Penetration: 44 313gr vs 45 350gr

[Dom]

Day before yesterday I shot my 44mag rifle (Win 94 AE, 24" bbl.) using a Saeco mold 310gr bullet at 1550 fps. , BHN 10.5. Range 70 yds. Picture insert. The 44 bullet penetrated about 8" into the end of a pine tree I cut down about 3 weeks ago.Retained weight was about 262grs.Attachment 286183Attachment 286184Attachment 286185. Then today, got to thinking how would my 45-70 ( Marlin XLR 24" bbl ) compare with it's 350gr bullet at a hair over 1500 fps ( range scrap BHN 15 ) compare ? Same 70 yd range.picture insert.Attachment 286186Attachment 286187Attachment 286188. Retained weight of 45 bullet, 332grs. Penetration , just slightly over 10". Same tree, just a different section. Not trying to prove any thing, just a visual view for what ever it's worth. I realize the 44 bullet is softer , but that is what I had cast up. Weight makes a difference . Yes I know I powdered coated the bullets in strange colors.

[Lonegun1894]

Interesting test. Thank you for sharing. I kinda expected more penetration when you said .45-70, but that's still plenty for anything I'll ever get to hunt, considering the difference between wood and meat.

[megasupermagnum]

A pointy and hard bullet vs a blunt and soft bullet? This has nothing to do with bullet weight. This test doesn't tell you anything, about anything. You just shot a couple bullets into a log for fun, which is a fine reason I might add.

[sharps4590]

Yes sir, it is hardly apples to apples but, you now know how much penetration to expect from each bullet, from each firearm when shot into a pine log. No matter how it's sliced that is knowledge gained and that's never a bad thing.

[blue32]

I'm more impressed that your range scrap is bhn 15!

[Dom]

I did this penetration test for my own info with the bullets & loads I"m using. Posted it as general info to share for what ever it's worth. Maybe it would give another shooter/caster a little insight as to what could be expected from a similar load in their rifle. Not trying to prove any particular point.

[sharps4590]

One thing I did learn from your test, there's no use trying to split oak by shooting it.........

[Dom]

Dang, & splitting wood by shooting would be so much fun.

[sharps4590]

Well, take it from the voice of experience, neither a 375 H&H nor a 450/400 will split it either....

[725]

Dom,

Thanks for the report. I took it as the information offered and in the spirit you presented. Wish more could do the same. Really, I wish I could post such nice pictures.

725

[Three44s]

When you can shoot lengthways through a grown black bear with the Lee 310 gr cast out of a Ruger Super Blackhawk in 44 Mag with a full house load what more can you ask for?

A pine log is not very representative of a bear but who has a stack of bears to poke holes through, legally anyway? I think that a relative comparison is somewhat fair as in two bullets in the same medium however differences in the wood block such as in the photo show a bullet entering in a crack. That creates an unequal comparison if the other bullet enters differently.

Not trying to be snarky or judge mental but rather realistic.

The value I see here is that the OP got 8” out of a 44 Mag rifle and 10” from a rifle in 45-70. That difference is an outcome one would expect.

Best regards

Three44s