9mm ATOMIC 124gr JHP +P Review

RDub · Dec 2, 2024

Hello
Most of the 9mm reviews that I did were shot with two guns.
A SIG 365 SAS, with a 3.1 inch barrel and a Taurus G3 with a 4 inch barrel.
First I do forensic exam of the ammunition. Next I shoot a group while chronographing with each gun. 10 yards with the SIG and 15 yards with the G3. Chronograph is a Oehler 35P
Then the ammunition is shot out of each gun into a 55 gallon plastic barrel of water. The bullets are then recovered, photographed and then measured for expansion. In cases where the bullet fragments and loses its jacket, a weight is taken with all the recovered material and also a weight taken with just the lead core.
Here is the link to all the photos of the review;

9mm Atomic 124gr JHP — Postimages

Data sheet;

Velocity is consistent with +P ammunition I've tested. Although impressive, the bullets didn't do well in water as they fragmented badly. Accuracy is pretty good with this ammunition. I do get flyers with the G3 once in a while.

STORMINORMAN · Dec 4, 2024

That bullet sure looks like the 124gr Berry's HHP...? Which are reported to have a significantly lower velocity range for optimal expansion properties...

Cheers!

RDub · Dec 4, 2024

STORMINORMAN said:
That bullet sure looks like the 124gr Berry's HHP...? Which are reported to have a significantly lower velocity range for optimal expansion properties...

Cheers!

I'm not very familiar with Berry's products, but that would make sense..

LVSteve · Dec 4, 2024

Only time I've seen 9mm 124 gr +P chrono at 1300 fps it was being launched from a 5" M&P.

Forrest r · Dec 6, 2024

This ammo is designed to expand even if the hp gets clogged with cloth/etc.
The bullets hp has 6 pedals that are segmented. A deep hp and a bonded core.

The pedals/segments are designed to open at low speeds or with less pressure than a non-pedaled hp. Hense, if filled with anything like cloth it needs less hydraulic pressure to expand.
Deep hp's are designed for slower velocity bullet or a bullet that might have the hp get clogged.
The bonding of the core is done to strengthen the hp pedals holding them open longer/deeper causing greater penetration and damage.

RDub · Dec 6, 2024

Forrest r said:
This ammo is designed to expand even if the hp gets clogged with cloth/etc.
The bullets hp has 6 pedals that are segmented. A deep hp and a bonded core.

The pedals/segments are designed to open at low speeds or with less pressure than a non-pedaled hp. Hense, if filled with anything like cloth it needs less hydraulic pressure to expand.
Deep hp's are designed for slower velocity bullet or a bullet that might have the hp get clogged.
The bonding of the core is done to strengthen the hp pedals holding them open longer/deeper causing greater penetration and damage.

Hello
If the bullet Atomic is loading is truly a bonded bullet it would look more like this;

This is from a Winchester Defender 124gr JHP test. I'll publish this in a few days. The Winchester load had an average velocity only 20 fps slower than the Atomic. The Winchester bullet, also a six pedal design, was recovered intact with no appreciable loss of weight.
Given the criterion described here, in order for this bullet Atomic is using to expand per design, a threat would have to have a lot of clothing on. If the threat was bare chested or just having a tank top on, it would still make a mess in my mind.

Forrest r · Dec 6, 2024

Actually no.
Look at your pictures, the jacket is still holding to the lead core.

The other ammo you tested (colt) wasn't bonded. Hense the loose jacket fragments without a lead core bonding to them.

I swage my own jacketed bullets and have seen the same scenarios multiple time. Testing starts with unbonded cores because it's the easiest to do. After that if the results aren't what is wanted. Testing with harder cores, different shaped/depths hp's, pleating of the jackets & bonded cores come into play.

pasound · Dec 6, 2024

The military "special purpose" 9mm is the M1153, 147gr JHP. The six segmented hollow point looks like the Winchester, less like the Atomic. I grabbed a case two years ago when it appeared on online sales. Shoots well in my 365XL. The 1152 115gr FMJ actually feels like more recoil.

9mm ATOMIC 124gr JHP +P Review

RDub

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RDub

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Forrest r

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