Federal Guard Dog 9mm 105 gr EFMJ AMMO TEST

This video features THREE tests of the 9mm Federal Guard Dog cartridge; water jugs, drywall with ballistic gel/denim, and just ballistic gel with denim. This is not a typical defensive cartridge and the extent to which I take my research is much more involved than my standard protocol, resulting in a longer video than my norm. To view in greater video detail, try the 720p or 1080p HD settings. There are also a few annotations throughout the video.

I have received a ton of requests to test this ammo. Law-abiding gun owners are concerned about overpenetration in a self-defense scenario, in particular within a home setting. Traditional JHP's are prone to clog in drywall, performing as a FMJ downrange and increasing the possibility of passing through several walls and endangering innocents. Federal has designed this bullet to pretty much guarantee expansion on the first wall in that setting, which will be illustrated in this video. However, my PRIMARY concern, and hopefully yours as well, is stopping the threat. A "connection" with poor bullet performance that does not diminish the threat increases the odds of YOU being put down, and the threat moving on to areas that you are trying to protect and beyond.

The SIM-TEST media that I'm using is calibrated to ballistic gel specs. The four layers of denim over the block is an IWBA test standard, used to simulate heavy clothing. Test gun is the Glock 19. Advertised muzzle velocity is 1230 fps; my 5-shot chronographed average was 1213 fps.

I appreciate Federal's efforts to create a cartridge that homeowners perceive as being safer to use than traditional JHP's. Some of you might recall that this EFMJ concept was previously marketed as a 9mm 124 gr load. Federal's marketing approach, at least at the time of this production, gravitates heavily toward the home defense aspect and concern of overpenetration in walls. They demonstrate this to some extent in a YouTube video of their own, yet it's nowhere near as comprensive as this production. There isn't much discussion on the EFMJ's performance on neutralizing the threat itself, which I found of great interest.

With regard to shot placement and ballistic terminal performance, you may find the info at this site very helpful:

http://www.brassfetcher.com/PDF%20Files/Bertolli%20gunshot%20thread.pdf

Filmed with two Sony HD AVCHD camcorders; HDR-CX110 at 24 mbps, and HDR-CX560 at 28 mbps 60p.

EDITING: Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 10, MP4, 30p, 16 mbps.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Federal
• Guard
• Dog
• 9mm
• 105
• gr
• grain
• EFMJ
• home
• defense
• expanding
• full
• metal
• jacket
• bullet
• hollowpoint
• penetration
• expansion
• ballistic
• ammo
• ammunition
• Glock
• 19
• G19
• test
• review
• self
• defensive
• concealed
• carry
• handgun
• pistol
• semi
• automatic
• denim
• HD
• high
• def
• definition
• 1920
• 1080p
• 2nd
• Second
• Amendment
• gel
• gelatin
• sony
• camcorder
• velocity
• drywall
• sheet
• rock
• science
• physics

[Lethal0ption]

is this a fail?

[tnoutdoors9]

@Lethal0ption

Depends on your perspective. Federal heavily markets this as a round designed to penetrate fewer walls in a home than traditional JHP's. Sure, that is a concern for me but my first priority is to stop the threat. Some people will buy it for the low penetration concept, and that concept only. I carry a round that I believe has a better chance of penetrating deeper. I'm going to use my remaining rounds of Guard Dog for target practice, if that says anything.

[oObassheadOo]

@tnoutdoors9 what do you carry in 9mm

[tnoutdoors9]

@oObassheadOo

147 gr Federal HST, but I'm always open to trying something else that offers similar or better performance AND does not affect my ability to place fast, accurate hits.

[fnkdtnk]

@tnoutdoors9 I'm a bit confused by this responce. I look at my 9mm pistol the same way I look at my .223 AR.Small and very fast. A 223 in something like a TAP round, from my understanding, dumps all of its Kenetic energy into the first couple inches of a chest cavity and doesn't always exit out the back, making it more effective than military FMJ. Why wouldn't you want your 9mm to dump 100% of its energy into the bg's chest cavity/vitals as opposed to penetrating out their back?

[tnoutdoors9]

@fnkdtnk

Check the brassfetcher info that I just added at the end of this video description. It details the value of shot placement, angle, and body density. In other words, it illustrates that you need to accept the possibility of a worse case scenario IF your shots hit the intended target. Also consider that any bullet can deflect off bone and richochet 90 degrees in another direction. If that happens, I want momentum to continue as far as possible.

[tnoutdoors9]

@ardrhi

I understand how this bullet is supposed to work. Jacket seperation by design or accident is not good. I am not a self-professed expert like you, but I know a piss poor bullet design when I see it. I strongly believe that using this ammo is placing a liabillity on yourself to stop a threat. Don't you understand that poor bullet design leading to underpenetration is not a positive aspect in stopping a threat? Did Federal send you here to crap on the video, or just trolling?

[drewdogman]

best ammo reviews on youtube!!!

[mexicanlvr09]

Well I only had time to hurry out and fire a couple of the Law Enforcement 124 grain +P EFMJ's and I'm VERY happy with these. I would have no problem using these in my open carry gun.

[OrdinaryMoe]

I like them for what they're intended for...I wouldn't use it for my EDC, but it's perfect for home defense as I wouldn't want the round to leave the house once I fire.

[swordsman3000]

to add....regarding the 'soft edges' of this bullet....In my world

Body Shots are for 'Stunning'

Head Shots are for 'Stopping'

I like these loads, and i'm gonna try 'em out

like i said...great test...thanks a bunch

[swordsman3000]

great test...but allow me

The FBI uses 13 inches of pen. as their guide because they want the bullet to reach the vitals no matter from which angle the agent might have to shoot from

The 'average' male torso is about 9 inches 'deep', so that makes this a GREAT load for reaching an attackers vitals and not worrying whether the bullet will 'pass through'

My HST's get seriously plugged up against denim and penetrate more like a FMJ...So that means this EFMJ actually works better

with respect

[mexicanlvr09]

I'm sorry I failed to mention that the 124 grain +P rounds I am speaking of are EFMJ's also just the law enforcement equivalent.

[mexicanlvr09]

What about the Federal 124 grain +P law enforcement rounds? From what I hear they are of considerably better performance. I ordered 400 rounds of them but haven't had the chance to fire any yet. I just think it would make a good follow up video with the similar (supposedly better) round.

[249rage]

i would like to see the gard dog in .45 acp

[honda963d]

Great bullet it doesnt penatrate to much but just enough. One concern is is it gonna cycle my gun? with only 105 grain but still i think its a great bullet for your home my kid could be in the next room and if this bullet will protect my family and not go through the wall as far as a normal self defense bullet that gives me more of a chance to save my child from being hit as well i like it!

[Jormungandr69]

Was it a glock 17 or 19 ?