45 Colt 200 gr Hornady FTX bullet tests in ballistic gel
Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2021 8:06 pm
This test had some great results considering the 200 gr. FTX bullet was designed for use as a S&W 460 bullet for much higher pressures and speed.
Looking for a 200 gr. JHP type bullet for use in my S&W M-25 revolver and my other Ruger .45 revolvers there isn't much available now due to the ammo shortage. So I found some of these at my LGS.
3 loads were tested which were 9.5 gr. of Unique.....20 gr. and 22.3 gr. of Alliant 2400 powder. The loads were based off of similar type bullets of weight and JHP construction since there are no listed loads in the manuals for this particular bullet in 45 Colt.
All shots were from a distance of 20 ft. from the ballistic gel block which is 6x6x16 inches in size. ALL 3 test loads penetrated the FULL 16 inch gel block with first test round landing in 2nd magazine and the other tests 2 and 3 stopping in the first magazine.
From the data here I decided to go with the 2nd load which is 20 gr. of the Alliant 2400 powder since there wasn't any noted gain with the higher load of 22.3 gr. of 2400 and the bullet started to fragment at that speed. Note...due to length of bullet I trimmed the tip back to the head of bullet.
Test revolver was my Ruger SBH Bisley with 5.5 inch barrel. Will load up more of these and try some for accuracy at a later date.
Part 2 video shows the recovered bullets and speed data.
Enjoy!
Part 1 Test https://youtu.be/IcDblmHztjE
Part 2 Test data and bullet recovery https://youtu.be/OeWNtpWEaxs
Looking for a 200 gr. JHP type bullet for use in my S&W M-25 revolver and my other Ruger .45 revolvers there isn't much available now due to the ammo shortage. So I found some of these at my LGS.
3 loads were tested which were 9.5 gr. of Unique.....20 gr. and 22.3 gr. of Alliant 2400 powder. The loads were based off of similar type bullets of weight and JHP construction since there are no listed loads in the manuals for this particular bullet in 45 Colt.
All shots were from a distance of 20 ft. from the ballistic gel block which is 6x6x16 inches in size. ALL 3 test loads penetrated the FULL 16 inch gel block with first test round landing in 2nd magazine and the other tests 2 and 3 stopping in the first magazine.
From the data here I decided to go with the 2nd load which is 20 gr. of the Alliant 2400 powder since there wasn't any noted gain with the higher load of 22.3 gr. of 2400 and the bullet started to fragment at that speed. Note...due to length of bullet I trimmed the tip back to the head of bullet.
Test revolver was my Ruger SBH Bisley with 5.5 inch barrel. Will load up more of these and try some for accuracy at a later date.
Part 2 video shows the recovered bullets and speed data.
Enjoy!
Part 1 Test https://youtu.be/IcDblmHztjE
Part 2 Test data and bullet recovery https://youtu.be/OeWNtpWEaxs