10mm gel & armor test: Underwood 140 gr Extreme Penetrator

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Andrew Wiggin

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Link to video of test

10mm Underwood 140 gr Lehigh Defense Extreme Penetrator fired from 4.5" barrel EAA Witness into calibrated 10% gelatin and Level IIA body armor.

BB: 588.4 fps, 3.7"


Gel results:

Impact velocity: 1,507 fps
Penetration: 25.9"
Retained weight: 140.4 gr
Max expansion: N/A
Min expansion: N/A


On the body armor test, the bullet passed completely through the vest, approximately four inches of clay, and two six inch water jugs. While the clay and water are not representative of actual wounding, it seems clear that this bullet would have been potentially fatal after passing through the armor. As you can see in the photo, the vest is rated for 158 gr .357 mag.
 
Why would you want a pistol round with 26" of penetration? For home/self defense I mean. Most shots taken by average people are going to be taken in high collateral areas. Over penetration kills in those situations
 
Do you know of a single instance where an innocent person was harmed by a bullet fired in legitimate home defense that passed through a bad guy?


I agree that I would prefer an expanding bullet for home defense, but primarily to produce the biggest possible hole in the person trying to hurt my family.


One might argue that this sort of ammunition is designed for large animal defense but it doesn't seem to offer any benefit over a FMJ at the same weight and velocity. A 220 gr hard cast would probably be a far better choice in 10mm.
 
No, I don't have an example but I'm sure I could find one if I tried. I did fairly extensive research and testing deciding which round I wanted to carry. Just out of curiosity I set up a gel block, a small typical residential wall and another gel block. Most of the 40s I tested went through all three with no problem. So I do know for a fact that it is possible, and that means I'm going to do everything I can to prevent it from happening
 
Ya I could see it for bear or any other big animal that needed to be put down (injured animals hit or wonded). I'm sure they made it for some reason? What it is I dont know, but for reloading I will take as many different designs as they will make. As legal gun owners we should never need to anwser "Why". That can be a slippery slope and my opinion may be different that yours so I hate "Why". YMMV
 
well it was a very interesting test and I appreciate you sharing it with us. I own a Glock 20 and all I use for hunting is 200 gr. underwood XTP. For self defence I use PMC 170 gr. hollow points.
 
I agree with Smee78 100% on the "why" question.

Even though I can't think of a use for them yet, I ll pick some up anyway. Thanks Andrew Wiggin for showcasing them
 
The .380 version has 17" penetration. That puts them in a category where they are not such a seeming compromise in order to get a tiny low recoil gun.
 
Thanks for the video.

Glad to see that Underwood is doing loadings with Lehigh's bullets. I bought some from Lehigh in .380 and .357sig. Looks like UW has tweeked them a notch higher. :D
 
It would also do a number on vampires, given that the nose is shaped like a cross. Maybe sprinkle it with Holy Water and dust it with garlic powder for good measure. I can't think of any other good reason it would be cross-shaped . . . . unless, just maybe, there's some marketing going on.
 
@979 Texas--what to you hunt with the xtps and what kind of results have you had? I have lots of xtp's that I will reload but am unsure whether to go with 180 or 200 gr for best results.
 
If you live in an urban area where gangsters like to do drive by shootings from within vehicles--you'll know why the penetrator.
 
stagpanther, I've done several tests of 180 gr and 200 gr XTP at a few different velocities. They're posted on my channel, if you're interested.

Most handgun bullets will penetrate a car door. Some modern bullets will penetrate a car door and still perform better than FMJ in tissue, which is part of what we mean when we say that a bullet is "barrier blind." One of the very best barrier blind bullets is the .40 S&W 180 gr Gold Dot.
 
Do you know of a single instance where an innocent person was harmed by a bullet fired in legitimate home defense that passed through a bad guy?
Click to expand...

Not a "home defense" situation but I know of a police shooting incident in Arizona in the 1990's in which a solid center-mass hit with a poorly designed first generation 9mm 147gr JHP bullet hit and killed the person behind the intended target.

I've also personally seen an accidental shooting in a home in which a 9mm JHP bullet passed through the neck of one adult victim and hit a second adult victim.

BTW, the body armor test using clay as a backing is an invalid model. The clay makes it much easier for the bullet to penetrate the armor. It is a worst case situation for the armor and a best case situation for the bullet. You should place the armor panel directly against the face of a large block of ordnance gelatin (preferably the same size as the panel). Gelatin is flexible, like the human body, and it absorbs a great deal of the kinetic energy transmitted to the armor by the bullet, which increases the effectiveness of the armor.
 
Skans, they're on Underwood's website.

Derbel McDillet, clay is the standard backing material for body armor testing. The main reason it is used is that it is not elastic so it gives a good measurement of the back face deformation. If a vest stops a bullet but deforms too far, it can still cause significant injury.
 
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