TTAG’s invitation to NOVX Ammunition’s Land of Lincoln press junket somehow got lost in the mail. In the video below, the company claims their new +P ARX 9mm ammo is the fastest, most lethal 9mm round on Earth! They claim their 65 grain round’s polycarbonate copper matrix fluted Engagement: Extreme Self-Defense bullet motors along at . . . .

1635 feet-per-second, delivering 386 ft. lbs. of energy. Less weight, reduced recoil and “.45 ACP Power in a 9mm Package.” What’s not to love? Well . .

None of the junketeers — americanhandgunner.com, gunsandammo.com, gunsamerica.com — shot the round through a chrono or performed penetration tests. So the company’s claims are all we have to go on.

Lest we forget, the last next big thing in killer ammo was the equally-hyped  RIP G2 round — to which ShootingTheBull410 gave a huge thumbs down (the trocars had less penetration than a .22).

I’m not saying the NOVX’s Engagement: Extreme Self-Defense round isn’t all that and a bag of chips. I’m saying it would take more than an all-expenses-paid, chrono and gel test-free junket to Illinois for me to come to that conclusion. Although it would make a nice start . . .

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69 COMMENTS

  1. Sounds pretty similar to liberty ammunition’s 50 gr. 9mm with a claimed 2000fps velocity

      • Yes its true I carry Novx and liberty civil defense. Light rds that pack as much power as a 45 and low recoil. Liberty even goes right through 3a bullet proof vests. My secondary rounds are federal hst and hornady critical defense. Both liberty and Novx make your gun lighter but more lethal.

    • Liberty is the lethal incarnation it claims to be. had a ND and shot my left hand at point blank range. It looked like a grenade went off in my hand. hit just at the palm and the joint of my index finger. Blew my index finger off and exploded my middle finger joint . Dumped ALL of it’s energy in my hand. cops looked for an hour for bullet hole but found nothing but fragments and blood in the ceiling. The back of my hand looked like a tomato hit by a .22. have no doubts about fps claim and that huge hollow point did it’s job. have full mags of it in my 9mm handguns and my ar has 40 ready to go as well as my 308CETME which they claim 3500 fps for. I’am a believer the hard way!!!!

      • Hmmmm. . . sounds like you ought not to have anything more lethal than a Nerf Gun, not only for your own protection, but for others around you for a 5 mile radius. That’s for the report on the effectiveness, and I appreciate you field testing it.

        • Good thing he wasn’t checking the barrel for unfired ammo by looking into the business end.

        • To be sure, double check by shooting your other hand with same ammo dMe gun. Then report back here.

    • I like this +P round. I was impressed after using it in my sig p365. The hype I believe is fairly accurate but would still like to see the actual science and math on it

    • Underwood Ammo xtreme defender 68 grains +p =1800 fps 489 ft lbs

      Underwood Ammo xtreme defender 68 grains =1700 fps 436 ft lbs

  2. Looking forward to testing by shootingthebull410.

    Until then, I’ll stick to what’s proven.

    • It’s the Ruger ARX, made by Polycase and STB410 already gave it two thumbs up when it was still marketed under the Polycase name…
      I’m just wondering if this means Ruger is pulling their licensing of it or is this just an attempt to spread their market share?

      • The Ruger ARX rounds only claim around 1400fps at the same bullet weight in a +P pressure cartridge. If I remember correctly their claimed velocity is pretty close to reality. So either they’re lying about the velocity or they’re +P+.

      • Oh, and is that a 2-piece case? It looked like a belted magnum for a second. I saw pictures of the prototype polycase round with a polymer case and a brass case head, but why the shit would you do that with an all metal case?

        • Looks like a shellshock case, which has a nickel steel body and aluminum head. They’re reloadable with special dies and claim 65k psi.

        • Huh…. I wonder if long term storage would be an issue with those cases. Galvanic corrosion between the steel and aluminum could happen if you lived in a damp, marine environment.

    • It has been over a year since his last test. He said something about a health problem almost 2 years ago. I just gel test bullets I am interested in myself. It is a pleasant pass-time. Not interested in anything from a company that makes such ridiculous claims though.

  3. You guys get a couple hundred rounds of that stuff we’ll take our AR-15 9mm carbines out hog hunting and we’ll see what it does. The only real test is a pig test. Believe it or not they’re very close to human tissue. That would tell you if it’s going to penetrate deep enough being that lightweight to be effective.

  5. My invite got lost too. And I live in Bloomington, IL. I’m guessing there were some advertising dollars spent to get those “reviews”. Remember the classic…


    CQB MK-V Tactical Destroyer review

    Instruction From The Editor To The Journalist
    Frangible Arms just bought a four page color ad in our next issue. They sent us their latest offering, the CQB MK-V Tactical Destroyer. I told Fred to take it out to the range to test. He’ll have the data for you tomorrow.

    Feedback From Technician Fred
    The pistol is a crude copy of the World War II Japanese Nambu type 14 pistol, except it’s made from unfinished zinc castings. The grips are pressed cardboard. The barrel is unrifled pipe. There are file marks all over the gun, inside and out.

    Only 10 rounds of 8mm ammunition were supplied. Based on previous experience with a genuine Nambu, I set up a target two feet down range. I managed to cram four rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber. I taped the magazine in place, bolted the pistol into a machine rest, got behind a barricade, and pulled the trigger with 20 feet of 550 cord. I was unable to measure the trigger pull because my fish scale tops out at 32 pounds. On the third try, the pistol fired. From outline of the holes, I think the barrel, frame, magazine, trigger and recoil spring blew through the target. The remaining parts scattered over the landscape.

    I sent the machine rest back to the factory to see if they can fix it, and we need to replace the shooting bench for the nice people who own the range. I’ll be off for the rest of the day. My ears are still ringing. I need a drink.

    Article Produced By The Journalist
    The CQB MK-V Tactical Destroyer is arguably the deadliest pistol in the world. Based on a combat proven military design, but constructed almost entirely of space age alloy, it features a remarkable barrel design engineered to produce a cone of fire, a feature much valued by Special Forces world wide. The Destroyer shows clear evidence of extensive hand fitting. The weapon disassembles rapidly without tools. At a reasonable combat distance, I put five holes in the target faster than I would have thought possible. This is the pistol to have if you want to end a gunfight at all costs. The gun is a keeper, and I find myself unable to send it back.

    I too shall await ShootingtheBull’s eval.

    John

    • That’s some funny there. G&A?

      Illinois – If forced to do so it is OK to travel across downstate, do not leave any $ in the state.

    • “The weapon disassembles rapidly without tools.”

      Sure f*ng sounds like it!

      The rocketeer term is “rapid unscheduled disassembly.”

  6. Although the 124 gr. temporary cavity was not as large, it was substantially deeper. And where are the bullets? Oh that’s right–frangibles, no bullet to recover. Or something. And it is not the temporary cavity that matters, it is the permanent one. This vid shows nothing–only a gel test will do.

    Meanwhile, I think I’ll stick with a proven design.

    • nothing happens to a frangible bullet in soft tissue or clay. It doesn’t deform or break unless you’re pushing it rifle velocities.

    • More like one M855a1 going really slow and made out of something softer than lead or copper and steel.

  8. The ARX bullet from what Ive seen just keeps going and going and going.
    Since it doesn’t expand just uses its flutes to move tissue hydraulically.
    Id imagine in gel tests it might just over penetrate a bit.
    This round maybe not with no weight behind it though in this iteration??
    Ill stick with what I know works. HSTs for me in all my carry calibers.

    • In gel those flutes cause the bullet to dump lots of energy very quickly, then it yaws and continues base forward until it stops, 16″ deep I think.

    • Remember Einstein’s equation: E=m (mass) times C (constant) squared. Of course he used the speed of light. We use the bullet muzzle velocity. The muzzle velocity (1700+ feet per second) of this 65 grain bullet makes up for the low weight. Plus this bullet drills in spinning at more than 170,000rpm. Gel tests show a huge initial wound path. Let’s just say it’s an adequate round that is noticeably light for those 13 plus magazines. Out of my Ruger PC we’re talking 2000fps. The NOVX/Ruger ARX round is worth looking at. JMHO

  9. Underwood 9mm +p 65 grain xtreme defense does 1800 fps with about 100 ft/lbs more energy and it’s made out of solid copper.

  10. The best cartridge is the one whose bullet expands the widest while penetrating to the preferred depth of 12″ to 18″ in ballistic gel. So far, very light, very fast bullets have come up short on penetration. Ballistic gel isn’t equivalent to human flesh. However, it is a good way to compare different cartridges. A cartridge that performs better in gel is more likely to perform better in a self defense shooting.

    • Expansion only matters if it creates the desired effect and gets the results we want. Bad guy stoppage. Typically we’re looking for as much tissue destruction as we can get. I’d recommend you take a look at the Underwood Ammo loaded with Lehigh Defense’s xtreme penetrator and xtreme defense bullets. They create more tissue damage with flutes and a harder bullet using solid copper which they’ve basically programmed to get the desired penetration. And they are going fast enough in some cases to defeat pistol rated kevlar without being armor piercing according to the law.

  12. lighter bullets in 9mm dont work too good

    ask the fbi

    they had a big problem circa 1986

    we now have the .40 smith and wesson as a result…because so called geniuses in the 80s thought they could duplicate rifle type wounds with handguns in human flesh if they could just lighten up the bullet and make it go fast enough

    the fbi didnt need the .40 smith and wesson

    it needed the 147 grain jacketed hollowpoint

    if they had that the gunfight would have been over in seconds vs minutes and agents dove and grogan would be alive today

    after all the fancy 9mm and .357 and 12 gauge 00 buck that the fbi threw at those guys…the bullet that ended the gunfight: the venerable .38 special +p 158 grain lead semi wadcutter hollow point fired from a wheel gun…go figure…

    history doesnt always repeat but it does often rhyme

    lets end that cycle can we

  14. Wasn’t the plain jane 9mm good enough?? I mean, I saw a 400 pound hog die to a regular old vanilla 9mm pistol shot to the forehead…..why do we need snake oil coated bullets????

  15. Pretty dumb claim when it comes to self defense trials. I’d imagine the prosecuting or civil attorney would have a field day with that description. I want a bullet with stopping power, not killing power.

  17. I have tested the Ruger ARX rounds in .380 ACP, 9mm & 38 Special; all have been amazing performers. Most surprising is the vastly increased performance of the .380 from an LCP Custom: it will penetrate automotive sheet metal without fragmenting & blow a water jug to pieces like a 9mm JHP; in fact better than some 9mm JHPs I have tested. The 9mm approaches .357 Mag destruction, but not quite. The 38 Spl is better than 38+P. In my tests, the ARX bullet has been stellar. My opinion.

  18. Just unloaded carry gun and the 9mm shell in the camber had broken off flush with the case…. not good. Will not use anymore. Anyone else have an issue like this?

    • Yo iz be messing with 9mm,it’s junk,,,so I made myself an all new 13mm! I use 200 grain bonded bullets that go a sizzling,,,hustlin fosho 2,500fps with no recoil to keep that pimp hand strong! Sends me a grip for $1000 and I will hook you up homie 🤷‍♂️😂.

      • Fo sho homie machine me this so called soul and heart reaper…. If it performs like you talk it up my nigga im all in . I defiantly got you covered on chips. 1000$? Huh i want 10 of em to get my peeps familiar with this so called limb deleter. Whoo! What’s that smell Oh it must be the freaking Jet skiing out of your mouth about all this stupid ass Shut you’re talking about $1,000 You ain’t never even touched or even fired a gun Fo sho my niggaa

  20. Well look on YouTube the liberty civil defense rounds do Chrono over 2000 FPS in a 9mm +p and at 10ft easily blew straight through a 3a bullet proof plate this info was passed to the FBI during testing in 2013 I beleive it said in the video and the clay back stop they used had a pretty massive hole in it around 3inches round and several inches deep after penetrating the plate I carry these in my carry gun all the time I just recently bought a couple box’s of NovX but have not had a chance to give them a shot yet but they definitely do t have the fastest bullet on the market again that liberty civil I have seen Chrono at 2000 plus FPS.

  22. I feel like most of you have never heard of the 357sig or something :/ favorite round & WAY BETTER THE ANY 9mm 40 or 45 the only thing is price but the way prices are as of 2021 9mm cost just as much if not more so do some research next time. And on top of that CHEAP 357 sig ammo start shooting at 1250-1300fps and let me reiterate that that is CHEAP AMMO

  24. I couldn’t get this junk to cycle through my Glock 19x! First ammo I couldn’t get to cycle through a Glock! Got to trust your ammo you use to protect family and you!

  25. My gun is packed with PowerMax 9mm Speer Gold Dot 115 grain HP that push 1400 fps and 500 lb/ft. Thay are my EDC and not +P.

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