9x18mm gel test: Hornady 95 gr XTP

Andrew Wiggin · February 22, 2015, 02:38 PM

Link to video of test

Hornady 95 gr XTP fired from Bulgarian Arsenal Makarov into calibrated 10% gelatin with and without denim.

BB: 590.8 fps, 3.0"

Bare gel results:

Impact velocity: 1,027 fps
Penetration: 6.9"
Retained weight: 93.2 gr
Max expansion: 0.657"
Min expansion: 0.494"

4 layers of denim results:

Impact velocity: 1,077 fps
Penetration: 12.9"
Retained weight: 95.3 gr
Max expansion: 0.534"
Min expansion: 0.400"

Unfortunately, the card in one of my cameras became corrupted, causing me to lose the HD side view footage and the photos that I took before weighing and measuring the projectiles. Thankfully, I hadn't already melted the blocks when I discovered the problem so I retook the photos without the bullets present in the block. Sorry for that.

The final portion was supposed to be much closer so you could more clearly view feeding and ejection. Next time I'll position the camera much closer and set the frame rate to 120 frames per second instead of 240 for better resolution. Hey, I'm still learning.

qwiksdraw · February 22, 2015, 04:42 PM

Interesting report. I would have thought at these velocities there would have been more penetration.

Andrew Wiggin · February 22, 2015, 06:06 PM

Thank you. Sectional density is too low.

LockedBreech · February 22, 2015, 06:41 PM

6.9"? Yikes.

ninjarealist · February 22, 2015, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LockedBreech

6.9"? Yikes.

FBI standards eat your heart out.

Stringfellow · February 22, 2015, 07:52 PM

Is that a typo?

16.9 seems more consistent than 6.9...

doofus47 · February 23, 2015, 10:36 AM

Mr. Wiggin,
I was going to ask if you had reversed your results, but I also watched your video about the silver bear jhp ammo and you had the same counter-intuitive results.
Why would denim allow greater penetration? Does it keep the hollow point from expanding?
weird. Thanks for posting.

98 220 swift · February 23, 2015, 11:04 AM

I may have to use some different ammo in my cz82. I guess along as they are wearing clothes it works ok. If no clothes not very good.

Andrew Wiggin · February 23, 2015, 11:58 AM

Nope. Not a typo.

Doofus47, you nailed it. Denim often clogs a hollow point causing less and/or delayed expansion. Older JHP designs would sometimes not open at all, especially at low velocity. Less expansion or slower expansion means the bullet has less drag, allowing it to penetrate more deeply.

XTPs have a reputation of very modest expansion, which I was hoping would allow for adequate penetration but that wasn't the case.

Thanks for your support, guys.

February 22, 2015, 02:38 PM	#1
Andrew Wiggin Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2012 Posts: 516	9x18mm gel test: Hornady 95 gr XTP Link to video of test Hornady 95 gr XTP fired from Bulgarian Arsenal Makarov into calibrated 10% gelatin with and without denim. BB: 590.8 fps, 3.0" Bare gel results: Impact velocity: 1,027 fps Penetration: 6.9" Retained weight: 93.2 gr Max expansion: 0.657" Min expansion: 0.494" 4 layers of denim results: Impact velocity: 1,077 fps Penetration: 12.9" Retained weight: 95.3 gr Max expansion: 0.534" Min expansion: 0.400" Unfortunately, the card in one of my cameras became corrupted, causing me to lose the HD side view footage and the photos that I took before weighing and measuring the projectiles. Thankfully, I hadn't already melted the blocks when I discovered the problem so I retook the photos without the bullets present in the block. Sorry for that. The final portion was supposed to be much closer so you could more clearly view feeding and ejection. Next time I'll position the camera much closer and set the frame rate to 120 frames per second instead of 240 for better resolution. Hey, I'm still learning.

February 22, 2015, 06:41 PM	#4
LockedBreech Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2009 Location: Rocky Mountain West Posts: 3,395	6.9"? Yikes. __________________ 16 Pistols, 5 Rifles, 1 Shotgun, no time to shoot them

February 22, 2015, 07:52 PM	#6
Stringfellow Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2009 Posts: 215	Is that a typo? 16.9 seems more consistent than 6.9... __________________ Well-armed Liberal

February 23, 2015, 10:36 AM	#7
doofus47 Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2010 Location: live in a in a house when i'm not in a tent Posts: 2,483	Mr. Wiggin, I was going to ask if you had reversed your results, but I also watched your video about the silver bear jhp ammo and you had the same counter-intuitive results. Why would denim allow greater penetration? Does it keep the hollow point from expanding? weird. Thanks for posting. __________________ I'm right about the metric system 3/4 of the time.

February 22, 2015, 06:06 PM	#3
Andrew Wiggin Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2012 Posts: 516	Thank you. Sectional density is too low.

February 23, 2015, 11:04 AM	#8
98 220 swift Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2015 Location: Perryville MO Posts: 426	I may have to use some different ammo in my cz82. I guess along as they are wearing clothes it works ok. If no clothes not very good.

February 23, 2015, 11:58 AM	#9
Andrew Wiggin Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2012 Posts: 516	Nope. Not a typo. Doofus47, you nailed it. Denim often clogs a hollow point causing less and/or delayed expansion. Older JHP designs would sometimes not open at all, especially at low velocity. Less expansion or slower expansion means the bullet has less drag, allowing it to penetrate more deeply. XTPs have a reputation of very modest expansion, which I was hoping would allow for adequate penetration but that wasn't the case. Thanks for your support, guys.