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Thread: Ballistic testing

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
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    Ballistic testing

    Very Heavily inspired by Castboolits member Depoloni who uses stacked wet newspaper for these type of tests.

    Permagel was the media used.

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    Top is 300 Blackout with 125g Nosler ballistic tip 2300FPS
    Middle is 458 SOCOM with hollowpointed 500g cast 1100FPS
    Bottom is 223 with 79g DRT

    The 458 exited the top of the second block and was not recovered.
    While the wound channel from the 458 doesn't look very impressive it was the only one that caused the gel block to violently jump off of the table. I Wish I could get my hands on a high speed cam!

    The jacket from the 300 went about 2" in to the second block.
    "Don't worry what they think. In the end it is not between them and you, it is between you and God."

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    "You won't know until you Actually try it"

    "The impossible just takes longer."

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  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy ofitg's Avatar
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    DCM, thanks for posting. If I ever get into "terminal ballistics" testing, I will probably use Permagel (because of the costs involved with gelatin). Have you tried handgun loads yet?
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  3. #3
    Boolit Master
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    Yes I do plan on doing some handgun testing when I find the time, both cast and jaxted.
    Currently at the top of that list is.
    Multiple 9mm Vs. 45 tests, apples to apples. Full size 1911 Vs. Berreta 92 with USGI ball Vs. USGI ball, cast Vs. cast, new tech Vs. new tech.
    357 is somewhere in the more distant future plans also.
    "Don't worry what they think. In the end it is not between them and you, it is between you and God."

    Je suis Charlie!


    "You won't know until you Actually try it"

    "The impossible just takes longer."

    "Don't let them beat you down with their inexperience."

    "You'll never accomplish what you don't try. " - Moldmaker

  4. #4
    Boolit Master Oklahoma Rebel's Avatar
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    how/ where do you get permagel, and is it expensive? also is there a grocery store version? like gelatin,cornstarch,pectin?? just guessing at those-Travis
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    A disarmed man is a slave.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
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    One place to find it is here http://www.midwayusa.com/s?userSearc...temsPerPage=48

    There are other options most are best found by doing a internet search.
    Newspaper(glossy inserts removed) soaked overnight and stacked on edge(lllllll-) makes an excellent test media for most folks as I mentioned in post 1.
    It is slightly more dense but provides excellent results, not as pretty but very reliable and very inexpensive.
    I just had to take it to the next level as usual.
    The only perfect test medium is the real world with fur, bones, trees etc., but these tests do simulate some real world results.
    A search here will likely turn up the Depoloni tests mentioned earlier.

    We all have different expectations of what should happen when it hits.
    "Don't worry what they think. In the end it is not between them and you, it is between you and God."

    Je suis Charlie!


    "You won't know until you Actually try it"

    "The impossible just takes longer."

    "Don't let them beat you down with their inexperience."

    "You'll never accomplish what you don't try. " - Moldmaker

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    I received an email about another test media today from Corbins, Sim-test.
    http://www.corbins.com/sim-test.htm
    It is darker and more costly than Perma-gel though.
    "Don't worry what they think. In the end it is not between them and you, it is between you and God."

    Je suis Charlie!


    "You won't know until you Actually try it"

    "The impossible just takes longer."

    "Don't let them beat you down with their inexperience."

    "You'll never accomplish what you don't try. " - Moldmaker

  7. #7
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    Be careful with the testing! It can get habit forming! ;^) But it'll surely take all the guess work out of your loading and shooting. No better way to learn what various bullets will and will not do, and why. I always used wet newsprint, with some glossy mags in front for @ 1" or so, to simulate striated muscle, with the newsprint representing softer organ tissue. Worked pretty darn good when contrasted with autopsies of real deer! FWIW?

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
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    This is most Definitely habit forming! Depoloni got me addicted with wet newspaper tests many many moons ago.
    My greatest problem is finding the time, I am hoping to get back to it soon!
    I am still looking for reasonably priced high speed camera equipment, possibly renting? The way things jump when hit with the big bore stuff is just absolutely amazing and I sure would love to share it with you all. The hole it leaves behind just doesn't tell the whole story.
    "Don't worry what they think. In the end it is not between them and you, it is between you and God."

    Je suis Charlie!


    "You won't know until you Actually try it"

    "The impossible just takes longer."

    "Don't let them beat you down with their inexperience."

    "You'll never accomplish what you don't try. " - Moldmaker

  9. #9
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    I was loading some Rainier 124gn 9mm JHP and 230gn 45 JHP for a friend the other day. I had an old cooler sitting around so we decided to see what they would do in a cooler full of water. The cooler is about 20" across. First up was the 9mm, they all expanded wonderfully and were found inside the cooler. We plugged the holes and filled it back up. The 45's went in one side and out the other, then into several inches of wet clay and didn't open up at all. I didn't chrono the 9mms, but they should have been around 1100fps-ish. I did chrono the 45s at 922fps from my 7" long slide.
    I emailed Rainier about the 45s and asked how fast they needed to go to open up, but haven't heard back in several days. I looked on Midway and saw similar results from the reviews.
    Looks like testing is a very worth while thing to do.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    We had a unseasonably warm day today and I definitely got the itch to get this moving again!
    I am still looking for any info on a high speed camera for rent if anyone knows where I could do so reasonably.

    Lar 45 IIRC the Raineer's are not known for expanding very well, but I don't remember things as well as I used to.
    "Don't worry what they think. In the end it is not between them and you, it is between you and God."

    Je suis Charlie!


    "You won't know until you Actually try it"

    "The impossible just takes longer."

    "Don't let them beat you down with their inexperience."

    "You'll never accomplish what you don't try. " - Moldmaker

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