Eh, I use 230gr Federal HST in my Glock 30S. It's barrel is 3.73", expands fine in water anyway... never bought any gel to test. I have seen it claimed Glocks and their polygonal rifling lose less M.V. due to barrel length as they get up to speed faster? I'd love to see BF test this. Maybe break out every length of .45 Glock and chrono 5 shots from the same lot of ammo?

For bonus compare to a pistol with standard rifling in similar lengths.

Wow!!!!
Glad this is pinnned!!!

It’s definitely on the same level as the pinned suicide help thread.

Interesting results.  I do occasionally carry an xds and have always simply used what I carry in my other .45's (230g gold dot.)  This video has made me start to wonder if I should move to some 185g loads for the xds.   I look forward to seeing other .45 ammunition tested out of the short barrel.  Keep up the good work!

Yeah, I've been looking long and hard at either a Shield, Glock 36, or an XDS in 45. I'd be super appreciative of more short barrel 45 testing!

“O-give”? lulz

Well, if I ever have to shoot someone with no bones who is wearing four jean jackets this information will be very useful!

Ignorant and snarky.

A charming combo, really.

The HST 230 gr +P is the recommended short barrel round in these parts.  Works good.

230gr Gold Dots and HST's both work great from short barrels. No need for a 2nd ammo type.

Lucky Gunner did fairly exhaustive gel/expansion and velocity tests on .380, 9mm, .40 and .45 from short barrels. The .45 test gun was a Kahr CW45 with a 3.64" barrel and the test medium was four layers of denim in front of ballistic gel.

230gr GD penetrated an average of 12.9" with avg expansion to .71".

ETA: they have the new 230gr GD "short barrel" added in to their test. 14.4" penetration and expansion to .70"

230gr HST penetrated an average of 14" with avg expansion to .85".

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/#45ACP

I like these pistol tests but stay with either gold dot or HST

I looked them up and HSM has been around since the 1960's but I'm not familiar with them

This was from the XDS's 3.3" barrel:

230 gr +P Federal HST
844 FPS/ 364 ft lbs muzzle energy
Penetration 11 7/8"
Expansion .85

230 Grain Speer Gold Dot
788 FPS/ 317 ft lbs muzzle energy
Penetration: 11.75"
Expansion: .65

Not my vids/pics btw

230 gr +P Hornady Critical Duty
891 FPS/ 388 ft lbs muzzle energy
Penetration: 16.6"
Expansion .619 (Out of a 5" Colt it was .750 for reference)
Attached File


I like the critical duty, but omg that penetration lol. Hollow Point did not open up as much as others. I guess it's a trade off? I wonder if that flex lock tip is the reason the bullet penetrated deeper and did not expand as much as the HST? I'm kinda curious about how it does against Auto Glass, definitely is my ammo of choice with my G21.

Im stuck with the critical duty, I'm going to grab some HST when I can.

I've been watching these videos for a while, and I really like them.

Today I did what was requested and subscribed to the channel!  woohoo!

I really like Andrew's videos.  He knows what he's doing, and he's enthusiastic.

Every one of his videos is a high point in my week.

brett made chris's butthurt

https://www.youtube.com/user/ShootingTheBull410

Shooting the bull YT channel has some GREAT ballistic gel testing.