Federal HST vs Speer Gold Dot vs Hornady Critical Duty | FBI "Heavy Clothing” Ballistics Gel Test

This expert-level analysis from Buckeye Ballistics details a comprehensive ballistic gel test comparing Speer Gold Dot 9mm 124gr +P ammunition across four barrel lengths (3.3" to 10.5"). The data reveals how velocity significantly impacts bullet expansion, penetration, and fragmentation, offering crucial insights for ammunition selection based on firearm platform.

This video explores the evolving landscape of handgun calibers, moving beyond the traditional 9mm. The presenter, Ted from Line 45, details several alternative calibers gaining traction in 2025, including 30 Super Carry for increased capacity in compacts, 5.7x28mm for flat trajectory and speed, 10mm for significant power and penetration, 357 SIG for barrier penetration and velocity, and 22TCM for rifle-like speed in a pistol platform. The discussion highlights the specific advantages and use cases for each caliber, suggesting a shift towards more specialized choices for concealed carry and self-defense.

This video provides a tour of the Scheels ammo section in The Colony, Texas, with a seasoned shooter sharing her preferred ammunition choices for various applications. She discusses specific brands and calibers for training, self-defense, and competition, offering insights into price-to-value comparisons and availability at major retailers like Scheels and Academy. The speaker emphasizes practical considerations for ammo selection, including bullet type, grain weight, and intended use.

This video provides a detailed ballistic gel test comparing two popular Speer Gold Dot 9mm ammunition weights: 115-grain and 124-grain, fired from a Sig P365 with a 3-inch barrel. The test measures velocity, expansion, penetration, and mass retention, offering insights into the performance of these widely used self-defense rounds. The presenter, an experienced firearms instructor, favors the 124-grain for its balance of penetration and expansion.

This video provides a detailed ballistic gel test of Hornady Critical Duty 9mm +P ammunition fired from a 16.3-inch barrel Henry Homesteader carbine. The test compares the 124-grain and 135-grain variants, measuring velocity, penetration, and expansion. The instructor, with apparent expertise in ballistics testing, concludes that Critical Duty performs consistently well from a carbine platform, offering good penetration without over-expansion.

This video reviews the top 12 best ammunition choices for home defense, covering various calibers and shotgun loads. It details terminal performance metrics like penetration depth and expansion diameter for each load, providing insights into their effectiveness. The presenter emphasizes the importance of selecting the right ammunition for personal safety.

This video provides an expert-level assessment of BB gun lethality for self-defense, featuring an experienced instructor from 1ShotTV. The test uses a realistic ballistic dummy head to compare a Daisy Red Rider BB gun, an Umarex MP40 CO2 replica, and a Gamo Wildcat Whisper pellet rifle. The findings indicate that BB guns are ineffective for self-defense, while pellet rifles show some potential but lack the stopping power of conventional firearms.

This video provides an expert-level demonstration of the BulletSafe VP3 Level 3A bulletproof vest's capabilities. The host, exhibiting high authority and expertise in ballistics and armor ratings, tests the vest against various calibers up to .44 Magnum and 12-gauge buckshot using a realistic ballistic dummy. The results highlight the vest's effectiveness in stopping rounds while also illustrating the potential for significant blunt force trauma and skeletal damage from high-energy impacts.

This review covers the Crosman DPMS SBR, a full-auto BB gun mimicking an AR-15 SBR. The host, demonstrating experienced authority, details its select-fire capability, dual CO2 power, 25-round capacity, and performance metrics like 430 FPS and 1400 RPM. The review includes practical demonstrations of loading, accuracy testing with minimal recoil, and penetration tests on various targets, concluding it offers a realistic full-auto experience for recreational shooting.

This video from 1ShotTV, featuring an experienced firearms content creator, experimentally tests the viability of a flare gun for self-defense. The tests reveal significant fire hazards when firing into household materials and inconsistent performance against clothing and ballistic targets. The Orion 12-gauge flare gun's single-shot capacity and slow reload time are highlighted as major drawbacks for defensive use. The conclusion strongly advises against using flare guns for self-defense due to these risks and limitations.