm Grendel 123 grain SST penetrates 21 inches.....that's too much for personal protection..gasp!!

.223 55 grain GMX penetrates 21 inches...it's good to go an barrier blind!!

Which is it....???

View Quote

Funny how that works.

Posted: 8/14/2017 8:37:41 PM EDT

[#8]

I'm trying to figure out why this is Stickied

Posted: 8/14/2017 10:00:36 PM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
I'm trying to figure out why this is Stickied

View Quote

It's a new and very useful offering from Arfcom
where they are posting BlueFalcon's videos. I knew
it was only a matter of time before he got scooped up

He does great work

But I am poking him for his comments on penetration

I think this is a great tool for members

Posted: 8/14/2017 11:38:50 PM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
Wondering how this round would do out of a 7" barrel?

View Quote

The Superformance stuff produces a unique pressure curve. Hornady recommends a rifle length gas system for it. I think it would over-gas the heck out of a pistol.

Thanks for the test and video. I found 200 rounds of this load back during the panic stuck it on the shelf. I need to give it a try.

Posted: 8/15/2017 12:27:19 AM EDT

[#11]

Is this Hornady's version of Barnes VOR-TX Black Tip?

Posted: 8/15/2017 11:46:31 AM EDT

[#12]

Fantastic. Thanks.

Posted: 8/15/2017 12:51:46 PM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:
Is this Hornady's version of Barnes VOR-TX Black Tip?

View Quote

Same ???

Posted: 8/15/2017 1:13:15 PM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
6.5mm Grendel 123 grain SST penetrates 21 inches.....that's too much for personal protection..gasp!!

.223 55 grain GMX penetrates 21 inches...it's good to go an barrier blind!!

Which is it....???

View Quote

I thought I mentioned that this was also over the limit. Did I edit that out?

Posted: 8/15/2017 3:36:22 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:

It's a new and very useful offering from Arfcom
where they are posting BlueFalcon's videos. I knew
it was only a matter of time before he got scooped up

He does great work

But I am poking him for his comments on penetration

I think this is a great tool for members

View Quote

He definitely has great tests and video documentation. The post doesn't seem to explain that arfcom YouTube is now hosting his videos. It was posted and Stickied by staff. But it just wasn't clear. Once I went to the actual YouTube link I figured it out. But, it certainly wasn't obvious.

Posted: 8/16/2017 5:53:43 PM EDT

[#16]

I would like to see a barrier blind test

Posted: 8/16/2017 7:37:39 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
I would like to see a barrier blind test

View Quote

Using a 7" or 8" barrel. lol

Posted: 8/17/2017 9:20:01 AM EDT

[#18]

Superformance?

No thanks

Posted: 8/17/2017 11:19:34 AM EDT

[#19]

Cool! Thanks Blue.

Newbie question: You seemed to be critical of the pedal loss but does weight retention really matter at 15"?

Posted: 8/17/2017 1:34:43 PM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:
6.5mm Grendel 123 grain SST penetrates 21 inches.....that's too much for personal protection..gasp!!

.223 55 grain GMX penetrates 21 inches...it's good to go an barrier blind!!

Which is it....???

View Quote

Kinda like that temporary/permanent stretch cavity

Posted: 8/17/2017 3:08:33 PM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:
Cool! Thanks Blue.

Newbie question: You seemed to be critical of the pedal loss but does weight retention really matter at 15"?

View Quote

Yes, you don't just loose weight but diameter and energy. Its not supposed to fragment or loose petals, it just being push too fast for a close target.

Posted: 8/17/2017 3:56:36 PM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
Superformance?

No thanks

http://i.imgur.com/u4hEK8rh.jpg

View Quote

I shot some superformance the other day and seized my rifle up with a blown out primer. Accuracy was all over the place too.

Posted: 8/17/2017 4:00:45 PM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:

I shot some superformance the other day and seized my rifle up with a blown out primer. Accuracy was all over the place too.

View Quote

Did worse than that to mine.

Cant comment on accuracy. Gun KBd first round of it

Posted: 8/17/2017 4:56:25 PM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:

Did worse than that to mine.

Cant comment on accuracy. Gun KBd first round of it

http://i.imgur.com/Dy8I8yz.jpg

View Quote

That sucks, I definitely feel lucky. It's a billet Wilson Combat receiver and hand guard set with a 20" Larue barrel and Wilson Combat Whisper 556. Did it get your KAC or barrel? Is that a KAC handguard?

Posted: 8/17/2017 5:33:37 PM EDT

[#25]

Quote History

Quoted:

That sucks, I definitely feel lucky. It's a billet Wilson Combat receiver and hand guard set with a 20" Larue barrel. Did it get your KAC or barrel? Is that a KAC handguard?

View Quote

Apparently the load is fine for rifle length NON SUPPRESSED guns

Apparently a SBR and a suppressor is a NO GO on superformance loads.

Blew the magazine up, destroyed the bolt. Bent the dust cover. Upper looked okay but I replaced the whole thing. My lower is swelled from the incident, but still functions, luckily as its NFA.

Handguard is Larue

Posted: 8/18/2017 1:43:22 AM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:
Apparently the load is fine for rifle length NON SUPPRESSED guns

Apparently a SBR and a suppressor is a NO GO on superformance loads.

Blew the magazine up, destroyed the bolt. Bent the dust cover. Upper looked okay but I replaced the whole thing. My lower is swelled from the incident, but still functions, luckily as its NFA.

Handguard is Larue

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:

That sucks, I definitely feel lucky. It's a billet Wilson Combat receiver and hand guard set with a 20" Larue barrel. Did it get your KAC or barrel? Is that a KAC handguard?

Apparently the load is fine for rifle length NON SUPPRESSED guns

Apparently a SBR and a suppressor is a NO GO on superformance loads.

Blew the magazine up, destroyed the bolt. Bent the dust cover. Upper looked okay but I replaced the whole thing. My lower is swelled from the incident, but still functions, luckily as its NFA.

Handguard is Larue

Higher pressure spike on the carbine length system?

Posted: 8/18/2017 1:34:22 PM EDT

[#27]

Quote History

Quoted:

Higher pressure spike on the carbine length system?

View Quote

It has to do with the powder it uses. It must be a different burn rate than normal that's why youre seeing higher velocity out of the superformance ammo.

My box did not contain a warning, but online it is said not to be used with suppressed guns or guns under x length in barrel or something like that. May have changed. This was several years ago.

But the higher pressure coupled with what Hornady said was soft brass caused mine to KB first round of it. Its the only KB I have ever had.

Casing failed at the ass end as pictured above. Gun was a 12" suppressed build

Posted: 8/18/2017 3:06:18 PM EDT

[#28]

Quote History

Quoted:

It has to do with the powder it uses. It must be a different burn rate than normal that's why youre seeing higher velocity out of the superformance ammo.

My box did not contain a warning, but online it is said not to be used with suppressed guns or guns under x length in barrel or something like that. May have changed. This was several years ago.

But the higher pressure coupled with what Hornady said was soft brass caused mine to KB first round of it. Its the only KB I have ever had.

Casing failed at the ass end as pictured above. Gun was a 12" suppressed build

View Quote

Although 20" barreled, mine was suppressed at the time, Wilson Combat Whisper 556.

Posted: 8/18/2017 4:16:20 PM EDT

[#29]

Quote History

Quoted:

Although 20" barreled, mine was suppressed at the time, Wilson Combat Whisper 556.

View Quote

Id really hope they fixed the issue. Perhaps I just got a very unlucky batch, but I will not be buying superformance again due to my experiences.

Posted: 8/18/2017 6:47:08 PM EDT

[#30]

Quote History

Quoted:
But I am poking him for his comments on penetration

View Quote

I think he does great work and I have been showing his 123 SST Grendel video to my hog/deer hunting customers who are asking about 6.5G for hunting. However, I shut his video off before he gets into taking about over-penetration. I mean, who is thinking a 16" chambered in 6.5 Grendel is gun is going to be the "go to" for home protection? Or am I missing his point?

Posted: 8/18/2017 6:49:44 PM EDT

[#31]

Double-tap

Posted: 8/18/2017 8:20:10 PM EDT

[#32]

Quote History

Quoted:

Id really hope they fixed the issue. Perhaps I just got a very unlucky batch, but I will not be buying superformance again due to my experiences.

View Quote

Agreed, it happened to me a couple months ago but I think my ammo is 1.5-2 years old. So it may not be an issue anymore, however, I'm hesitant to try it again.

Posted: 8/18/2017 9:56:38 PM EDT

[#33]

when are they going back down to $55/1000 for 55g?

Posted: 8/19/2017 12:34:36 AM EDT

[#34]

I've been shooting a 94-95gr cut-down GMX in 6.5 Grendel. Guy on Grendel forum makes them from 120gr GMX.

Does 2800fps from an 18" barrel with CFE223 without going anywhere near crazy pressures, no real recoil.

I like the load a lot.

99% weight retention

High impact speed

Lots of retained energy

Lots of tissue damage

Sails through bone like butter of course

Excellent mushrooming without petal shed

Posted: 8/19/2017 12:31:07 PM EDT

[#35]

I'd really like to see Federal's 90gr 6.5 grendel varmint round. Its lighter and also designed to expanded. It seems like it would be a great HD round but I can't find any gel tests for it.

Please!

Posted: 8/19/2017 4:38:32 PM EDT

[#36]

Great video. Thanks. I bet that you are right about the over penetration being related to its barrier blind construction. 1 1/5 inch neck and big cavity = big hurt.

Posted: 8/19/2017 6:33:50 PM EDT

[#37]

Expected M.V. from a 20" barrel?

Posted: 8/20/2017 11:07:44 AM EDT

[#38]

Nice video! I have the Hornady TAP 5.56 55gr GMX in my bed side rifle. That stuff is expensive!

Posted: 8/28/2017 1:16:44 PM EDT

[#39]

Quote History

Quoted:
Cool! Thanks Blue.

Newbie question: You seemed to be critical of the pedal loss but does weight retention really matter at 15"?

View Quote

In my experience, GMX 55gr and TSX (55gr to 70gr) projectiles more often than not lose their pedals upon barriers, but the Black Hills optimized 50gr TSX is a different animal and rarely loses pedals upon hitting barriers like auto glass or bone. I've shot a ton of GMX and every TSX variant at hard and soft armor as well as feral hog cadavers to see what actually does what. Shot a lot of hard and soft armor from Bulletproofme IIIa ballistic facial armor to Spectre C130 gunship floor armor panels. (Only have one of those left, and I cant bring myself to test the last panel.

Back in 2010 Barnes claimed to be releasing an optimized 62gr TSX bullet on par with the Black Hills optimized 50gr TSX, but it never came to be, and instead, Barnes started hawking a 'Water Resistant' 62gr TSX. Which is one of the only TSX variants I haven't tested.

At the end of the day, my 5.56 mags are loaded with Black Hills 50gr TSX or 62gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw (.223 if using LE223T3) , and for feral hog eradication, I primarily use 6.8 85gr TSX or 95gr TTSX or XM68GD, the latter you have to pray it shoots true, as XM68GD isn't the most accurate, but feral hogs are allergic to it. The 6.8 TSX offerings are a bit better at not losing pedals than it's 5.56 TSX or GMX cousins when encountering hard objects such as bone or barriers.

PS< I appreciate Andrew taking the time to make this GMX test, his video's are a good resource.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Hornady 223 Remington 55gr GMX | Ballistic Gel Test

General » General Discussion

Warning

Confirm Action

About AR15.COM

Stay Connected

Newsletter

Contact Us