Barnes TAC XPD .380 Ballistic Gel Test & Review

Published on April 11, 2022
Duration: 5:58

This video provides a detailed ballistic gel test of Barnes TAC-XPD .380 ACP ammunition fired from a Sig Sauer P238. The test evaluates expansion and penetration through layers of t-shirt and denim. The ammunition demonstrated reliable expansion but exhibited shallow penetration, a characteristic attributed to its lightweight 80-grain bullet weight and wide expansion diameter.

Quick Summary

The Barnes TAC-XPD .380 ACP 80-grain ammunition reliably expanded to a .67 caliber diameter in ballistic gel tests, even after penetrating t-shirt and denim barriers. However, penetration depth was shallow, reaching a maximum of 9 inches, due to the lightweight bullet and wide expansion.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction & Test Setup
  2. 00:18Gelatin Preparation & Specs
  3. 00:45Ammunition Details & Advertised Velocity
  4. 00:55Gelatin Temperature Control
  5. 01:19Clothing Barrier Setup (T-shirt & Denim)
  6. 01:45First Shot Results & Observation
  7. 02:08Post-Denim Expansion Analysis
  8. 02:40Permanent Cavity Visualization
  9. 03:00Comparison to 9mm Hollow Points
  10. 03:23Penetration Depth Measurements
  11. 03:35All Captured Rounds Overview
  12. 03:53Expansion Mechanism & Cutting Edges
  13. 04:11Factors Affecting Penetration
  14. 04:23Summary of Penetration & Expansion
  15. 04:38Bullet Weight Measurement
  16. 05:05Expanded Diameter Measurement
  17. 05:13Final Review & Conclusion
  18. 05:39Future Test Previews

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the key findings of the Barnes TAC-XPD .380 ACP ballistic gel test?

The Barnes TAC-XPD .380 ACP demonstrated reliable expansion, achieving a .67 caliber diameter. However, it exhibited shallow penetration, with a maximum depth of 9 inches, attributed to its lightweight 80-grain bullet and wide expansion.

How did the Barnes TAC-XPD .380 ACP perform through clothing barriers?

The Barnes TAC-XPD .380 ACP successfully expanded after passing through one layer of t-shirt and four layers of denim, indicating good performance against common clothing obstructions for self-defense scenarios.

What is the advertised muzzle velocity for Barnes TAC-XPD .380 ACP ammunition?

Barnes advertises a muzzle velocity of 990 feet per second for their TAC-XPD .380 ACP ammunition. This velocity contributes to the bullet's expansion characteristics during ballistic testing.

What was the measured expanded diameter of the Barnes TAC-XPD .380 ACP bullet?

In the ballistic gel test, the Barnes TAC-XPD .380 ACP bullet expanded to a diameter of .67 caliber, which is approximately 0.67 inches. This significant expansion creates a wide wound channel.

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