9mm +P Federal HST 124 gr

Shooting the 9mm +P Federal HST, 124 gr, into water/newspaper jugs. As you would anticipate with a premium-design, high-velocity JHP handgun round, it hits hard, expands quickly, and offers pretty good penetration in this type of media. Using similar testing media and conditions, the 124 +P HST carries higher energy, but doesn't penetrate quite as far as it's 147 gr sibling. Hence the debate.....light/fast bullets vs. slow/heavy. Pros and cons of each? You decide.

PLEASE NOTE: Ballistic tests such as this will provide a representation of handgun cartridge performance in a controlled environment. Please bear in mind that self-defense scenarios include multiple variables that will impact actual ballistic performance.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• 9mm
• +P
• Federal
• HST
• 124
• gr
• grain
• JHP
• cartridge
• ballistic
• test
• handgun
• pistol
• gun
• Glock
• 19
• P9HST3
• shooting
• physics
• concealed
• carry
• self
• defense

[trocha419]

hey...maybe you have said it somewhere...whats stoping you from getting balistic gel for these test? just wondering....btw great informal video!

[tnoutdoors9]

@trocha419

Expense, regardless if I buy it or make it myself. Figure $70 or so for the block I need, and I would not recycle, just to be consistent. Also, I have very limited storage for gel, and with my travel schedule, there is a narrow timeline for using the gel within guidelines. As of Oct. 2010, I would like to try something other than newspaper, but not certain yet what that will be.

[frodo70444]

@tnoutdoors9 really thick jello??

[tnoutdoors9]

@frodo70444

My guess.....would not be dense enough. Then, someone would question why I didn't go ahead and use real ballistic gel......the point would circle back around.

[RRViper800TT]

these petals are much sharper than the gold dot...would you say that this round is more effective due to that?

[tnoutdoors9]

@RRViper800TT

Hard to say without testing both in ballistic gel, which would give a more accurate representation of the cutting motion. The HST petals are definitely sharper, so when you consider what it does to soft tissue, I would guess the "damage path" could be more destructive. But you never know....this HST isn't bonded like the Gold Dot, so you have to give and take with your choices.

[tnoutdoors9]

@ben2point0

Problem with that? I've been to 46 states and encountered rednecks in all of them. Perhaps you are in one of the 4 that I haven't visited?

[CHEVDUCK]

You need to use some of those HST's on those stupid magpies squawking in the background.

[Pr0jeCtPa7]

hey TN, plan on re testing this ammo with your new sim-test setup?? I cant decide on this or the 147gr or the 147+p

[RainmanE350]

Anyone able to point me to tests or data when a short 3 inch barrel is used? Also 2 inch .380 rounds

THANKS



[hispanic88]

Where are you guys gettingthese from? I went to two of my local ammo stores and I cant find any.

[Trashbilly]

Damn BlueJays!! Thanks for a great vid..

[tubevideoguy762]

@mpd19666

yeah the 124 grains are my preferred since im kind of a medium for caliber guy like 124+p for 9mm 165 for 40 and 200+ for 45

[mpd19666]

@tubevideoguy762

if you look at the momenum graphs they tell a different story:

For JUST energy calc: a lighter, faster load will have more KE(1/2*m*v^2) but have you ever wondered why they a heavier bullet seems to penetrate farther within a caliber? I think its because it loses a lot of that energy on impact.

I did the calculations on the Federal HST rounds...

Form an energy stand point (high to low): 124+p, 124, 147+p, 147

BUTTTTTTTTTTTT

From a momentum stand point: 147+p, 124+p, 147, 124

[mpd19666]

@tnoutdoors9

Based on your experience will a slow/heavy load recoil more than a light/fast one(147 vs 124 vs 115)

Also, which HST round performs the best overall,factoring in penetration, expansion and recoil? Thanks!

I've been researching the HST round and I found that, going purely on an energy calculation, that the most energetic rounds going from greatest to least are:

124+p , 124, 147+p, 147

BUT in my momentum calc. the winners are: 147+p, 124+p, 147, 124. <--IS THIS WHAT YOU SEE?????

[faffaflunkie]

Your a good shot. Most of these "bullet test" videos are inconclusive because the shooter can't hit anywhere near the center of the target.

[GrenMoyo]

@nebula25x every flb counts :D

[GrenMoyo]

@nebula25x no....a 230 grain will not transfer as much energy as the 147g HST round because it is a hollow point and traveling substantially faster than a 230g hard ball round...a 45 fmj will not transfer a lot of energy because it zips right through a person, this dumps practically all its energy into the target as it expands...thus the concept of a hollow point. :)