9mm UNDERWOOD 124gr JHP +P+ Review

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RDub

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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, three rounds and 15 yards with the G3, five rounds. 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 Underwood 124gr +P+ — Postimages

Data Sheet

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Well. this brand did not care for the water treatment whatsoever. Bullets fragmented every which way. I wasn't able to capture 100% of the bullet weights.
Aside from that, the ammunition functioned well through both guns without any issues. Recoil was noticeable. Accuracy and consistency acceptable.
ammoseek.com shows pricing from $0.75 to $1.67 per round. Of the listings for the #113 Product No. some listings specify Nosler 124gr JHP, others do not.
 
With those fps figures, I agree that it is +P+ type ammo.

My 3" +P is at 1112 and a 3.5" is 1140 fps with a G Dot 124 box of ammo.
The 4" Glock is said to get the 124 GD up to 1204 fps.

Might that be a Sierra bullet?

Thank you for your time and pictures.
 
While I am certainly not a ballistics expert it was for a while sort of a side hobby to me. Whenever my EDC has changed (not too often) I always made it my business to seek out and personally test different loadings for it. I chronograph them and will sometimes shoot them into ballistics gel if available. In my earlier years I'd use wet newspapers, lumber and water drums, but prefer the late Paul Harrell type of "high tech police bullet stop". Consistency, accuracy, reliability and performance are all important - as well as availability of course. Price isn't a big concern as I do not normally shoot lots of carry ammo for extended range practice sessions. I use a load with similar ballistics for that at 1/3 the price. For me the Federal or American Eagle 124 grain FMJ is almost indistinguishable as far as velocity, recoil, POA/POI and functioning reliably is concerned at 1/3 the price. I also practice with reloads but today factory 9mm ammo is about the same price and so I like to save the reloading components for 38 special, 357 mag. and other calibers that are much more costly to buy.

IMHO, what bullet to use in an EDC pistol depends on a few factors. Barrel length, climate, normal dress for the location, how well a cartridge performs and functions in a specific firearm, and street track record of a said cartridge.

When I bought my Sig P365 almost 7 years ago I went through at least 8-9 different well known and respected SD rounds before I settled on the one I have been carrying for 6 years now. That is the Federal HST, standard velocity, 124 grain JHP. In testing it, it actually out performed the +P version of the same bullet a little bit. While expansion was just a tad less than the +P, penetration was actually better. They feed 100% reliably in my P365, are readily available, have water sealed primers and bullets and in my gun are quite accurate. They also do not have huge muzzle flash which is desirable for use at night or in the dark. The Federal 124 grain HST has a terrific track record and is used my many LE agency's as well. I like that it is also made by Federal which to me is about the best SD ammo out there today (IMO of course).
 
Nevada Ed said:
With those fps figures, I agree that it is +P+ type ammo.


Might that be a Sierra bullet?

Thank you for your time and pictures.
Click to expand...

Don't think so..
The ojive on the Underwood bullet is not as streamlined like a Sierra bullet. Don't have a theory about who made it.
 
Personally I really can't see buying the overpriced Underwood I still have a bit of the Win BT and quite a bit Federal. The Feds shoot ok out of my Sig 365. For the house gun I use a Benelli M1 Super 90 a 4 in 66 or the 5 inch 27-2. The Sig gets carried but not all the time...mainly when in...Billings. All said Thanls for the write up and testing
 
I still have a couple hundred rounds of Underwood 124gr +P but the bullet in those are the Gold Dot not the nosler bullet . The GD bullet works very well at higher velocity but they not longer sell to underwood or georgia arms and maybe not to others ! Short barrels like in the p365 th HST standard pressure 147gr works very well along with the discontinued 150gr hst . Ranger 147gr t-series could be concidered the best of the bunch . harder to get at times too at around 60 cent a round and in 50 round boxes .
 
Way back when, I managed to get my hands on some Federal 9BP +P+. Bullets shreded themselves. Cor-Bon 9+P had higher velocities and the bullet stayed together and managed good penetration.

Given the advances in bullet design & performance, I don't see any reason to bother with +P+ ammo anymore.
 
I have a case of 9mm +P+ (well...what's left of a case)...but don't shoot it in handguns. It gets used in my Colt 9mm Carbine...deadly accurate.
 
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