Products evaluated:
3.3” Barrel Semi-auto
- • Remington Golden Saber 185gr (GS45APA)
- • Speer Gold Dot 185gr (23964)
- • Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 230gr (23975)
- • Winchester Ranger Bonded 230gr (RA45B)
3.8” Barrel Semi-auto
- • CCI Pest Control Shotshell 120gr (3745)
- • Cor-Bon +P DPX 185gr (DPX45185)
- • Federal Expanding Full Metal Jacket 165gr (P45SCP2)
- • Federal Personal Defense Hydra-Shok (P45HS1)
- • Hornady +P XTP 230gr (9096)
- • Speer +P Gold Dot 200gr (23969)
5.0” Barrel Semi-auto
- • Blazer FMJ 230gr (5230)
- • Cor-Bon +P DPX 160gr (writers sample)
- • Federal Guard Dog 165gr EFMJ (PD45GRD)
- • Federal HST 230gr (P45HST2S)
- • Federal Personal Defense Hydra-Shok 230gr (P45HS1)
- • G2 Research RIP 162gr (G00002)
- • Hornady +P XTP 230gr (9096)
- • Remington Golden Saber 185gr (GS45APA)
- • Remington +P Golden Saber 185gr (GS45APC)
- • Remington Golden Saber 230gr (GS45APB)
- • Ruger ARX 118gr (45ARXRUG-118)
- • Speer +P Gold Dot 200gr (23969)
- • Speer Gold Dot 230gr (23966)
- • Underwood +P Xtreme Defender 120gr (844)
- • Winchester PDX1 Defender (S45PDB)
- • Winchester Ranger Bonded 230gr (RA45B)
- • Winchester Ranger-T 230gr (RA45T)
- • Winchester +P Ranger-T 230gr (RA45TP)
Suitability for self-defense
Impact velocities used in this report were obtained from an Oehler System 85 using no velocity corrections. All ballistic gelatin blocks used in this evaluation were nominal 10% ballistic gelatin blocks calibrated in accordance with FBI RFP-OSCU-DSU1704 as follows (FBI RFP-OSCU-DSU1704, page 104, 2017):
"Prior to the utilization of any block of gelatin, validation of the block will be tested to assure consistency of the gelatin mixture. This test consists of firing a .177 caliber steel sphere (BB) into the gelatin block at 590 feet per second (fps) +/- 15 fps. This sphere must penetrate a minimum of 2.95 inches but no more than 3.74 inches ".
Selection criteria is based upon the point system for penetration in FBI RFP-OSCU-DSU1704. Scoring is based upon both bare gelatin and heavy clothing performance — color code reflects the lower-scoring performance of the two test events.