Federal .45 ACP 230gr HST in Clear Ballistics Gel. (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 5/19/2018 10:26:48 AM EDT
Test Gun: Colt 1991. Barrel length: 5 inches. Ammunition: Federal .45 ACP 230gr HST. Test media: 10% Clear Ballistics Gel. Distance: 10 feet. Chronograph: PACT 1 XP with inferred sky screens. Five shot velocity average: 920fps Gel Temperature 70 degrees. Whenever I post a new test, on the several forums I post on, the one response comes up a lot is “I’ll stick with HST” or some variant of that phrase. There is a very good reason for that. The HST is one of the best, if not the best, performers in all of the calibers I have tested it in. This is the first complete test I have done in the .45 ACP and I think this test, of the HST, will set the standard. I got an average 5 shot velocity of 920fps with a high of 944fps and a low of 902fps. This average was 30fps higher than the advertised 890fps. Five shots at 10 yards were right at the point of aim and recoil was about what you would expect, not much different than most 230gr ball. 
Round one in the bare gel had a velocity of 904fps, penetrated to 15 inches and expanded to .91 inches. Round two performed very similar to the first hitting the block at 927fps and matching the first round with 15 inches of penetration and .91 inches of expansion. 
The two rounds fired into the heavy clothing covered gel was very much like the two in the bare gel. The first round had a velocity of 921fps and penetrated to 15.5 inches with an expansion of .82 inches. The last shot traveled at 910fps, expanded to .83 inches and penetrated to 15.25 inches. 
I often get asked to post pictures of the gel after I shoot it. I normally don't because they just don't turn out very well or the block is getting dark from remelting. This block has only been reused once I thought I would give it a try. Here are the first two rounds in bare gel.  With the two rounds through heave clothing.  http://www.general-cartridge.com/ |
www.general-cartridge.com
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Originally Posted By feudist:
It's hard to believe the Subject Matter Experts who tell us that there is no difference in handgun rounds. But, they are adamant about it. |
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Some of you get too wrapped up in this crap. Totally and argumentative consumed by it. And when your narrative falls apart because here is one empirical data proving that your own empirical data is wrong, your anemic attempts to gain back your narrative's momentum hits ad nauseam. No one is going to concede. Live and let live, enough already. |
RIP Grin! 10/09/2015
NorCal_LEO issued nickname: Tombstone
meh
NorCal_LEO issued nickname: Tombstone
meh
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More is....well, more.
Just as the 9mm benefited from modern bullet design (most especially with the HST) so have all the other calibers. The 9mm loaded with the best modern ammo is good enough while the larger calibers, also benefiting are still better performers terminally. The pro's and con's havnt changed. I still have no desire to carry a 45 (or 357Mag, 10MM, etc). I did that for years back when 9mm loads were pretty marginal. And I'm too spoiled by my Glock 43 and other small lightweight guns. Thanks again OP for posting the informative and excellent results. |
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Originally Posted By GSL:
No, you are not. He however, is. Originally Posted By GSL:
Originally Posted By Melvin_Johnson: I'm not disputing the FBI testing protocols. The feebs forced the ammo industry to tighten up their game...but they sniff their own farts. |
What Would William Munny Do?
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A friend at work let me use his Glock 30 so I could try them out. No chronograph results this time just two quick shots in bare gel. Round one out of the Glock 30 penetrated to 14 inches and had a recovered diameter of .92 inches. Round two penetrated to 13.25 inches and expanded to .93 inches. 
http://www.general-cartridge.com/ |
www.general-cartridge.com
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It's all saved on my blog.
http://www.general-cartridge.com/blog |
www.general-cartridge.com
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Originally Posted By GSL: I calibrated mine properly back when I was into this. |
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Originally Posted By Melvin_Johnson:
Calibration BB should probably be a part of the drill even if Clear Gel and Ordnance Gel are not the same stuff. If nothing else it would help verify that the synthetic gel is comparable from one melting to the next. Originally Posted By Melvin_Johnson:
Originally Posted By GSL: I calibrated mine properly back when I was into this. If that bone simulator plate was available back when I started, it would have made for some awesome data thrown in. |
RIP Grin! 10/09/2015
NorCal_LEO issued nickname: Tombstone
meh
NorCal_LEO issued nickname: Tombstone
meh
|
Originally Posted By Melvin_Johnson:
I need to get me some of that one of these days. Originally Posted By Melvin_Johnson:
Originally Posted By GSL:
Stored properly as well as properly molded are also key. If that bone simulator plate was available back when I started, it would have made for some awesome data thrown in. Two blocks. Two bone plates. Small block with a plate inserted in the middle to represent an arm in the way of POI, space it out because it's obvious that there will be space between the arms and chest, then one bigger block with the plate in front to simulate the rib bone. Imagine the data! But damn is it going to feel like a job rather than a hobby to help us all. |
RIP Grin! 10/09/2015
NorCal_LEO issued nickname: Tombstone
meh
NorCal_LEO issued nickname: Tombstone
meh
|
That stuff's not cheap either. https://www.synbone.com/product-category/biomechanics-generics/general-basic-training/general-basic-training-plate/ |
www.general-cartridge.com
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Originally Posted By UndrGrndPrdcts:
Have you done .40 180 HST or 9mm 124 HST? Did I miss it? http://www.general-cartridge.com/blog/federal-40s-w-180gr-hst-in-clear-ballistics-gel https://generalcartridge.wordpress.com/2017/06/12/federal-9mm-124gr-hst-in-clear-ballistics-gel/ https://generalcartridge.wordpress.com/2017/07/28/federal-9mm-124-p-hst/ |
www.general-cartridge.com
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Clear ballistics gel is significantly overoptimistic on penetration. Compare your data for the 124 +P to properly calibrated ballistics gel:
http://www.ar15.com/ammo/project/Self_Defense_Ammo_FAQ/DocGKRData/9mm_HST_GS.htm |
Daddy loves you. Now go away.
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Originally Posted By Zhukov:
Agreed. There really isn't anything better on the market. I have both my 9mm and .45s loaded with it. But still no 10mm HST from Federal 
In your honest opinion, is the duty caliber HST ever going to be surpassed? I don't think it can personally speaking. |
RIP Grin! 10/09/2015
NorCal_LEO issued nickname: Tombstone
meh
NorCal_LEO issued nickname: Tombstone
meh
|
Originally Posted By Zhukov:
Agreed. There really isn't anything better on the market. I have both my 9mm and .45s loaded with it. I guess Winchester stopped marketing it or something because now you never hear about the Ranger T. I stocked up pretty hard on 147 and 230 grain +p HST around '07 or so (when ammotogo was the only place I could find it) and have never looked back. |
Go to your safe place.
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HST is my second favorite load. According to the official test that both companies use for advertising. The Gold Dot does as good a cross the board but better against glass.
Considering how many cars I'm around all the time I want a little better bullet for barriers. |
"If you cant do something smart, do something right"
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Originally Posted By feudist:
It's hard to believe the Subject Matter Experts who tell us that there is no difference in handgun rounds. But, they are adamant about it. A 5 or 7/1000 of an inch difference in diameter only makes a difference if it actually comes in contact with something important. There simply is not enough energy delivered to the target by most handgun rounds to cause a catastrophic displacement of tissue that the human body does not close around. Just like the gel. The round expanded and did what it was designed to do. It did not deliver a significantly higher level of lethality. It delivered a projectile to the target with near the same potential energy as the comparable 9mm or 40 round. Potential energy (Ft/lbs)..delivered to the target is the only yard stick we have. 9,40,45 basically all max out within a 50ish foot pound swing. All are available in the same bullet style pushing 450-500ft/lbs of energy. They all get the job done. Made a hole. May or may not come into contact with something important ? |
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Originally Posted By ITCHY-FINGER:
I don't own a 45 but if I did, I would load it with HST! Damn. Very impressive. 
HST all the things!! I carry them in my 9mm and my .38 too. |
Let me put my meat on your grill.
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Hey OP Have you thought about testing the Hornady Critical Duty in 45? It is supposed to be more of a perpetrator hence the harder compound lead used. I think of it as the next gen XTP and think it may be decent for a woods round. |
I had to get it on