Barns Ammo any body use?

[Srruger762]

What's your opinion on Barnes 9mm 115g TAC-XP for a full size 5" SW MP Core.

[.41 cal]

Ran several factory defense loads across my Oehler 35P last year and the Barnes 115g TAC XPD +P was disappointing. The box stated 1125 FPS, they clocked 1071 FPS out of my Glock 34 and would not cycle the action. Got 969 FPS from my Glock 43.

Hornady Critical Duty 135g flexlock JHP clocked an impressive 1043 FPS out of my 2.5" Ruger SP101 and the Glock 43. 1096 FPS out of the Glock 34. Advertised MV was 1015 FPS

Hornady Critical Defense 115g FTX JHP had a advertised MV of 1140 FPS and did 1133 FPS out of the Glock 43, 1241 FPS out of the Glock 34.

May have been a one off batch for the Barnes ammo but I have been unwilling to spend another $20 to test again.
The Hornady performance was as advertised even out of the short barrel of the Ruger and the Glock 43.

.41 cal

[swsig]

I tried the Barnes 115 TAC-XPD +Ps, and like .41 cal, above, I wasn't impressed. I compared their accuracy to Speer Gold Dot 124 +P rounds using my Shield 9. The target was a 4"x4" square set at 15 yards.

Using my Shield, I was able to hit the square 18 times in 34 shots with the Gold Dots, for a hit rate of 54%. With the Barnes TAC-XPDs I was able to hit only 5 out of 20 shots, for a hit rate of 25%.

Then, I repeated the comparison with my SIG P320 Compact with its longer 3.9" barrel. Using my P320, I was able to hit the square 11 times in 15 shots with the Gold Dots, for a hit rate of 73%. I hit only 6 times in 15 shots with the TAC-XPDs, for a hit rate of 40%.

Although my testing was just a small-sample experiment, the accuracy results were so heavily in favor of the Gold Dots that I've chosen them as my carry ammo, and I have abandoned any thought of using the TAC-XPDs.

Nevertheless, I suggest you do your own comparison tests and find the SD ammo that YOU shoot best. It's possible that your 5" FS M&P CORE will shoot the TAC-XPDs better than my shorter-barreled pistols.

Good luck and good shooting!

[Captain]

If you like the performance of that bullet, buy it from Black Hills. Better QC and costs less.

[Nevada Ed]

Saw a show on tv, (guns & ammo ?) and a woman from the company was interviewed.
She stated that they were making "Range ammo" that people could afford.
Maybe the SD type TAC-XP ammo might be a little light in the powder, to save on cost?
The Gold Dot std. 115gr out of a 3" 9mm pistol is not a barn burner either..............

Just another reason to test your ammo.

[Rock185]

I realize that with the newer high tech. bullets, velocity is not the necessity it used to be to achieve expansion. But that velocity seems really low, especially for +P in a G34 with 5.3" barrel. Failure to cycle the action would not instill confidence in use of that load for Duty or SD......ymmv

I've chronographed a bunch of standard pressure, +P and +P+ 9MM in pistols and revolvers with different barrel lenghts. I've only found one factory practice type load that displayed such low velocities.

[Srruger762]

Thanks for all the feedback
This weekend going to test some Hornady Critical Duty Pistol Ammunition 9mm +P, FlexLock, 135 GR, 1110 fps and some 9mm +P 135 Grain HP Federal LE Tactical Bonded
I was carrying a Sig P938 really like it but anything farther than 10 yards I get upset because the accuracy isn't there. So the wife let me get a full size 5" SW core 9mm for my carry now, I'm looking for a good defense ammo for it
Again thanks for the feedback

[Disabled1]

I watched a video on a shooter testing some BARNS ammo in ballistic gel. He, nor I, was too impressed. As a matter of fact, he had shot (3) rounds that did NOT not expand! If I am paying BOOKOO $$$ for good defense ammo, it had better expand like it was meant to.