A few years back I posted about this ammunition; you can read about it’s history here: https://tinkertalksguns.com/2016/10/29/new-generation-9mmp-sentry/ In a nutshell it’s an 75Gr. nickel-plated monolithic copper hollow-point with a plastic cap to help it feed. The plastic feed-cap brings the overall weight of the projectile to 80gr.

The test gun was my Sig Sauer P6 with a 3-3/4″ barrel. The chronograph showed an average muzzle velocity of 1361 fps. and 303 ft./lbs of energy. While police agencies that used this round reported success with it I had my doubts. Light-for-caliber high velocity rounds don’t have a wonderful reputation for effectiveness. Doubts + Gun + ballistic gel = test. I placed four layers of denim over the end of the ballistic gel and fired into it from 3 yards away.

The round penetrated 14″ into the block, leaving a permanent wound cavity approximately 1″ across for the first 6-1/2″ to 7″, leaving fragments of the plastic feed-cap in the wound. The bullet expanded in a very uniform fashion to an average of .490″.

I’m pretty surprised. I’m not much for ‘gimmick’ bullets but this one genuinely seems to deliver on its promises. It’s been out of production since the early 2000s, and that now seems a bit of a shame. Still, I can’t honestly say it outperforms other modern hollow-point ammunition. The only area this ammunition might shine is its ability to penetrate windshield glass (it will reportedly penetrate at up to a 60-degree angle) but that’s a pretty limited specialization.

I suppose the lesson is that the lack of commercial success is not necessarily an indicator that a product doesn’t work.

Michael Tinker Pearce, 15 December 2020

If you like what you read here, please consider clicking the link above and supporting me on Patreon.