Test Gun: Colt Delta Elite.
Barrel length: 5 inches.
Ammunition: Hornady 10mm 175gr Critical Duty FTX.
Test media: 10% Clear Ballistics Gel.
Distance: 10 feet.
Chronograph: PACT 1 XP with inferred sky screens.
Five shot velocity average: 1131fps.
Gel Temperature 70 degrees.
It would seem like I’m on a 10mm kick as of late and today is no exception. Today’s offering is the Hornady 175gr Critical Duty. This round shot very nicely out of the Delta Elite. Recoil was not bad at all, but you could tell it wasn’t as watered down as some 10mm’s out there. The five shot group hit point of aim at 10 yards and there were no signs of overpressure, the cases and primers looked fine. The five shot average velocity of 1131fps was 29fps lower than the advertised of 1160fps.
Round one in the bare gel had a velocity of 1133fps and penetrated to 15 inches with a recovered expansion of .60 inches. Round two hit at 1141fps and penetrated to 17 inches with a recovered expansion of .58 inches.
In the gel covered in heavy clothing, the first round entered the block at 1150fps with a penetration of 17.5 inches and expansion of .57 inches. Number two went 17.25 inches, expanded to .55 inches, and had a velocity of 1169fps. Both of the rounds were recovered base forward.