Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 12

Thread: Hornady 300BLK 190gr Sub-X in Gel

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    New Mexico
    Posts
    3,550
    Feedback Score
    1 (100%)

    Hornady 300BLK 190gr Sub-X in Gel

    This morning I loaded everything up and headed for the hills to try out the new Hornady 190gr Sub-X 300BLK in organic ballistic gel. I wanted to try the new bullet through FBI spec clothing as well as through auto glass.

    I used VYSE gel that was calibrated with a BB traveling 581fps. The BB penetrated right where it was supposed to so I didn't take any additional BB gun shots.



    The ammo used was actually the TAP version of the new Sub-X load. But I called Hornday Customer Service and the fellow I spoke with told me the TAP load is the same as the civilian stuff.

    Now before I get too far I want to warn you that my windshield test probably isn't going to be up to FBI standard. I used a windshield from the junk yard and leaned it back at a 45° angle but didn't turn it at 15° as is called for. The windshield was already curved across its face so I just shot it straight on as best as I could. Was I shooting at 15 degrees? I'm not sure.

    Also, given the height of the windshield and the little table I had to set my gel on, I wasn't able to chronograph the windshield shots. I did chronograph the shots through clothing however. More on that in just a minute.

    I fired two rounds through auto glass at the block that was covered with layer of cotton t-shirt as well as cotton shirt--FBI light clothing. The gel and clothing layer was set 18" back from the target area of the glass. One bullet was recovered without issue and stayed in the block. The other went low and exited out the bottom corner of the block. It was not recovered.

    Here is the bullet recovered from the glass test. It mushroomed well but lost about 30 grains of weight. Penetration was 11.75 inches.



    Next up were two rounds through denim covered by insulation and two layers of cotton--the FBI heavy clothing spec. I did chronograph the shots through clothing but only was able to capture velocity for one bullet. That reading was 1,096 fps.

    One bullet through clothing sort of tore rather than mushroomed. It lost about 30 grains of weight and penetrated to 17.25 inches.



    The other bullet through clothing shed most of its nose and lost quite a bit of weight. As a result the penetration was only 14 inches.



    Here are both bullets recovered from the clothing test. The bullet that shed the most weight is on the bottom.



    Misc crap from the wound tracks.



    The bullet that shed its nose has a small "finger" on one side. Not counting that little wing, the bullet has a diameter of .331 inch.

    The bullet that penetrated the deepest and retained more weight is .529" at its widest.



    And, finally, I tried to chrono an additional four rounds to get at least some sense of the average velocities. I only caught one additional reading. That was 1,077 fps.

    The rifle used was a Ruger SR556TD. 1X7 twist 16" barrel with my AAC 762-SDN-6 attached. Distance from the muzzle to target was 10 feet.

    Overall, a slightly frustrating experiment. I am disappointed with my lack of chronograph data. Also, I wish I'd have been able to recover that other bullet from the glass test. Maybe I'll try the test again next weeekend.

    Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk
    Last edited by Tokarev; 02-19-18 at 17:01.
    “The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles."

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    11,762
    Feedback Score
    0
    The only subsonic 300BLK I have seen advertised that actually expands to an obscene diameter is the 194gr Lehigh Defense load. It doesn't penetrate too deeply (like 9 or 10"?) but it opens up like a boss.

    The obvious downside is the $2 per round price.
    11C2P '83-'87
    Airborne Infantry
    F**k China!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    New Mexico
    Posts
    3,550
    Feedback Score
    1 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by ABNAK View Post
    The only subsonic 300BLK I have seen advertised that actually expands to an obscene diameter is the 194gr Lehigh Defense load. It doesn't penetrate too deeply (like 9 or 10"?) but it opens up like a boss.

    The obvious downside is the $2 per round price.

    How does it hold up against hard barriers like windshields?
    “The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles."

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    11,762
    Feedback Score
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by Tokarev View Post
    How does it hold up against hard barriers like windshields?
    Take a look online. Haven't done so myself as far as FBI-type barriers. I believe it is either bare or clothed gel. It is subsonic after all!
    11C2P '83-'87
    Airborne Infantry
    F**k China!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    New Mexico
    Posts
    3,550
    Feedback Score
    1 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by ABNAK View Post
    Take a look online. Haven't done so myself as far as FBI-type barriers. I believe it is either bare or clothed gel. It is subsonic after all!
    Why would being subsonic exempt such a load from good terminal performance through automobile glass?
    “The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles."

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    11,762
    Feedback Score
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by Tokarev View Post
    Why would being subsonic exempt such a load from good terminal performance through automobile glass?
    Maybe it doesn't, don't know. I assume you're referring to whether it does it's "tricks" after auto glass, correct? I'll bet there are videos of it through barriers. I've only seen ones with bare gel.
    11C2P '83-'87
    Airborne Infantry
    F**k China!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    New Mexico
    Posts
    3,550
    Feedback Score
    1 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by ABNAK View Post
    ...assume you're referring to whether it does it's "tricks" after auto glass.
    Yes. Doc Roberts and others have compared good performance through glass to equate to good performance against bone.


    Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk
    “The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles."

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    New Mexico
    Posts
    3,550
    Feedback Score
    1 (100%)
    Okay. Two more through glass and into gel covered with light clothing. One bullet went about 9 inches and came out the side of the block. The bullet was found probably 6 inches away. That bullet now weighs 153.5 grains and mushroomed well.

    The other bullet penetrated to 15 inches and weighs 167.3 grains. It doesn't look very pretty but I think it would have done the job.



    Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk



    My rifle was a little dirty prior to shooting the TAP ammo so I can't say for sure but this ammo seems pretty dirty. I'm seeing a bunch of unburnt powder in my upper.
    Last edited by Tokarev; 02-24-18 at 19:01.
    “The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles."

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    1,537
    Feedback Score
    16 (100%)
    OP - nice write up and photos. I applaud Hornady for the load development.
    Politician's Prefer Unarmed Peasants

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    11,762
    Feedback Score
    0
    I have a good number of factory loaded Hornady 110gr GMX. Bought it as it supposedly has less copper fouling that the Barnes bullet. I've posted on here before to see if anyone knew how they performed but no one did. If that 190gr sub load works like it does above I'll bet the supersonic 110gr does too.
    11C2P '83-'87
    Airborne Infantry
    F**k China!

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •