In my pre-buy research on ammo, I found a few unexpected test results. I passed the info on to the manufacturers involved for comment. So far none have responded. The two biggies were in regard to muzzle flash. The Remington Ultimate Home Defense (which Remington swears is just a relabeled Golden Saber) was reported to have a huge flash that also set 4-layers of denim 9 feet away to smoldering. The Speer Gold Dot load was said to be vey nearly as bright in flash, but no smoldering. Comments?
Muzzle Flash from Ammo
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Dragon88
Member
What caliber?
Scorched denim 9 feet away? Total BS. Muzzle flash is a concern with self defense ammo, but to say that a load turns your gun into a flame thrower is ridiculous, whether you are talking about 9mm or 12ga.
Scorched denim 9 feet away? Total BS. Muzzle flash is a concern with self defense ammo, but to say that a load turns your gun into a flame thrower is ridiculous, whether you are talking about 9mm or 12ga.
Kelly Green
Member
Now I’ve heard everything. I hope the shooter wasn’t wearing a denim jacket.
I did not make this up and it wasn't from some kook on a website. This is my paraphrase of the crucial part of that article in my e-mail to Speer.
The Dec 2010/Jan 2011 issue of Handguns had a test report called
"Snubby Power"(using 5 short-barreled .38 Spcl revolvers).They reported
that the Speer Gold Dot +P 135 gr load's muzzle flash results "vied with the Remington load[Ultimate Home Defense] for the most fireworks." ...the UHD was the brightest and also left the 4-layers of denim placed on the gelatin block smoldering from 9 ffet away..
Look up the exact report for yourselves.
The Dec 2010/Jan 2011 issue of Handguns had a test report called
"Snubby Power"(using 5 short-barreled .38 Spcl revolvers).They reported
that the Speer Gold Dot +P 135 gr load's muzzle flash results "vied with the Remington load[Ultimate Home Defense] for the most fireworks." ...the UHD was the brightest and also left the 4-layers of denim placed on the gelatin block smoldering from 9 ffet away..
Look up the exact report for yourselves.
Dragon88
Member
I don't care if it's in some gun rag, it's BS. Flash, yes. Nine foot long fireball...no. I'm sure Speer read your e-mail with great interest. 
I quit buying gun rags because of the uneven quality of the articles, particularly the sloppy editing and proofreading.
Unlike those who rely on publications, I've actually shot the ammunition in question from a Model 442 using IDPA targets.
Guess what! No scorch marks from as close as 3 ft.
Nor from my IDPA handloads with Titegroup.
Now if the guns were actually shot at 9 INCHES, maybe?
(Sorry readers, just a small typo, not worth mentioning, really.......)
UHD Muzzle Flash
We tested the flash on the .40 S&W UHD round. It was not particularly bright compared to others we tested.
YouTube - Night Vision Muzzle Blast - Remington UHD 180 Gr. JHP .40 S&W
Andre'
We tested the flash on the .40 S&W UHD round. It was not particularly bright compared to others we tested.
YouTube - Night Vision Muzzle Blast - Remington UHD 180 Gr. JHP .40 S&W
Andre'
Steve C
Member
Muzzle flash is a fact of life with firearms in low light conditions. Most police and self defense loads have flash suppressant added that reduces the flash somewhat.
Muzzle flash isn't as bright as the flash from a camera and in my experience doesn't blind a person but can be distracting. Rifles have much more flash than handguns as they use more powder in their loads.
Flash hiders on military rifles are mostly to divert gasses and allow the shooter faster sight recovery as well as help reduce the flash which gives away the soldier position when fighting at night and could draw fire.
In general, muzzle flash shouldn't be a concern for the gun owner in choosing self defense ammo.
Muzzle flash isn't as bright as the flash from a camera and in my experience doesn't blind a person but can be distracting. Rifles have much more flash than handguns as they use more powder in their loads.
Flash hiders on military rifles are mostly to divert gasses and allow the shooter faster sight recovery as well as help reduce the flash which gives away the soldier position when fighting at night and could draw fire.
In general, muzzle flash shouldn't be a concern for the gun owner in choosing self defense ammo.
