Test Gun: Sig P229, Beretta Nano.
Barrel length: 3.9, 3 inches.
Ammunition: Remington 124gr +P BJHP Bonded
Test media: 10% Clear Ballistics Gel.
Distance: 10 feet.
Chronograph: Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph G2.
Five shot velocity average: 1108, 1055fps
Gel Temperature 70 degrees.
In the third installment of the budget 9 series, we take a look at the Remington 124gr +P Golden Saber Bonded. This ammo is the highest priced tested to $19.99 a box, coming in just under the $20 limit. There are a couple of interesting things of note about this ammo. It’s called a brass jacked hollow point but it appears to be a standard copper jacket, with the offset jacket skives.
Of greater concern was the number of what appeared to be miss formed hollow points. The box consisted of about half of them. The depth of the points seemed to be shallower and the lead around the jacket rim was thicker. The obvious question was if it would affect performance. I decided to pick the tested rounds at random with the thought that anyone using this ammo would do the same when loading their magazine.
From the Sig P229, I got a five average velocity of 1108fps with a high of 1128fps and a low of 1078fps.
Ten yards off hand five shots with the Sig P229
Out of the Nano, I got a five shot average velocity of 1055fps with a high of 1091fps and a low of 1040fps
Ten yards off hand five shots with the Beretta Nano
From the Sig P229, the first round into the bare gel had a velocity of 1123fps and penetrated 19.25 inches. The expanded diameter was .60 inches and recovered weight was 124 grains. Round two hit the block at 1068fps and to a depth of 16.25 inches. The expansion was .65 inches and it weighed 124.9 grains.
In the clothing covered gel, the first round from the P229 had a velocity of 1111fps and penetrated 21.25 inches. The expansion was .61 inches and recovered weight was 124.3 grains. The second round had a velocity of 1099fps and completely passed through both 16-inch blocks and was not recovered.
With the Nano, the first round in bare gel the bullet penetrated to 14.5 inches and expanded to .64 inches with a recovered weight of 125.2 grains. The velocity was not recorded. Round two hit the block at 1083fps and penetrated to 16.5 inches. It expanded to .60 inches and weighed 123.4 grains.
I also decided to shoot two rounds of each type of different hollow points from the P229. The first two were the miss-formed bullets. The first round had a velocity of 1068fps and penetrated to 14.47 inches. The recovered weight was 124 grains and it expanded to .64 inches. Round two had a velocity of 1077fps and penetrated to 15.5 inches. The recovered weight was 125 grains and expansion was also .64 inches.
With the properly formed bullets, the first went 17.5 inches, expanded to .58 inches, and had a recovered weight of 122.6 grains. The velocity was not recorded. And the last round had a velocity of 1145fps and penetrated to 16 inches. The recovered diameter was .62 inches and weight was 123.4 grains.
