{"id":7483,"date":"2013-08-30T14:58:01","date_gmt":"2013-08-30T14:58:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ramworks.net\/blog\/?p=7483"},"modified":"2015-10-25T19:50:43","modified_gmt":"2015-10-25T19:50:43","slug":"better-than-average","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/better-than-average\/","title":{"rendered":"Better Than Average"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"45<\/a>After years of conducting terminal performance testing I thought I would have by now come up with a secret formula to decipher the effectiveness of defensive handgun ammunition. After all, most all of the other big time gun writers have come up with such a formula. Maybe they were all smarter than me.<\/p>\n

One of the things I have learned is that from a practical standpoint there is not a lot of difference. This may come as a surprise but if you look at it logically, there is not a lot of difference in defensive handgun ammunition before it is fired. A 9mm shoots the same size bullet as a .357 and a .40 S&W bullet is only 0.045 of an inch larger in diameter than a 9mm bullet. That\u2019s about the equivalent to the thickness of a Dorito chip! So, is it logical to assume that the difference in terminal performance is about that of a Dorito too?<\/p>\n

Maybe so. The magic formula I come up with is not magic at all. In fact, it is as simple as I think you can make it. If you were selecting ammunition for your defensive handgun I\u2019m sure you would want ammo that delivered better than average performance. Well, after testing hundred of defensive handgun loads in 10% ordnance gelatin I\u2019ve found that average is any load which penetrates to a depth of about 13.72 inches and expands to 0.58 of an inch or more. Interestingly, you can find at least one of these loads for almost any reasonable defensive handgun cartridge.<\/p>\n

\"FINAL<\/a>In my book, Handgun Training for Personal Protection<\/strong>, this Better Than Average (BTA) concept is detailed and bunch of BTA loads are listed for a bunch of cartridges. Now, you may not agree with my approach to selecting defensive handgun ammo but I believe, better than average is about as narrow of a distinction as you can make when it comes to the terminal performance of defensive handgun cartridges.<\/p>\n

Here are ten of the BTA loads I have identified. For more you\u2019ll have to buy a copy of my 4.5 star book<\/strong><\/em><\/a> which is only $ 14.07 at Amazon and currently ranked number 21 in shooting books. The Kindle version, which is ranked number 6 in shooting books, is only $ 10.99.<\/p>\n

LOAD\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 IV\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 PEN\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 RD\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 RW\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

.327 Federal Magnum<\/p>\n

Speer 115 gr. Gold Dot HP\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1438\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 16.50\u00a0\u00a0 0.65\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 113<\/p>\n

.380 AUTO<\/strong><\/p>\n

Remington 102 gr. Golden Saber\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 883\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 13.75\u00a0\u00a0 0.59\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 102<\/p>\n

9mm Luger<\/strong><\/p>\n

Remington 124 gr. Golden Saber +P\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1068\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 15.00\u00a0\u00a0 0.64\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 124<\/p>\n

ASYM 115 gr. Barnes TAC XP + P\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1273\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 15.00\u00a0\u00a0 0.59\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 115<\/p>\n

.38 Special<\/strong><\/p>\n

Speer 135 gr. GD Short Barrel \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 865\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 14.50\u00a0\u00a0 0.58\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 134<\/p>\n

.357 Magnum<\/strong><\/p>\n

Buffalo Bore 125 gr. Tactical\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1416\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 23.00\u00a0\u00a0 0.59\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 125<\/p>\n

.40 Smith & Wesson<\/strong><\/p>\n

Remington 180 gr. JHP\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 957\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 16.75\u00a0\u00a0 0.61\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 180<\/p>\n

Federal 165 gr. Hydra-Shok\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 965\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 15.50\u00a0\u00a0 0.58\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 165<\/p>\n

.45 ACP<\/strong><\/p>\n

DoubleTap 160 gr. TAC XP MANN Load\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1114\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 16.50\u00a0\u00a0 0.63\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 160<\/p>\n

Speer 185 gr. Gold Dot HP\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1080\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 14.00\u00a0\u00a0 0.72\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 185<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

IV = Impact Velocity, PEN = Penetration, RD = Recovered Diameter, RW = Recovered Weight<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After years of conducting terminal performance testing I thought I would have by now come up with a secret formula to decipher the effectiveness of defensive handgun ammunition. After all, most all of the other big time gun writers have come up with such a formula. Maybe they were all smarter than me. One of the things I have learned is that …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2509],"tags":[242,104,51,243],"class_list":["post-7483","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-defense","tag-carry-ammo","tag-defensive-handgun-ammo","tag-handgun-training-for-personal-protection","tag-terminal-performance-testing"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5hujZ-1WH","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":13413,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/hornady-45-auto-critical-duty-ammo-better-than-average\/","url_meta":{"origin":7483,"position":0},"title":"Hornady .45 AUTO Critical Duty Ammo – Better Than Average","author":"gunwriter","date":"May 26, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Folks get all wrapped up in the process of selecting ammo for their defensive handgun. Too many think very small incremental advantages will have a measurable\u00a0impact on how well or fast a load will stop a bad guy.\u00a0The truth is minute differences are just that and about the most practical\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "DEFENSE"","block_context":{"text":"DEFENSE","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/defense\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"HD-10","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/HD-10.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/HD-10.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/HD-10.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/HD-10.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8371,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/remingtons-r-51-pork-ribs-and-compact-handgun-ammo\/","url_meta":{"origin":7483,"position":1},"title":"Remington’s R 51, Pork Ribs and Compact Handgun Ammo","author":"gunwriter","date":"February 4, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"I'll apologize up front for the video quality; the Gunwriter Assistant was not available for filming. This meant a camera man was not the only issue; I had to clean the mess up as well. (I thought for a moment about shooting his basketball.) Remington recently announced a new line\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"ballistic gelatin\"","block_context":{"text":"ballistic gelatin","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/tag\/ballistic-gelatin\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"UDCH-2","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/UDCH-2-300x252.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7350,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/nosler-handgun-ammo\/","url_meta":{"origin":7483,"position":2},"title":"Nosler Handgun Ammo","author":"gunwriter","date":"July 24, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"As of now my son and I have fired in excess of 500 rounds of Nosler's Match Grade handgun ammo through his Wilson Combat 1911 in 9mm. The load we have been using is the 124 gr. JHP load and it is very accurate and just as reliable. Even though\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "DEFENSE"","block_context":{"text":"DEFENSE","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/defense\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":15401,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/does-hole-size-matter\/","url_meta":{"origin":7483,"position":3},"title":"Does Hole Size Matter?","author":"gunwriter","date":"December 23, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"When it comes to defensive-handgun cartridges and ammo, I have preferences and biases. But, I also acknowledge when it comes to stopping a bad guy with a handgun there are no absolutes. You cannot predict with any certainty how fast incapacitation will occur. Sure, central nervous system and spinal hits\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "DEFENSE"","block_context":{"text":"DEFENSE","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/defense\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Hole-1.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Hole-1.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Hole-1.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Hole-1.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8960,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/remingtons-black-belt-bullet-guns-ammo-teaser\/","url_meta":{"origin":7483,"position":4},"title":"Remington’s Black Belt Bullet (Guns & Ammo Teaser)","author":"gunwriter","date":"May 13, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"A few months back, back when winter would not leave us, I spent several days testing a new handgun bullet from Remington. The bullet or ammunition is called Black Belt and it is an appropriate name since the bullet has a Black Belt around it. My tests exposed the bullet\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Black Belt Bullet\"","block_context":{"text":"Black Belt Bullet","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/tag\/black-belt-bullet\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Black Belt-1","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Black-Belt-1-232x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":8347,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/2000-fps-9mm\/","url_meta":{"origin":7483,"position":5},"title":"2000 fps 9mm","author":"gunwriter","date":"February 1, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 \u00a0 A few weeks ago I received a supply of ammunition from\u00a0Liberty Ammunition. It was a collection of their Civil Defense loads. Today Bat and I run them trough 10% ordnance gelatin before we shot basketball. (Hey, its 60 freaking degrees here today. Heat wave!) The performance of these\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"9mm +P\"","block_context":{"text":"9mm +P","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/tag\/9mm-p\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Civil Defense 9mm-3","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Civil-Defense-9mm-3-1024x451.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Civil-Defense-9mm-3-1024x451.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Civil-Defense-9mm-3-1024x451.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Civil-Defense-9mm-3-1024x451.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7483","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7483"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7483\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12541,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7483\/revisions\/12541"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7483"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7483"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7483"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}