I'm considering starting a crusade to convince the managers in my division to switch to a higher performance .223 load for our AR's. Current issue is Winchester Super-X CXP1 55 gr. pointed soft point (for varmints!). I know we could be doing a lot better, but I'm not going to be able to just walk into a manager's office and exclaim "somebody on the AR-15 forum said that we should be using XYZ." It's going to take some hard data from the likes of the FBI, ATF, U.S. Marshalls, etc. to make the case (I also work for a federal agency, but it's not immediately associated with law enforcement in most circles). I've heard that the FBI has done some extensive testing, anyone know where I could access this kind of info? At the very least, it could be useful to know what these agencies are currently using.

In .223, the FBI issues Federal Gold Medal Match 69gr SMK BTHP.  Not sure if there are other loads authorized, but I know for sure that this load is issued.

Andy

Go to tacticalforums.com and go to the Terminal Effects forum and ask DocGKR to assist you.  He is the leading ballistics researcher in the field and will direct you to papers you can show your superiors.

Dittos on DocGKR



So how has this round performed? Has it failed or has it not been deployed yet?

I know there are much better rounds out there. I'm just curious if this round has been a miserable failure.

Thanks for the input. I'll do some follow up with DocGKR.  There haven't been any shootings within my agency with this round that I'm aware of, but I'm afraid the first one will be a "miserable failure."  I don't want to wait for an incident like that to bring our ammo choice into question, but it may come to that anyway.

Ammo selection shouldn't matter if you put it in the right spot. Shot placement is KEY.



CRC

uh oh here we go

Extreme Shock is the only way to go.  [rolleyes]

Unless of course the 'Right Spot' requires the round to go through the perp's arm and through the side of the chest - which requires more penetration than a varmint round can deliver...

PinPig - Go talk with Dr Roberts.