Terminal ballistics test - 7mm and .45

[quilbilly]

With my stack of wet phone books ready and a sheet of 1/8" plywood veneer 3" in to simulate a clipped rib, I tested my 7mm TCU 143 gr RNFP-GC Bator Lee and my 45ACP 200 gr (actual 213 gr) RNFP Lee. I tested the 7mm TCU with a muzzle velocity of 1900 fps at 35 yard and the 45 ACP with a muzzle velocity of 1040 fps from a T/C Contender barrel.
Results: 7mm Penetration 10-1/2" and expansion to .45
45 ACP Penetration 10-1/2" and no expansion

from previous 2010 test with Lee 7mm 130 gr RNGC at 1950 fps - 16" of penetration and expansion to .35 in same media.

[Lefty SRH]

WE need pics or it didn't happen!

[quilbilly]

Working on it. Gotta find the camera and mark up a sheet for the pic.

[35remington]

If you're simulating a rib, why so far beneath the surface of the books? I can't think of a single animal that has three inches of muscle directly over a rib.

How's about 1/4 to 1/2" in? Certainly not over an inch even on a moose. If you're simulating a deer, the shallower numbers are better.

[quilbilly]

You are right about making the plywood shallower but since I started the tests this way a few years back, I wanted to maintain continuity for comparison. If I can get enough phonebooks in the future, I will do a side by side comparison. My next test will be a 338 WM (220 gr RNGC) and a 22 hornet (53 gr bator GC) both at 1900 fps when I can find another dozen phone books.
I am quite surprised by the result with the 7mm bator. I have always assumed it would be the better hunting boolit over the 130 gr but given that 40% loss of penetration, I am not so sure. Theory vs reality

[I'll Make Mine]

I can't think of a single animal that has three inches of muscle directly over a rib.

Any body builder, and a few pit bulls I've seen, maybe the odd Bengal tiger. :roll: Quite possibly even a whitetail buck, depending exactly where you hit (go through the shoulder but miss the humerus and scapula, you might well have to penetrate three inches of muscle before you hit a rib).

[Junior1942]

I put a large trash can out by the driveway and asked my newspaper guy if he'd put his leftover papers in it. It was full in a week.