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May 19, 2018, 09:31 AM | #1 |
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Federal .45 ACP 230gr HST in Clear Ballistics Gel.
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.
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May 19, 2018, 10:35 AM | #2 |
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Nice job. HST is definitely the top of the heap for me and I carry it an all my carry guns.
Your results are virtually identical to those of Tnoutdoors9 on youtube which is good to see. With the +P HST Tnoutdoors9 saw a little more expansion and a little less penetration as would be expected when you add 60 FPS to the same bullet. Keep 'em coming. The gel picture gives your results a lot more credibility FWIW. |
May 19, 2018, 11:05 AM | #3 |
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Another interesting, and informative post. Keep up the excellent work. It is appreciated.
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May 19, 2018, 12:16 PM | #4 |
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Great results froma 5" 1911. A head to head comparison out of a short barrel carry gun like a Shield 45 would be interesting.
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May 19, 2018, 04:58 PM | #5 |
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The 230 grain .45 ACP Federal HST is the best performing JHP load in that caliber that I have ever seen.
Incredible expansion yet very good penetration, highly consistent and good quality and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. |
May 19, 2018, 05:56 PM | #6 |
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Am mentally filing this into "modern 9mm rounds now make caliber effectiveness closer", or some such.
Excellent test for an excellent round. |
May 20, 2018, 06:36 AM | #7 |
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45 HST is one of my preferred choices for SD.
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May 20, 2018, 08:31 AM | #8 |
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Nice to see a non+P perform so beautifully.
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May 23, 2018, 03:39 PM | #9 |
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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.
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May 24, 2018, 03:15 PM | #10 |
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Hmm, maybe time to move on from Remington Golden Saber. Will have to see how this shoots out of my 1911s. The GS has been 100pct reliable over many rounds for years. Reliability > Geltest, every day of the week.
That said, Federal's HST and NEW Hydra-Shok Deep cartridges have have shown very consistent performance over many tests & testers. For my own part, I like non +P 230gr in my 1911s.
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May 24, 2018, 03:57 PM | #11 |
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Which load would you recommend for a Walther PPQ 45 with 4.25" barrel? +P or standard pressure HST?
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May 26, 2018, 05:44 AM | #12 |
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HST is one of those rounds that I see recommended as an SD round, over and over and over. Yeah, there's a reason for that. Every time I read a new test, it comes out as a top performer.
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May 26, 2018, 05:49 AM | #13 |
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I have never tried the +P version of this round and based on this test I don't see any reason to choose it.
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May 30, 2018, 09:38 AM | #14 | |
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Quote:
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May 30, 2018, 11:41 AM | #15 |
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Not sure how much extra velocity is gained by the plus p version, but might come in useful in short barreled pistol/revolver. Very generally speaking, you can lose 100 fps from a 5 in 1911 to a 3 incher.
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May 30, 2018, 03:15 PM | #16 | |
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Quote:
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June 24, 2018, 09:25 PM | #17 |
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GLOCK 36/3.8" Bbl.
Red |
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