fastbolt
Member
Fastbolt, thanks for the photos and info on the +P SXT ammo..
Good stuff. I also carry the Ranger brand when I can get.
De nada.
These photos are several years old, now, taken back when the change was occurring from the SXT (RA45SXTP, etc) to the T-Series (RA45TP).
The last bunch of .45 +P I received (they were out of stock of the standard pressure load) was the newest revision of the T-Series, but I don't have any images from the last test shots done at a gel event using either the.45 +P T-Series or the Bonded load. I have some data buried somewhere in my computer from that last session ...
The Ranger line is just their LE/Gov product line, meaning the T-Series is just one product offered within that line. The other stuff might be similar to something offered in the Supreme or USA ("white box") line, at times. One of the Ranger Handgun 180gr JHP duty loads in .40 - the RA40180HP - is listed as producing 10fps more velocity than it's USA cousin - USA40JHP - at least in the specs, but I've seen the USA version delivered to replace a contract order for the RA40180HP, upon occasion ... and it's still listed under both the USA and the Subsonic Centerfire Duty Handgun product lines.
FWIW, the current RA40T 180gr T-Series is listed at producing 990fps, and the Ranger Bonded Handgun RA40B 180gr load shows 1025fps. It would seem each load has been optimized in the way of velocity for the design of the particular bullet being used.
I've been using a lot of Remington GS in the last several years, because it was available at the range for duty/qual/practice ammo, but if I was spending my own money for carry ammo I'd focus my efforts on either T-Series or Gold Dot. I can't offer any definitive data sets to support that personal preference, but that's how I'd spend my own money at the present time. I wouldn't jump through hoops to look for the T-Series, though, or pay through the nose for it, even though it seems to be pretty good stuff. I'd look for deals on the over-the-counter Speer GDHP and still sleep well at night (as long as it continued to feed well in my guns, when being fired in my hands, of course). I tend to look at the smaller custom ammo company offerings as being a bit prohibitive when it comes to the cost involved to periodically buy their products in quantities involving multiple boxes (or a case, or more).
I also sort of look at QC issues for the major companies as being something that seems to produce some "ebb & flow" over time.
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