Gun, ammo tests - R9s. ammo expansion tests

Ammo' Expansion Testing - Results

The following set of pics shows some very interesting results. Much of the interpretation is perhaps open to debate but - as mentioned before, this is mainly in order to gain comparitive data. Personally I found it very useful and comment according to how the results strike me.

I'll mention too that ALL recovered bullets were showing NO weight loss whatsoever... except one you'll see where the jacket got lost!

First, let us inspect the results for Speer Gold Dots 115 grain .......

Gold Dot 115 grain expansion - wet paper.

To me this is Gold Dot classic expansion ... showing that even out of this short barrel of the R9s .. (2.9 inch approx) ......there is reliable deformation. 0.530" is typical expanded diameter dimension - pretty much a ''+50%''

The 124 grain Gold Dots behaved similarly ......

Gold Dot 124 grain expansion - wet paper.

It is apparent tho that the ''curl back'' is reduced in these - tho diameter across ''petals'' is still about ''+50%''.

The Federal Hydtra-Shok 135 grain bullets did quite well ..... at least two did!

Federal Hydra-Shok 135 grain into wet paper

The outer ones performed quite well .... the middle one? ... well jacket got lost and was not found. Hard to tell what happened there!

The Federal Hi-Shok 115 grain (C9BP) were a huge disappointment!!

Federal Hi-Shok 115 grain into wet paper

The center specimen did expand, and retained weight but the outer two .... NOT very impressive. I'd hazard a guess that with increased velocity these too would perform however. The outer two did penetrate further but also appeared to deviate from a straight line. Maybe a ''tumble'' factor, plus being ''steered'' by unequal density within wetpack.

Finally, the Remingtom Golden Sabers. Now here too was considerable disappointment.

Remington Golden Saber 124 grain into wet paper

The center specimen did expand, although the core is all but separating from the jacket. The one on the left failed as is obvious .. the one on the right? This managed to penetrate very deep .... some 8 or 9 inches .. somehow it got deflected and travelled across semi laterally, flattening along one side! Edit addition .... I think it likely this bullet actually connected with another.

I have little doubt it could have done substantial damage in tissue but - hardly the performance we are seeking. Could be again ... velocity is marginal out of a short barrel, to enable reliable expansion, plus some bullet's tendency to yaw a bit.