Federal’s literature claims that the 9mm Luger (+P) 124 grain HST load has a muzzle velocity of 1200 FPS. When chronographed from my Gen 2 Glock 19 (with the factory original barrel) over an Oehler 35P chronograph, the P9HST3 load had a muzzle velocity of 1215 FPS with a standard deviation of 11 FPS!

Dr. GK Roberts has stated that the 9mm (+P) 124 grain HST rounds “are among the finest 9 mm duty loads currently available.” Terminal ballistic testing in 10% ordnance gelatin conducted by the good doctor produced the following results . . .

I evaluated the accuracy of the P9HST3 load from a distance of 25 yards using two different platforms; my Gen 2 Glock 19 and a Colt 6450 with a free-floated Noveske barrel.

When using hand-loads topped with the Hornady 125 grain HAP bullet, my Noveske barreled Colt 6450 has turned in 10-shot groups at 25 yards that have extreme spreads of less than a half-inch.

A 10-shot group of the P9HST3 ammunition fired from the Noveske barreled 6450 at 25 yards had an extreme spread of 0.98”.

Firing from the bench at a distance of 25 yards, my Gen 2 Glock 19 (with the factory original barrel) produced a 10-shot group with an extreme spread of 2.29”.

…..

 

I think the HST's are the very best defensive loads available.

 

A thorough report - thank you!

 

Fantastic, will a 147 gr test be forthcoming?

 

Really nice work. Thanks for sharing the info. :thumbsup:

 

Since bare gel penetration of the 124 gr +P HST in the referenced test is just barely above the 12" minimum it would be of interest to know what the actual gel calibration was in the test.

 

Wow, great job!! Love my hst. This round and the 180 gr forty cal. But I would use any of them.

 

There is so much talk on this forum and elsewhere about penetration and how important it is in making SD ammo effective. That I can't help but take note that Federal Ammo, one of the two top handgun ammo manufactures in the country appears to make their best handgun ammo (HST) so it penetrates no more than 15" of gel (usually 13 to 14 inches), go figure!

 

. . . will a 147 gr test be forthcoming?

In the works.

 

There is so much talk on this forum and elsewhere about penetration and how important it is in making SD ammo effective. That I can't help but take note that Federal Ammo, one of the two top handgun ammo manufactures in the country appears to make their best handgun ammo (HST) so it penetrates no more than 15" of gel (usually 13 to 14 inches), go figure!

Maybe because the usual cited criteria are that you want a minimum of 12" and maximum of 18" penetration in both bare gel and denim covered gel. Average that and you get … 15". To achieve more than the preferred amount of penetration, you give up optimal expansion to get it too.

 

Great info, thanks for doing the work.

 

Maybe because the usual cited criteria are that you want a minimum of 12" and maximum of 18" penetration in both bare gel and denim covered gel. Average that and you get … 15". To achieve more than the preferred amount of penetration, you give up optimal expansion to get it too.

Yes I see your point but where this deep penetration thing came from is unclear, you would think that Federal ammo would know best how to make their ammo most effective. Also there is the Corbon JHP round (a very effective round)that is advertised to not even reach 12" of penetration, go figure!

 

Also there is the Corbon JHP round (a very effective round)that is advertised to not even reach 12" of penetration, go figure!

So, what is your criteria for "effective"?

 

Good stuff. Thanks for sharing. Seems you can't go wrong with the HST offerings.

 

Maybe because the usual cited criteria are that you want a minimum of 12" and maximum of 18" penetration in both bare gel and denim covered gel. Average that and you get … 15". To achieve more than the preferred amount of penetration, you give up optimal expansion to get it too.

12" is the MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE penetration in BARE GEL -- not preferable. One could make a good case that 14" in BARE GEL is preferable to 12", even though expansion would be somewhat less.

 

I appreciate the time and effort it took to put together a very comprehensive report. Nice job.

 

So, what is your criteria for "effective"?

Although I have never shot anyone with Corbon JHP ammo myself and so I can't offer a personal testimonial, I can say that all I have seen or heard over the years from others who have had to use it for SD have reported excellent results with it. In particular the 9mm 115gr version seems to be the round most often mentioned, I have never heard of the Corbon JHP ammo failing to perform when needed!

 

IF BPLE is deemed adequate, then there is no reasonable basis to find 124 gr. +P HST inadequate......

 

12" is the MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE penetration in BARE GEL -- not preferable. One could make a good case that 14" in BARE GEL is preferable to 12", even though expansion would be somewhat less.

Yes agreed. I was saying 15" was preferable. Point was that there was an optimum amount of penetration in a gel test which the criteria are set up to say is around 15", with reasonable expansion. If the average were 17" for example, then some rounds would be exceeding the 18" maximum criteria and likely you would have lost some expansion as well.

Have to think about what barrel length/velocity the gel test results are published with too, compared to what I have. If my barrel is shorter or longer, I will have to expect different results based on velocity differences and accordingly select a bullet/load based on that.

 

Yes agreed. Point was that there was an optimum amount of penetration in a gel test which the criteria are set up to say is around 15", with reasonable expansion. If the average were 17" for example, then some rounds would be exceeding the 18" maximum criteria and likely you would have lost some expansion as well.

This is something to think about if you comparing results from very short to long barreled guns, changing velocity a lot for the same load.

No reason to prefer more than 15" penetration in bare gel as it would only needlessly reduce expansion and thus quantity of tissue disruption. The whole point of JHPs, of course, is to substantially increase the quantity of tissue disruption compared to FMJs and thus significantly increase the probability of a stop. However, since penetration in bodies AVERAGES close to penetration in bare gel (unless a longitudinal bone is involved) and bodies have been getting more obese over the years -- 12" is marginal and closer to 15" is preferable.

 

In the works.

It is great to see how well 127 gr +P perfumes. HST 147 +P is my current carry ammo for my newly acquired Springfield XDS 9mm 3.3”.

 

It is great to see how well 127 gr +P perfumes. HST 147 +P is my current carry ammo for my newly acquired Springfield XDS 9mm 3.3”.

They do smell pretty good don't they. :supergrin:

 

No reason to prefer more than 15" penetration in bare gel as it would only needlessly reduce expansion and thus quantity of tissue disruption. The whole point of JHPs, of course, is to substantially increase the quantity of tissue disruption compared to FMJs and thus significantly increase the probability of a stop. However, since penetration in bodies AVERAGES close to penetration in bare gel (unless a longitudinal bone is involved) and bodies have been getting more obese over the years -- 12" is marginal and closer to 15" is preferable.

That could very well be why the Federal HST round almost always penetrates 13 to 14 inches with near perfect expansion. This is also the same approximate depth of penetration of the old school 357 Magnum and 2 or 3 inches more than the Corbon JHP. All these mentioned have proven street cred and continue to perform very well in actual shootings even with their targets getting heavier, go figure!

 

I am temporarily using 9mm 124gr JHP +p loads in my G17. I have no real concerns.

 

Fired some through my M&P9c. Even with the 3.5" barrel it was still had an average velocity of 1180 f.p.s.. Amazingly consistent in velocity. Good stuff!