[cowboy1964]

I picked up some Ranger 127+P+ to try. The performance of this through auto glass (from Winchester's data) is 58% weight retention, 9" penetration. In fact most of the non-bonded versions do not do too well. Aren't bonded bullets a smarter choice these days? Do non-bonded bullets offer any advantage in non-barrier shootings? From all the data I've seen bonded ones tend to give just a little more penetration in almost all tests, and superior weight retention (sometimes drastically superior) in barrier tests.

What would you say the break down in % is of agencies using bonded vs non-bonded?

[Mas Ayoob]

Cowboy, there's no data repository that keeps track of all ammo issued by all LE agencies, but the dominance of Gold Dot alone shows that the bonded bullet is extremely popular in that sector.

The bonded projectile's primary advantage seems to be in barrier penetration, which is quite frequently needed in law enforcement situations and rather rarely needed in typical armed citizen scenarios. Different "patterns of engagement" and all.

best,
Mas

[cowboy1964]

I shot some Ranger +P+ side by side with Gold Dot 124+P from a Glock 19 first and then a Sig P229. Little, if any, difference in recoil in either pistol. Has that been your experience with those rounds as well?

[Mas Ayoob]

I for one can't tell the difference from the shooter's end.