RevolvingGarbage
Member
I had mentioned in a thread in the autoloader section, the performance of the Winchester PDX1 .38spl +P in gelatin. I though it would be a good idea to repost that info here.
The test was done using both the aforementioned Wichester PDX1 Bonded .38spl +P 130gr JHP (mouthful!), and the Federal .38spl 125gr Nyclad HP that i had from my last box of defense ammo. The firearm used was a 2" barrel RG40 revolver in .38spl.
All shots were taken from approx. 2 feet between the muzzle and the block. Shot number one was the Nyclad HP on bare gelatin. The round penetrated to 13", and then veered off, barely exiting the left side of the gelatin block (the expanded round was recovered directly next to the block). Shot 2 was the PDX1 on bare gelatin. The shot penetrated 14.5" into the gelatin and came to a rest facing sideways. Shot 3 was the PDX1 on gelatin covered by 4 layers of shirt materiel. The shot fully penetrated the 15" block straight through, and came to rest between the gelatin block and the dirt filled box backstop. Shot 4 was the Nyclad on gelatin covered by 4 layers of shirt materiel. The round penetrated to 14" without veering and came to rest front foward.
Pics below show the expanded rounds. In both rounds the shots fired into covered and uncovered gelatin expanded and deformed nearly identically, so I didn't bother to distinguish which was which.
PDX1, front up
PDX1, rear up showing the perfectly uniform expansion
Nyclad HPs, showing the tuba like expansion.
I know this wasn't a perfectly scientific test, but I think it shows that both the PDX1 and Nyclad HP perform very well at the lower velocities that snub revolvers generate.
Id feel perfectly comfortable using either as defensive ammo, but knowing that even my RG will handle the PDX1 with no ill effects (in moderation of course), il be sticking with it over the Nyclads.
The test was done using both the aforementioned Wichester PDX1 Bonded .38spl +P 130gr JHP (mouthful!), and the Federal .38spl 125gr Nyclad HP that i had from my last box of defense ammo. The firearm used was a 2" barrel RG40 revolver in .38spl.
All shots were taken from approx. 2 feet between the muzzle and the block. Shot number one was the Nyclad HP on bare gelatin. The round penetrated to 13", and then veered off, barely exiting the left side of the gelatin block (the expanded round was recovered directly next to the block). Shot 2 was the PDX1 on bare gelatin. The shot penetrated 14.5" into the gelatin and came to a rest facing sideways. Shot 3 was the PDX1 on gelatin covered by 4 layers of shirt materiel. The shot fully penetrated the 15" block straight through, and came to rest between the gelatin block and the dirt filled box backstop. Shot 4 was the Nyclad on gelatin covered by 4 layers of shirt materiel. The round penetrated to 14" without veering and came to rest front foward.
Pics below show the expanded rounds. In both rounds the shots fired into covered and uncovered gelatin expanded and deformed nearly identically, so I didn't bother to distinguish which was which.
PDX1, front up
PDX1, rear up showing the perfectly uniform expansion
Nyclad HPs, showing the tuba like expansion.
I know this wasn't a perfectly scientific test, but I think it shows that both the PDX1 and Nyclad HP perform very well at the lower velocities that snub revolvers generate.
Id feel perfectly comfortable using either as defensive ammo, but knowing that even my RG will handle the PDX1 with no ill effects (in moderation of course), il be sticking with it over the Nyclads.
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