.40 caliber defense ammo range report - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

KYDoc · 03-27-2006, 01:12 PM

So I took a much-needed day off from work and went to the range. I had been meaning to test out a bunch of different hollow point ammo to see how I shot with different types. Here are the results and my conclusions.

I shot four mags of five rounds each from my XD-40 Service with DGR and 22# spring at 15 yards (a comfortable range for me that I cannot get all in the X ring but not too far to see groups). I warmed up with about 80 rounds on a separate target first. The point of this is not which ammo is most accurate for everyone, but which I shoot best with.

Rounds tested:

top left: Winchester SXT 165 gr Personal Defense
bottom left: Hornady TAP 155 gr
top right: Federal Hydro-Shok 135 gr
bottom right: Speer Gold Dot 165 gr

Cheapest box was Gold Dot: $11.95

Most expensive was Hydro-Shok: $17.95

Coolest looking cartridge: Hornady

"Snappiest" recoil: Federal
Biggest muzzle flash: Federal (the only one I really noticed)
Smoothest recoil: Speer

My choice for comfort, price and consistent shooting: Speer Gold Dot
Second choice: Federal. For some reason it was fun to shoot, but I can't quantify it.

Targets:

Exmasonite · 03-27-2006, 02:02 PM

nice shooting!

i really like hydrashok, too (except at the cashier!). for some reason, i shoot better with it. maybe it's mental, who know but i've put 2-300 rounds of it through my XD .40 service (over the course of 2000 rds... try to keep 10% of total my carry rounds) and have NEVER had a FTE/FTF. I sleep well at night knowing I can dependably count on sending 13 types of trouble somebody's way should the need arise.

thinking of my weird "preference, i think i'll fill 2 mags w/ different rds and shoot them at random to see if it's mental or actual...

KYDoc · 03-27-2006, 02:43 PM

deleted. duplicate post.

KYDoc · 03-27-2006, 02:45 PM

Yeah..

Performancewise (ballistic tests) from what I've read on this site, Hydrashok is overrated, and I was prepared to see it not perform that well in my 'test'.

It seems to work for me, though Gold Dot was a bit better. Well, 5 rounds is a small test (poor man's test, you might say) but I wasn't willing to shoot 'em all at once. I may try it again another day and see if the results are the same.

Good idea on the 'blind' test, but make sure not to shoot the last round, so you know which one you shot!

jednp · 03-27-2006, 03:14 PM

as far as the blind test goes. No need to not shoot the last round. have a friend load up the mag for you, and write down the order of what ammo is where without telling you.

03-27-2006, 01:12 PM	#1
KYDoc XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: The Bluegrass Posts: 1,025	.40 caliber defense ammo range report So I took a much-needed day off from work and went to the range. I had been meaning to test out a bunch of different hollow point ammo to see how I shot with different types. Here are the results and my conclusions. I shot four mags of five rounds each from my XD-40 Service with DGR and 22# spring at 15 yards (a comfortable range for me that I cannot get all in the X ring but not too far to see groups). I warmed up with about 80 rounds on a separate target first. The point of this is not which ammo is most accurate for everyone, but which I shoot best with. Rounds tested: top left: Winchester SXT 165 gr Personal Defense bottom left: Hornady TAP 155 gr top right: Federal Hydro-Shok 135 gr bottom right: Speer Gold Dot 165 gr Cheapest box was Gold Dot: $11.95 Most expensive was Hydro-Shok: $17.95 Coolest looking cartridge: Hornady "Snappiest" recoil: Federal Biggest muzzle flash: Federal (the only one I really noticed) Smoothest recoil: Speer My choice for comfort, price and consistent shooting: Speer Gold Dot Second choice: Federal. For some reason it was fun to shoot, but I can't quantify it. Targets:

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03-27-2006, 02:02 PM	#2
Exmasonite XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 812	nice shooting! i really like hydrashok, too (except at the cashier!). for some reason, i shoot better with it. maybe it's mental, who know but i've put 2-300 rounds of it through my XD .40 service (over the course of 2000 rds... try to keep 10% of total my carry rounds) and have NEVER had a FTE/FTF. I sleep well at night knowing I can dependably count on sending 13 types of trouble somebody's way should the need arise. thinking of my weird "preference, i think i'll fill 2 mags w/ different rds and shoot them at random to see if it's mental or actual...

03-27-2006, 02:43 PM	#3
KYDoc XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: The Bluegrass Posts: 1,025	deleted. duplicate post.

03-27-2006, 02:45 PM	#4
KYDoc XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: The Bluegrass Posts: 1,025	Yeah.. Performancewise (ballistic tests) from what I've read on this site, Hydrashok is overrated, and I was prepared to see it not perform that well in my 'test'. It seems to work for me, though Gold Dot was a bit better. Well, 5 rounds is a small test (poor man's test, you might say) but I wasn't willing to shoot 'em all at once. I may try it again another day and see if the results are the same. Good idea on the 'blind' test, but make sure not to shoot the last round, so you know which one you shot!

03-27-2006, 03:14 PM	#5
jednp XDTalk 4K Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 4,691	as far as the blind test goes. No need to not shoot the last round. have a friend load up the mag for you, and write down the order of what ammo is where without telling you.