Does anyone know if DocGKR/Gary Roberts is still active in any forums? I know pistol-forum has some recommendations from him, but they are getting a bit dated. Mostly wanted to know if there have been any noteworthy developments in the past few years.

The SME idiots on this site ran him off.  I haven't seen him post in years.

You can actually find some good ammo testing on YouTube. I would recommend watching 'tnoutdoors9' and 'Tools&Targets' for some very professional ammo testing. Tools&Targets has the more current testing result's. I really am serious about finding some good testing on YT, regardless of the shenanigan's they pull over there. These are the first two Creator's that came to mind.

Well that is a shame. I thought he'd taken up residence on pistol-forum, but doesn't seem to be much action there in the ammo section.

I don't think so, in some tests he was using Clear Ballistics gel which isn't the same as FBI-spec 10% ballistic gelatin.

HST

GOLD DOT

I will also add that there is not too much new ammo tech coming out constantly. Most of us have seen numerous detailed comparisons of Gold Dot, .vs HST .vs Win. Ranger, etc vids and there is only so much commentary, informed or otherwise, that can be repeated over and over. Also a lot of agencies seem to have settled on one load or another and seem happy.

Yeah, I'm not expecting radical changes/improvements, but it seems like ammo manufacturers have often tinkered with the bullets over the years. DocGKR was just a great source to go to once in awhile to see if there was anything new or any developments one should be apprised of. There especially seem to be a number of recent developments in ammo designed specifically for subcompact/microcompact carry guns, and it would be nice to have a known SME to refer to for that.

Fastbolt? If that's who you're talking about I didn't know he stopped posting...

He still posts on PF but he has a life

uh
Molon

he does it different but is still a pretty good wiki

HST.

And I still have a ton of 9BPLE+p+ I wouldn't hesitate to use. Old design but quite potent.

No, sometimes he uses FBI spec, sometimes clear
There is no argument about FBI spec gel is the standard.

As far as I know, he left the internet. Not because of here, but because he had a minor criticism of a Ken Hackathorn class on TOS. After that the same guys who parroted his info left and right ran a massive campaign to harm his character and banned him. They even called him an over glorified dentist.

Now Ken Hackathorn says civilians don’t need lights or red dots so the thuper therious fruitcakes at M4C chose very poorly. Just search “Shivan” and “docgkr”, and you’ll find the shit show.

We’re lucky those guys left here.

Gold Dots are still the Gold Standard.  Followed by HSTs and Critical Duty.  Check Gunsam Revolver Oficianado on youtube.  He does REALLY good testing

Gold Dots, Ranger T, HST, Critical Duty

You look at all the Boutique Ammo makers....if their stuff was SO GOOD then why do not they have large scale LE contracts..... Because it is not cost effective and host of other reasons.
Plus then you factor in all "you people" who do not actually go out and shoot.  And that is the vast majority of people.  Plus the cost of the fancy schmaltzy ammo precludes people from actually
verifying accuracy and function in people's defensive guns.  Come on who are someone of you kidding? Look at all the foo foo ammo!  It comes boxed in 20 or 25 count boxes with obscene prices.
You can find good Speer and Federal LE ammo in 50 count boxes that may cost what a box of 20 foo foo rounds costs.  It is hard to find Hornady LE boxed ammo.  So you are stuck with getting it in
20/25 count boxes which is spendy!

For me in the 9MM I carry good old Federal 9BPLE.  Cheaper and comes in 50ct boxes.  

And lets talk turkey here.  All the foo foo ammo in the world WILL never make up for poor shooting skills.  I would rather carry FMJ's and be a competent shooter than to be carrying some designer ammo
that I have never tested out of my fancy defensive gun! And, we all know guys shy away from going to shooting enhancement classes as it may showcase their poor shooting acumen! And it would put a dent in their fragile ego!  

Tools is not professional. But he is entertainment God bless his heart.  If he was professional he would have actual testing fixtures and a real sturdy bench to shoot off of.
He gets caught up hoopla! He and many other YT content creator cover the same ground over and over!  BORING

Thanks to the mouth-breathers on this site that think that they know more than an actual expert in the field of terminal ballistics Gary hasn't posted on this website in years.  I'd be quite surprised if he ever decides to share his data on this site again.

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No he doesn't and no it doesn't.  Comparing any results to a test that failed to follow the scientific standard for terminal ballistic testing means exactly jack and shit.

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Incorrect.  That was on TOS.

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double tap

Tools&Targets does not take criticism of his techniques and practices well, and even took to talking trash to 22Plinkster when his garbage Clear Ballistics gel failed to reproduce 22Plinkster's gel test results in actual organic ballistic gel for the CCI Uppercut.   Other people who used organic gel had good luck, and those that used Clear Ballistics didn't.

Agreed. But most folks that pop in have no idea about the creds of other posters. In fact I think many come here just to argue and dont know how to respectfully disagree without being a dick.  

OP, you mention duty ammo, are you a LEO? If so the FBI used to (and I believe still does) publish a law enforcement only report on the effectiveness of ammunition for law enforcement use. IIRC the request had to be on agency letter head or from a leo email and it had to be from a Sgt or higher. The reports Ive seen were well done and the purpose was to allow smaller depts that did not have a huge budget to benefit from the testing done by the FBI Ballistic Research Facility. If your agency is looking to evaluate ammunition,  reach out to the company and see if they will send a rep to you. Nearly all the major suppliers of duty ammo will do this.

Im not the forensic guy mentioned above, but I have been in the forensic firearms field for over 20 years. In my experience from working decades worth of fatal and non-fatal shootings, there are several good factory loads that perform well under various conditions. In my area most agencies are using Winchester Ranger, Federal HST, or Speer Gold Dot. From the officer involved shootings Ive worked these cartridges all performed as well as could be expected from a handgun.

I remember him from the S&W forum back in the days of yore.
He was enormously helpful and a real resource on the Gen 3 pistols.