{"id":2403,"date":"2024-07-28T21:45:42","date_gmt":"2024-07-28T21:45:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=2403"},"modified":"2024-07-28T21:45:42","modified_gmt":"2024-07-28T21:45:42","slug":"10mm-ballistic-gel-testing-the-armory-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=2403","title":{"rendered":"10mm Ballistic Gel Testing &#8211; The Armory Life"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"player-inline-wrapper no-margin-top\">\n<div class=\"video-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<iframe class=\"player-inline\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/385056618?h=a630b2a904&amp;api=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"byline\">By <a class=\"byline-author ajax-home\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/author\/yamil-sued\/\">Yamil Sued<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"dropcap\">T<\/span>he 10mm Auto is an undeniably powerful round, born in the mid-1980s from disappointment with the perceived inadequate performance of the 9mm. The cartridge was designed from the ground up to have immense stopping power, and it would prove itself to be a capable performer in both self-defense and hunting applications.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Testing the Perception<\/h2>\n<p>But how powerful is it, exactly? We all hear about how terrific the 10mm is, but what if we perform a 10mm gel test to see what kind of penetration and expansion we can expect?<\/p>\n<div class=\"featured-magazine clearfix\">\n<div class=\"featured-magazine-cover\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"featured-magazine-cover-link ajax-home\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/magazines\/volume-8-the-10mm\/\">&#13;\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<picture decoding=\"async\" class=\"featured-magazine-cover-image\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/magazine-volume-8-cover-multiple-768x886.png.webp\"\/>\n<\/picture>\n&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>I decided to do just that, taking a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springfield-armory.com\/1911-series-handguns\/1911-ro-elite-handguns\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Springfield Armory Range Officer Elite Operator 10mm 1911<\/a> and running three different full power 10mm loads through it and into <a class=\"ajax-article\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/diy-ballistic-gelatin\/\">ballistic gelatin<\/a>. Check out my video above to see how it all did on the range.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large no-blowout\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"788\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-1.jpg\" alt=\"Shooting 10mm self defense ammo into ballistic gel\" class=\"wp-image-7160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-1.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-1-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-1-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-1-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/><figcaption>Yamil used a Range Officer Elite Operator in 10mm for the ammo\u00a0test.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>For this 10mm ammo comparison, I selected three loads, all with bullets weighing 200 grains. These loads covered both high-performance 10mm self defense ammo as well as basic range ammunition. I tested <a class=\"ajax-article\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/hst-in-10mm-biped-protection-supercharged\/\">Federal Personal Defense HST<\/a>, Speer Gold Dot Personal Protection Gold Dot Hollowpoint, and CCI Blazer FMJ range ammunition. Both of the full power personal protection loads used proven hollowpoint bullet designs while the range load used a 10mm FMJ projectile.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large no-blowout\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"1047\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-2.jpg\" alt=\"Federal HST ammunition\" class=\"wp-image-7161\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-2.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-2-800x598.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-2-400x299.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-2-768x574.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/><figcaption>The first load tested was Federal\u2019s 200-gr. HST\u00a010mm. Note the uniform expansion of the bullet recovered during penetration testing in ballistics gel.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10mm Ballistics Performance<\/h2>\n<p>I set up a 32\u2033-deep batch of ballistic gelatin and set about running all three loads through the RO Elite Operator 10mm. I was very impressed with the performance of all three loads and found that the 10mm does really push out some power.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large no-blowout\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"788\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-3.jpg\" alt=\"10mm ballistics gel test\" class=\"wp-image-7162\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-3.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-3-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-3-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-3-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/><figcaption>The author set up 32\u2033 of ballistic gel for the\u00a0testing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hollow Point vs. FMJ in Ballistics Gel<\/h3>\n<p>When testing 10mm penetration, both the Speer and Federal drove to roughly 18\u2033 deep in the gelatin (within 1\u2033 of each other), and expanded very nicely. These are both very powerful and effective rounds. <\/p>\n<div class=\"newsletter inline\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: none;\" class=\"logo-tal-icon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/themes\/thearmorylife\/img\/logo-tal-tm-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Live The Armory Life.<\/strong> The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our <a class=\"ajax-giveaways\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/giveaways\/\"><strong>monthly gun\u00a0giveaways!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>With the Blazer load, the FMJ punched clean through all 32\u2033 of the gelatin, and impacted heavily on the safety berm behind it. <\/p>\n<p>Excessive penetration is generally not preferred for defensive ammunition. While FMJ loads are great for paper targets, they simply do not expand in an attacker and will generally overpenetrate as this 10mm gel test shows.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large no-blowout\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"987\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-4.jpg\" alt=\"10mm Speer Gold Dot\" class=\"wp-image-7163\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-4.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-4-800x564.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-4-400x282.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-4-768x541.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/><figcaption>Speer Gold Dot Personal Protection 200-gr. 10mm ammo was also\u00a0tested. Like the HST, the 10mm Gold Dot bullet also showed excellent expansion in gel.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I also chronographed all three 200-gr. loads to see how they performed. The Federal HST came in at an average of 1,130 fps, the Speer Gold Dot at 1,100 fps, and the Blazer ammo at 1,030 fps.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large no-blowout\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"930\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-5.jpg\" alt=\"10mm Blazer FMJ ammo for target practice\" class=\"wp-image-7164\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-5.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-5-800x531.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-5-400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-5-768x510.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/><figcaption>Yamil also threw some Blazer 200-gr. FMJ ammo into the\u00a0mix. When comparing self defense loads with FMJ, the ball rounds will almost always overpenetrate.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>My test was intended to show 10mm ammunition performance and penetration, both full power self defense ammo and FMJ target ammunition.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large no-blowout\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"934\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-6.jpg\" alt=\"FMJ vs Hollow Point in Ballistic Gel\" class=\"wp-image-7165\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-6.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-6-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-6-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/article-ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm-6-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/><figcaption>The two hollowpoints expanded nicely and stopped at around 18\u2033 of penetration. The FMJ round blasted through all 32\u2033 of the\u00a0gel.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I think that the results speak for themselves \u2014 the 10mm is an undeniably powerful round, and one that clearly will excel in both a hunting and self-defense role.<\/p>\n<p><em>Editor\u2019s Note: Please be sure to check out the new The Armory Life forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the \u201cGo To Forum Thread\u201d link below to jump in!<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"featured-magazine clearfix\">\n<div class=\"featured-magazine-cover\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"featured-magazine-cover-link ajax-home\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/magazines\/volume-8-the-10mm\/\">&#13;\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<picture decoding=\"async\" class=\"featured-magazine-cover-image\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/magazine-volume-8-cover-multiple-768x886.png.webp\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/magazine-volume-8-cover-multiple-768x886.png\" alt=\"Cover for The Armory Life Digital Magazine Volume 8: The 10mm\"\/>\n<\/picture>\n&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h5 class=\"heading heading-forum-thread hide-share\"><span>Join the Discussion<\/span><\/h5>\n<p class=\"forum-thread-button-wrapper hide-share\"><a class=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/forum\/threads\/464\/\">Go to forum thread<\/a><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"heading heading-featured hide-share\"><span>Featured in this video<\/span><\/h5>\n<section class=\"featured hide-share grid-two\">&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"product series-1911 \" href=\"https:\/\/www.springfield-armory.com\/1911-series-handguns\/1911-ro-elite-handguns\/1911-ro-elite-operator-10mm-handgun\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"caliber\"><span class=\"cal-10mm\">10<sup>mm<\/sup><\/span><\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/PI9110E.png\" alt=\"1911 Range Officer\u00ae Elite Operator\u00ae\"\/>&#13;<\/p>\n<h3>1911 <span>Range Officer\u00ae Elite Operator\u00ae<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"product series-other other-velocity\" href=\"https:\/\/www.federalpremium.com\/handgun\/premium-personal-defense\/personal-defense-hst\/11-P10HST1S.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"caliber\"><span class=\"cal-\"\/><\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"max-width: 70%;;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/fp-p10hst1s-10mmhstjhp-personaldefense-rpsd-1911082.png\" alt=\"Federal Personal Defense HST\"\/>&#13;<\/p>\n<h3>Federal <span>Personal Defense HST<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"product series-other \" href=\"https:\/\/www.speer.com\/ammunition\/handgun\/gold_dot_handgun_personal_protection\/19-54000GD.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"caliber\"><span class=\"cal-\"\/><\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"max-width: 70%;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/product-speer-ammo-10mm.jpg\" alt=\"Speer Gold Dot\"\/>&#13;<\/p>\n<h3>Speer <span>Gold Dot<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"product series-other \" href=\"http:\/\/www.blazer-ammo.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"caliber\"><span class=\"cal-\"\/><\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"max-width: 86%;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/product-blazer-10mm.jpg\" alt=\"Blazer 10mm\"\/>&#13;<\/p>\n<h3>Blazer <span>10mm<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/section>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/ballistic-gel-testing-the-10mm\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Yamil Sued The 10mm Auto is an undeniably powerful round, born in the mid-1980s from disappointment with the perceived inadequate performance of the 9mm. The cartridge was designed from the ground up to have immense stopping power, and it would prove itself to be a capable performer in both self-defense and hunting applications. Testing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2404,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2403","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2403","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2403"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2403\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2404"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2403"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2403"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2403"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}