XD Talk

WinterWizard · 04-02-2011, 12:07 PM

Hey, all. I've got a quandary. I've been reading up on defensive rounds and I can't decide. I've got 20 rounds each of the Cor-Bon 115 gr. +P JHP and the Speer Gold Dot 124 gr. +P JHP. Here are the ballistics numbers per Ballistics101.com:

Cor-Bon: 1350 fps, 466 ft/lbs (no penetration or expansion numbers listed)
Speer: 1220 fps, 410 ft/lbs. (no penetration or expansion numbers listed)

I am assuming they both penetrate to about 12". I have read that the Cor-Bon has a tendency to fragment on impact, whereas the Speer have super reliable expansion with no fragmentation. But how the hell does the Cor-Bon get so much impact force from the lighter round? It rivals regular .45 ACP rounds. Is it the extra velocity? You'd think a heavier round would have more force.

Right now, I am thinking the Speer is probably the all-around better performer because of it's reliable expansion and penetration. While the Cor-Bon is super fast and powerful, but it's kind of a crap shoot as to what is going to happen on impact – might fragment and not penetrate deeply enough.

What are everyone's thoughts? And please, let's not start a caliber debate or an ammo debate. Let's relegate things to the rounds I've listed here.

gsh341 · 04-02-2011, 12:34 PM

When you refer to Cor-Bon 115 gr. +P JHP are you talking about DPX?

Most people forget that the Cor-Bon DPX is not a jacketed hollow point round, but is actually a solid copper hollow point round.

As for performance, the Cor-Bon DPX does very well in penetration tests and the 9mm DPX easily reaches 12" of penetration even through 4 layers of denim.

AZXD · 04-02-2011, 12:41 PM

Stop reading ... Both perform well, and a BG isn't gonna care

Use what works best for you, and your gun ... If they both cycle properly, and you can shoot each with equal proficiency ... Move on !!!

Fullclip · 04-02-2011, 12:51 PM

Yes it is the velocity that gives it more force, Force=Mass x Velocity.

Yes, AZXD is also is right both bullets perform well. Heard a lot of good about both but your gun will prefer one over the other, usually. Whether its the velocity or the grain weight one should perform better than the other. Me, I like to experiment at the range.

Thanks GSH431 did not know that about the DXP's.

smasraum · 04-02-2011, 12:55 PM

The low weight, high velocity rounds are almost always going to have more Energy than a higher weight, lower velocity round. It's a function of the math.

The formula to calculate muzzle energy is Energy = 1/2 bullet mass x bullet velocity squared

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzzle_..._muzzle_energy

That last bolded part is why the higher velocity light weight rounds have more engery. As the weight goes down, the velocity goes up and gets squared.

I suspect if you did the calc on one of the really light weight frag rounds, it would be even more surprising.

WinterWizard · 04-02-2011, 01:19 PM

No, gsh341 – I am talking about the regular Cor-Bon +P JHPs, not the DPXs. Surprisingly, the newer DPXs are hard to find in my area, while the regular JHPs seem to be everywhere.

They are both so close in performance. I am going to go the range early next week to shoot both, see what's what.

gsh341 · 04-02-2011, 01:47 PM

Just for informational purposes here are a couple videos from Dakota Ammo, the makers of Cor-Bon ammunition, showing various calibers being shot into gel. The Gelatin tests start at about 1:30.

First, the DPX.

YouTube - CORBON DPX Product Demonstration Video

Next the JHP.

YouTube - CORBON Self Defense JHP Product Demonstration Video

Since this is video from the manufacturer, you can expect some advertising content, but the tests mirror what I've sen in live demonstrations of the ammo at the local range.

For one of the tests I let the sales rep shoot my XD with the 40S&W DPX I had bought months prior loaded into it. It shot exactly as advertised and exactly as you see in the video.

AirForceAce357 · 04-02-2011, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZXD

Stop reading ... Both perform well, and a BG isn't gonna care

Use what works best for you, and your gun ... If they both cycle properly, and you can shoot each with equal proficiency ... Move on !!!

+1 to this!! Check to see which one cycles more reliably in your gun and produces better accuracy and pick the one that does better. I think there is waaaay too much overthought given to different bullet weights, types, velocities etc on forums. I know I wouldn't wanna be shot with either of the rounds you mentioned (or any round for that matter). As far as self defense goes, it really comes down to your ability to put whatever round you choose on target quickly and accurately so pick what cycles reliably and shoots accurately and call it good.

WinterWizard · 04-02-2011, 02:13 PM

Thanks, gsh341. I had seen the one for DPX, but not the JHP one.

The Cor-Bon and Speer are such similar rounds, performance-wise, I'm sure it's a moot point.

**agalindo** · 04-02-2011, 03:02 PM

Corbon 115gr JHP under under penetrate and are not a good choice. If your dead set on Cobon only the DPX is a good choice. 124gr is the lightest I would go with in a 9mm.
Don't get caught up in the velocity/foot pounds game those numbers don't mean anything. 124g Gold Dot's meet FBI/IWBA protocols so they are the better choice.

Actually if you are trying to stop a bad guy as fast as possible, then the bad guy will know the difference between the 115gr corbon JHP and the 124gr gold dot. The Gold Dot will penetrate deeper and cause more damage thus stopping him faster.