Wet newspaper tests with pictures

[7br]

Got to the range today to do some testing with water soaked newspaper. Last night, I put a bunch of newspaper in a dog food bag and placed the dog food back in a plastic trash bag. I poured approximately 7 gallons of water in the bag. Interesting thing was the top 15 inches or so were pretty well soaked, but it started to be a little more dry towards the bottom of the stack

Recovered bullet is on left and an unfired bullet is just to the right.

From left to right
6.8 SPC, 25 yards, Mountain Mold, approximately 1800fps , 13" penetration, cast at 115 gr, 53gr recovered
.41 mag, 25 yards, RCBS 41-210 swc, approximately 1250 fps, 14" penetration, cast at 215gr, 212gr recovered
.41 mag, 25 yards, LBT 235LFN, approximately 1350fps, 16" penetration, cast at 236gr, 233.5gr recovered
.45 acp, 5 yards, RCBS 45-200 swc approximately 800fps , 8" penetration, cast at 211.5gr, 211gr recovered
.45 acp, 5 yards, RCBS 45-230 rn approximately 790fps , 10" penetration, cast at 240gr, 237gr recovered

I thought the .45 bullets were really soft and expected some expansion. Not sure what to make of it, so you can draw your own conclusions.

[OS OK]

Hey there 7br, that's just the kind of data I really enjoy...thanks for posting in such detail. Those are hard little buggers huh?

[BNE]

Cool post. Thanks.

[BCB]

"6.8 SPC, 25 yards, Mountain Mold, approximately 1800fps , 13" penetration, cast at 115 gr, 53gr recovered"

7br,

What load are you using in the 6.8mm SPC and what firearm are you shooting it from?

I have one of those in the T/C Contender Carbine with a 23" barrel and it is a shooter with the N.O.E. 179-124-FP using 23.0 grains of IMR-7383 for a velocity of 1614 fps...

Good-luck...BCB

[7br]

"

What load are you using in the 6.8mm SPC and what firearm are you shooting it from?


Good-luck...BCB
I have a Rock River Arms AR15 lower and a DPMS upper with a 20" barrel. I am using 21.5gr of H4895. I have an adjustable gas block for reliable operation. It approaches .243win performance with jacketed bullets. I have a friend that has a TC carbine in 6.8 and he really likes it for a light deer rifle.

[BCB]

I have a Rock River Arms AR15 lower and a DPMS upper with a 20" barrel. I am using 21.5gr of H4895. I have an adjustable gas block for reliable operation. It approaches .243win performance with jacketed bullets. I have a friend that has a TC carbine in 6.8 and he really likes it for a light deer rifle.

I've used 4895 also with some success, but the 7383 shines with the cast...

You must be a visitor of:

http://68forums.com/forums/forum.php

I go there once in awhile, but the people on it don't show much interest in us Non-Semi guys!!!

Good-luck...BCB

[kbstenberg]

totally agree with OS OK.
I was amazed at how the 45's didn't expand especially. Especially since 7BR said they were low BHN. 7BR have you don't this test before at just a 100 or 150 more FPS. My thinking may be. That they are hard enough not to expand until a little more speed is added. Kind of like OS OK thread on very soft defensive loads

[GhostHawk]

Good Post!

[Ola]

I really like these kind of tests.

I'm not really surprised there wasn't any expansion with .45's. Needs more speed or harder target to do it. And wet news paper is "harder" target than f.e. fat or muscle.

TIP: next time put the water in a f.e. week earlier. The paper needs time to soak.

[35remington]

Given that I get around 16 inches of penetration with 45 ACP ball approximation ammo I'd say that yes, your newspapers were poorly soaked. When done correctly penetration is about half that found in ballistic gelatin

The solid bullet 45 ACP not expanding is not surprising at all if you are familiar with this sort of thing. In any media not resembling concrete they do not expand. It is a velocity issue.

[jmort]

I agree, newspaper not completely soaked. But still great thread and useful information. Thank you for posting this.

[OS OK]

totally agree with OS OK.
I was amazed at how the 45's didn't expand especially. Especially since 7BR said they were low BHN. 7BR have you don't this test before at just a 100 or 150 more FPS. My thinking may be. That they are hard enough not to expand until a little more speed is added. Kind of like OS OK thread on very soft defensive loads

I didn't see where he said what the Pb BHN was...but, some fellas these days refer to 12 BHN COWW as soft. The old timers used to call 12 BHN hard and used it regularly in the Magnum hand guns.
I think that there is a misconception about just exactly how hard Pb needs to be. Now that we are using PC it even drops the hardness required even more without fear of Pb'ing the barrel by skidding the round bad enough to allow blow-by via the widened lands. I'm only speaking of pistols and revolvers on the low end of the pressure spectrum, rifles is a different critter.