Ballistic gelatin test results : .44 Special 200gr Silvertip (From a Derringer)

[Brass Fetcher]

Special thanks to J.K. for funding this test in full.

Cartridge : Winchester 200gr Silvertip HP

Firearm : Bond Arms .44 Magnum Derringer with 3.0" barrel length

Block calibration : All depths corrected (From 10.2cm @ 577 ft/sec (bare block), 10.0cm @ 578 ft/sec (denim block), 9.0cm @ 560 ft/sec (overpenetration))

Shot 1 - Bare gelatin shot. Impacted at 770 ft/sec, penetrated to 10.8" and was recovered at 0.665" average diameter and 197.6gr weight.

Shot 2 - Heavy clothing shot. Impacted at '291' ft/sec (chronograph malfunction). Penetrated to 11.7" and was recovered at 0.613" average diameter and 199.9gr weight.

Shot 3 - Overpenetration shot. Impacted at 794 ft/sec, penetrated 7.8" of ballistic gelatin and interior wall and failed to penetrate the 'legal liability' block. Bullet was found at the base of the second gelatin block. Bullet recovered at 0.598" average diameter and 198.3gr weight.

 

[Cosmoline]

Cool. Thanks for that info! It's applicable not just to derringers, isn't it? I would suspect anything from the Taurus 444 to the Ruger AK with short bores will have similar results. Looks painful, for certain.

 

[P. Plainsman]

That's interesting. It fits the trend of the two other tests I've read of the factory Silvertip load in .44 Special.

It's kinda slow -- slow enough that you start to feel discouraged when you read the chrono. Yet it consistently manages good expansion and penetration despite mild velocity.

It's real easy to shoot well, too. Good Charter Bulldog load. In a larger gun I'd give the CCI Blazer w/ "wide body" Gold Dot the nod among common .44 Special defense loads, but the Silvertip ain't bad.

 

[bpisler]

The 44spl silvertip was changed a few
years agoThe shape of the cavity has been
changed from a inverted cone that was
narrow at the bottom to one a with wide
flat base.The opening now looks like the
SXT's with small notches around the
opening.It looks like a completely different bullet,not just updated.