.357 mag and 10mm gelatin tests

[chopinbloc]

Underwood .357 158 gr Hex plated fired from 4" S&W Model 13 through four layers of denim into calibrated gelatin.

BB calibration: 585.0 fps, 3.1"

Impact velocity: (err)
Penetration: 27.5"
Retained weight: 157.7 gr
Expansion: None

A few notes on this one. It was overcast, making it difficult to get a good velocity reading. Underwood advertises 1,475 fps for this load and their claimed velocity is usually very close to actual. One shot curved and left the block on the bottom, the other came very close to exiting the block on the top. I cannot say for sure whether there was expansion on the shot that exited but based on the dramatically larger stretch cavity, I think it is likely. Nevertheless, this bullet is at least capable of failing to expand. Recoil was mild for a .357 mag.







10mm Atomic 180 gr Hex plated fired from 4.5" bbl EAA Witness through four layers of denim into calibrated gelatin.

BB calibration: 585.0, 3.1"

Impact velocity: 1,251 fps
Penetration: greater than 17.7"
Retained weight: N/A
Expansion: N/A

Both shots experienced significant fragmentation and deviated, exiting the side of the block.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Jello shots Friday!

 

[rcmodel]

Mmmm?

If the .357 Impact velocity: (err), was an error in reading the velocity?

And nobody knows what a 'hex plated' bullet is?
But everyone knows the only plated bullet known to expand is the Speer Gold-Dot?

What exactly is your point?

Your chronograph didn't work, or what?


And why not test a .357, 125 grain JHP of about any brand, which is the acknowledged man-stopper of the .357 Mag bunch anyway??

rc

 

[Certaindeaf]

I think the Buffalo Bore .380 penetrates 30"+ in gelatin.

 

[MinnesotaFats]

side note.. i get the best readings through my chrono in overcast conditions..

 

[MinnesotaFats]

^^ side note..side note. i was under the impression most chronos read best in overcast conditions...

 

[chopinbloc]

Interdasting. I usually do great in sunny conditions and not so well when the sun goes behind a cloud.


The bullet is made by Rainier. I mostly test loads that are not already well documented. No one needs to see another 9mm 124 gr Gold Dot or .45 230 gr HST. We know they work well. I'm mostly interested in testing loads for which there isn't a lot of data available.

That said, I did test a .357 125 gr Golden Saber:

 

[Shawn Dodson]

It was overcast, making it difficult to get a good velocity reading.

Do you have removeable "sky screens" that attach to the uprights? If you do then don't use the skyscreens on overcast days.

As a general rule of thumb use sky screens on sunny days, don't use them on overcast days.

 

[chopinbloc]

That ought to be obvious. It wasn't to me. I feel really stupid.

 

[Eb1]

The reason you get the white shields is to emulate a cloudy day. Overcast is the best time to use a Chrony.

 

[chopinbloc]

Herp with a side of derp. Next time it's cloudy I'll remove the sun shades.

 

[Eb1]

okay. okay. i think he gets it.. lol

 

[LeonCarr]

This bonehead still thinks the 125 Grain JHP in the .357 Magnum is the optimal manstopper.

158 Grain bullets in the .357 Magnum will overpenetrate and exit the body as evidenced by the chopinbloc tests. The various 125 Grain JHPs will penetrate 12-18 inches, expand, and usually spin off secondary missiles.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Eb1]

Read the statitistics on real world gunfights. 357mag is King! Always will be!

Might want to rethink that. I would say an AR-15 would trump the .357 magnum in most of today "Real World" gunfights, and some would argue that the 7.62x39 would be better than the 5.56.

Also, I would suggest that a .45 ACP would be statistically better than a .357 in most handgun gun fights from the 1900's on.

Also in a "Real" world the .44 Magnum trumps .357 in penetration and expansion as it is already the size of an expanded .357.

I respect your love for the .357. It is a wonderful caliber, but "King"? Maybe Prince would be a better comparison.

Also the 125 grain Semi-Jacketed HP for a .357 Magnum would be my choice for a personal defense .357 caliber handgun. From the gel tests I have seen it is just devastating. The blocks jump off the tables, and the penetration is very, very good. Also the permanent cavity is impressive.

 

[chopinbloc]

Rifles>shotguns>pistols.

Handguns are portable, not powerful. In terms of the tissue damage that a handgun cartridge can produce, I would choose a quality JHP in .357 or 10mm over most other cartridges but that ignores capacity and split time. I carry a G23 most often but would feel perfectly comfortably with any reliable, modern 9mm, .40 S&W, or .45 ACP pistol for defense.

Fuel for the fire:







]















None of those should be taken as perfectly representative of their respective cartridges, but you mentioned them so I thought I'd add some visual aids.