Are these Hornady cartridges the same?

[zippygaloo]

For all intensive purposes are these exactly the same?


Hornady Varmint Express .223 Rem 40 GR and it's Ballistics Info
is it exactly the same as...
Hornady .223 REM 40 GR TAP Urban



Hornady Varmint Express .223 Rem 55 GR and it's Ballistics Info
is it exactly the same as...
Hornady .223 REM 55 GR TAP Urban



Hornady Varmint Express .223 Rem 75 GR BTHP Match and it's Ballistics Info
is it exactly the same as...
Hornady .223 REM 75 GR BTHP TAP PRECISION

Below is ballistic gel results for Hornady LEO TAP. What would you say would be best for home defense?

[Alpha Sierra]

From the looks of the penetration in gel in those photos, anything 62 grain and heavier TAP will be fine.

[zippygaloo]

What about for inside a home (say 25 yards or less)? I'm wondering about over penetration through walls vs not doing any damage to bad guy.

[DocGKR]

Whether the bad guys are indoors, outside, or in a vehicle and regardless if they are attacking LE or private citizens, the anatomy and physiology of criminals does not change. Thus the ammunition terminal performance requirements needed to stop a violent aggressor remain constant--projectiles intended to defend lives in the event of a deadly assault should ideally should offer approximately 12 to 18 inches of penetration in tissue in order to ensure disruption of the major organs and blood vessels in the torso from any angle and through excessive adipose tissue, hypertrophied muscle, or intervening anatomic structures, such as a raised arm. Alpha Sierra is absolutely correct. Based on the wound profiles depicted above, either the 62 gr or 75 gr loads would be appropriate, with an edge to the 75 gr if decreased intermediate barrier penetration is a desired trait.

[Jim from Houston]

With regard to the original question of whether Hornady Match bullets are the same as the projectiles used in the TAP rounds, I think (not 100% sure) that, at least in the 75gr, the TAP projectile has a cannelure, while the regular "match" bullet does not...if I'm not mistaken, the cannelure can have an impact on performance, so you might want to check that out with Hornady...