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Hello. I recently got some of Corbon's DPX ammunition for testing in .45 ACP. This newest addition to Corbon's high performance ammunition uses a copper alloy Barne's hollow point bullet. Being homogeneous, it does not have problems with bullet/jacket separation and is designed to penetrate no less than 12" nor more than 16" in denim-covered 10% ballistic gelatin.
The .45 ACP is a +P load unlike their 110-gr. .38 Special round, and it is reported to expand when fired from the shorter barrel forty-five's. Listed velocity is 1075 ft/sec.
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The 185-gr. DPX ("Deep Penetrating X bullet") measures 1.23" LOA. Thehollow point measures 0.225" wide.
Two guns were used to evaluate this load. The shortest barreled .45 I own is 4 1/4". I opted to use the SIG-Sauer P220 rather than my Commander for testing as more than a few folks use these for "serious purposes". I did use the 5" Kimber Classic Custom as well to include the 1911 platform.
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These two pistols were used as test guns for the Corbon DPX ammunition.
The SIG-Sauer was used in informal expansion testing in which bullets were fired into water. I can neither afford ballistic gelatin nor have the capabilities of keeping it at a constant temperature for testing. I've seen a few tests of this ammunition in gelatin and in each case, expanded bullets have exceeded 12" penetration after passing through 4 layers of denim.
With its slightly shorter barrel, the P220 was the best "worst case" velocity scenario I could provide as I do not own any compact forty-five's.
![]()
Fired from the P220 into water, the expanded bullet on the left measured
0.81 x 0.83 x 0.55" tall. The bullet weighed 184.3 grains. All of the bullets expanded to very nearly the same dimensions and weight loss was practically non-existant.
I chronographed the ammunition from both pistols. Figures below are based on 10 shots fired approx. 10' from the chronograph screens.
SIG-Sauer P220:
Average Velocity: 1062 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 41
Std. Deviation: 15
Kimber Classic:
Average Velocity: 1100 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 39
Std. Deviation: 15
Corbon 185-gr. DPX +P proved very consistant in both pistols.
So, how does it shoot? Very well indeed!
The group below was fired using the P220 at 25 yards. This was done with wrists braced, two-hand hold, and in slow-fire.
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At 25 yards, the POI is a bit low and left for this P220 which has its sights regulated for 230-gr. standard velocity ammunition.
Probably a majority of .45 ACP shooters are doing it with the 1911 pattern pistol. Many use 230-gr. standard velocity ammo for range work and practice. For that reason, I fired a group using 230-gr. ball and one with the lighter and faster 185-gr. DPX from the Kimber at 15 yards.
![]()
Using the center of the bullseye for the POA, you can see the differences in POI for the Winchester USA 230-gr. ball vs. the DPX. The holes from the DPX are not marked.
There were zero malfunctions in either pistol using DPX.
For folks who might be interested in more, there is a detailed report at the following link:
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Corbon%20.45%20ACP.htm
Best.
The .45 ACP is a +P load unlike their 110-gr. .38 Special round, and it is reported to expand when fired from the shorter barrel forty-five's. Listed velocity is 1075 ft/sec.
The 185-gr. DPX ("Deep Penetrating X bullet") measures 1.23" LOA. Thehollow point measures 0.225" wide.
Two guns were used to evaluate this load. The shortest barreled .45 I own is 4 1/4". I opted to use the SIG-Sauer P220 rather than my Commander for testing as more than a few folks use these for "serious purposes". I did use the 5" Kimber Classic Custom as well to include the 1911 platform.
These two pistols were used as test guns for the Corbon DPX ammunition.
The SIG-Sauer was used in informal expansion testing in which bullets were fired into water. I can neither afford ballistic gelatin nor have the capabilities of keeping it at a constant temperature for testing. I've seen a few tests of this ammunition in gelatin and in each case, expanded bullets have exceeded 12" penetration after passing through 4 layers of denim.
With its slightly shorter barrel, the P220 was the best "worst case" velocity scenario I could provide as I do not own any compact forty-five's.
Fired from the P220 into water, the expanded bullet on the left measured
0.81 x 0.83 x 0.55" tall. The bullet weighed 184.3 grains. All of the bullets expanded to very nearly the same dimensions and weight loss was practically non-existant.
I chronographed the ammunition from both pistols. Figures below are based on 10 shots fired approx. 10' from the chronograph screens.
SIG-Sauer P220:
Average Velocity: 1062 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 41
Std. Deviation: 15
Kimber Classic:
Average Velocity: 1100 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 39
Std. Deviation: 15
Corbon 185-gr. DPX +P proved very consistant in both pistols.
So, how does it shoot? Very well indeed!
The group below was fired using the P220 at 25 yards. This was done with wrists braced, two-hand hold, and in slow-fire.
At 25 yards, the POI is a bit low and left for this P220 which has its sights regulated for 230-gr. standard velocity ammunition.
Probably a majority of .45 ACP shooters are doing it with the 1911 pattern pistol. Many use 230-gr. standard velocity ammo for range work and practice. For that reason, I fired a group using 230-gr. ball and one with the lighter and faster 185-gr. DPX from the Kimber at 15 yards.
Using the center of the bullseye for the POA, you can see the differences in POI for the Winchester USA 230-gr. ball vs. the DPX. The holes from the DPX are not marked.
There were zero malfunctions in either pistol using DPX.
For folks who might be interested in more, there is a detailed report at the following link:
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Corbon%20.45%20ACP.htm
Best.
