Bullet Expansion Pictures 14 different Types (Picture Heavy)

I finally borrowed a better camera and got some good pictures of the various bullet tests i have done. They were done over the past year. Some shot into water jugs, wet phone books, wet newspaper, some covered with denim and even some pork rib bones thrown in.

First up is my 2 favorite 45acp loads.
1st row: 230gr HST All fired from a HK 45c
2nd row: 230gr HST, first 2 fired from a HK 45, rest HK45c. The two that look less uniform were fired into 4-layers of denim. Last one in the row went straight through a rib bone that was placed 1/4" into phone books.
3rd row: 230gr Ranger-T
4th row: 230gr Ranger-T went through 4-layers of denim or heavy clothing.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...9/IMG_1793.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...9/IMG_1794.jpg

Next up is my favorite 9mm load
1st row: 147gr HST fired from a HKP30 and HKP2000sk.
2nd row: 147gr HST fired from a Kahr PM9
3rd row: 147gr HST fired from a HKP30 through pork ribs placed 1/4" into phone books. 3rd bullet went into the pork rib first then phone books.
4th row: 147gr HST First 4 fired from HKP30 into 4-layers of denim or heavy clothing. Last bullet fired from a HK P2000sk into 4-layers of denim
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...9/IMG_1795.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...9/IMG_1796.jpg

Next up is the lighter 124gr HST
1st row: 124gr+P HST fired from a HKP30 and HKP2000sk.
2nd row: 124gr HST fired from a Kahr PM9
3rd row: 124gr+P and 124gr HST fired from a HKP2000sk and Kahr PM9 through 4-layers of denim or heavy clothing.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...9/IMG_1798.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...9/IMG_1799.jpg

Next up is Various 9mm loads
1st row(going down): 147gr Hydra Shok then 124gr +P Golden Saber, last bullet fired through 4-layers of denim
2nd row(going down): 127gr+P+ Ranger-T from HKP30, last bullet through heavy clothing
3rd row(going down): 127gr+P+ Ranger-T fired from HKP30
4th row(going down): 147gr Ranger-T fired from HKP30, last bullet through 4-layers of denim
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...9/IMG_1802.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...9/IMG_1803.jpg

More 9mm carry loads.
1st row: 124gr+P Gold Dot fired from a HKP30 and HKP2000sk. Last bullet is standard 124 Gold Dot
2nd row: 124gr+P Gold Dot, first 2 through 4-layers of denim, last bullet through heavy clothing.
3rd row: 115gr+P DPX from HKP2000sk. Some are through 4-layers of denim...2 are through pork rib placed 1/4" into bone...nothing clogs them so far.
4th row: 115gr+P DPX
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...9/IMG_1800.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...9/IMG_1801.jpg

Finally more 45acp loads.
1st row: 230gr Golden Saber from a HK45c
2nd row: 230gr Golden Saber, first 2 through 4-layers of denim, last through heavy clothing.
3rd row: 230gr Hydra Shock, 2nd through 4-layers of denim(stuck to the post), 3rd and 4th bullet Hornady 230gr+P, 4th through heavy clothing.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...9/IMG_1801.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...9/IMG_1808.jpg

Some comparison shots of 45 ACP
1st row: 230gr HST from HK45, 230gr Ranger-T from HK45c, 230gr Golden Saber from HK45c
2nd row: 230gr HST from HK45c, 230gr Ranger-T from HK45c, 230gr Hydra-Shok from HK45c, Hornady 230gr+P from HK45c
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...9/IMG_1810.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...9/IMG_1809.jpg

Comparison Shots of 9mm
1st row: 147gr HST from HKP30, 124gr+P HST from HKP30, 115gr+P DPX from HKP2000sk, 127gr+P+ Ranger-T from HKP30.
2nd row: 124+P Golden Saber from HKP30, 124gr+P Gold Dot from HKP30, 147gr Ranger-T from HKP30, 147gr Hydra-Shok from HKP30
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...9/IMG_1805.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...9/IMG_1806.jpg

Comparison Shot of 45acp vs 9mm
1st row(Going Down): 230gr Hydra-Shok, 147gr Hydra-Shok
2nd row(Going Down): 230gr Golden Saber, 124gr+P Golden Saber
3rd row (Going Down): 230gr Ranger-T, 127gr+P+ Ranger-T, 147gr Ranger-T
4th Row(Going Down): 230gr HST, 147gr HST, 124+P HST
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...9/IMG_1813.jpg

Nicely done.

The photos prove my contention that there is little practical difference in performance between any of the major brands of SD ammo, no matter what fancy hype is put out by the manufacturer's marketing department.

I would feel confident using any of the loads tested as my carry ammo.

Impressive comparisons, small holes going in, monsters going out!:yup:

Nice work!
Maybe the 9 Mickey Mouse round isn't so bad after all?
Maybe I'll give hubby's Glock 19 another chance at the range?

Outstanding Work, Ben! :drillsergeant:

That was no small effort on your part, that's for sure. A lot of work getting us this information.

I really appreciate your efforts on this one. I'm saving this page for future reference.

9mm & .45 is always going to be hotly debated... size of bullet vs. round count held in reserve, but those 9mm loads look to be pretty damn effective.

Thanks again! :comeandgetsome:

Good stuff. Thanks for sharing.

Your obvious great amount of time & effort - Greatly appreciated. :king:

Nice work... I wish I had as much time on my hands......:smile:

Great photos. Thanks for the work.

Very nice work, THANK YOU!!!!

Very interesting. They all seem to be up to their assigned task.

That's why I carry, I don't care to receive any one of them.:comeandgetsome:

Interesting. And beautiful.

If you could sum up your conclusion in a few sentences, what would it be?

And why four layers of denim (not one or two to mimic what you might find in the field)?

Thanks for posting all of this.

Great work! I was especially interested in how the HST's performed.

I carried my Glock 19 tonight since receiving 100 rds of Federal HST 124gr 9mm + P ammo from GT Distributors.

I usually carry a G 27 .40 or XD compact .45, but did not feel "undergunned" with the G 19 stoked with 16 rounds of HST's + another 15 in a back-up mag. :comeandgetsome:

good test! those rangers look like a buzz saw going thru !