Best 9mm Ammo? Federal 9mm +P 124gr HST Gel Test

Published on January 15, 2018
Duration: 5:02

This video provides an in-depth analysis of Federal 9mm +P 124gr HST ammunition, featuring ballistic gel tests conducted by Andrew B. The review highlights the ammunition's performance in both bare gel and heavy clothing scenarios, specifically addressing the challenges of achieving adequate expansion and penetration from short-barreled firearms. The expert assessment confirms the HST's effectiveness as a self-defense round, with the reviewer personally adopting it for his own concealed carry firearm.

Quick Summary

Federal 9mm +P 124gr HST 124gr ammunition demonstrated excellent performance in ballistic gel tests, averaging 1127.60 FPS from a 3.1-inch barrel. It achieved 0.638-0.663 inches of expansion and 14.9-16.0 inches of penetration in bare gel, and 19.1-19.4 inches penetration with reliable expansion through heavy clothing.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction & Test Setup
  2. 00:43Bare Gel Ballistic Test
  3. 01:56Heavy Clothing Test Setup
  4. 02:22Heavy Clothing Results & Analysis
  5. 03:46Conclusion & Personal Carry Decision

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key performance metrics for Federal 9mm +P 124gr HST ammunition?

The Federal 9mm +P 124gr HST 124gr ammunition averaged 1127.60 FPS from a 3.1-inch barrel. In bare gel, it achieved 0.638-0.663 inches of expansion and 14.9-16.0 inches of penetration. With heavy clothing, penetration increased to 19.1-19.4 inches while maintaining reliable expansion.

How does Federal 9mm +P 124gr HST perform from short-barreled pistols?

This ammunition is noted for its ability to achieve both adequate expansion and penetration from short-barreled 9mm pistols, a common challenge. The test results suggest it overcomes this limitation effectively, making it a strong contender for concealed carry.

What are the FBI penetration recommendations for self-defense ammunition?

While not explicitly stated as a strict regulation, the FBI generally recommends a minimum penetration of 12 inches and a maximum of 18 inches for self-defense ammunition to ensure effectiveness against threats while minimizing over-penetration risks.

Why is testing ammunition in heavy clothing important?

Testing ammunition through heavy clothing, such as denim, simulates real-world self-defense scenarios where a shooter might encounter an attacker wearing multiple layers of clothing. This test reveals how well hollow-point ammunition can retain its shape and expand reliably under more challenging conditions.

Related News

All News →

More Reviews Videos You Might Like

More from TFB TV

View all →