Ballistic gelatin test results : .50GI 185gr copper hollowpoint

[Brass Fetcher]

A .50 caliber cartridge in a 1911...

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Brass Fetcher Ballistic Testing

Test # Experimental 1
Bare gelatin. (Nominal 10% concentration)

Cartridge : .50GI 185gr copper hollowpoint

Block Calibration : 3.3 ± 0.05 inch penetration @ 580 ± 0.5 ft/sec

Block Calibration temperature : 35.0 ± 0.05 Degrees Fahrenheit

Block Core temperature : 35.4 ± 0.05 Degrees Fahrenheit


Bullet Performance:

Impact Velocity : 1279 ± 0.5 feet/second
Deepest Penetration Depth : 9.0 ± 0.05 Inch
Maximum Crack Diameter : 5.0 ± 0.05 Inch
Max Crack Diameter Location : 3.6 ± 0.05 Inch
Cavitation Depth : 0.0-8.1 ± 0.05 Inch

Notes:
Weapon – Guncrafter Industries Model 1, with 5.0” barrel length
Distance – 10.0 feet, muzzle to gelatin impact face
Test site conditions - 51 deg F, 38% relative humidity
Time out of refrigeration prior to shot impact - 5 minutes
Bullet recovered weight – 184.0gr
Bullet recovered average diameter – 0.797”
Bullet recovered length – 0.344”

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[NG VI]

only .767"? That thing looks like a satellite with its panels deployed.

A 185 grain .50 bullet seems kind of dumb to me, I suppose being all copper it is longer, but still it just seems to me like it would perform, well, exactly the way it did. Variety is what I like best though, I'm sure it would be a great load for someone.

 

[Brass Fetcher]

The 0.797" is the average diameter ... which is taken by measuring the furthest points across the bullet face and then the apparently shortest distance across the face ... and averaging them. The maximum diameter was over 1".

John

 

[GregGry]

Holy hell the hammer of thor

 

[NG VI]

My illiteracy has shafted me yet again.

Thanks for doing all these tests, I love checking out your site and I hope you can continue on forever. What do you think about its shallow penetration?

 

[burningsquirrels]

holy torso puncher...

take a picture of this next to some expanded 45acp like the gold dots or hydra shocks so we can compare. that other guy is right... first thought that came to mind was that it looked like a satellite, lol.

 

[Geezer59]

Big hole, but that projectile still needs some work - much too shallow penetration.

 

[Brass Fetcher]

I am planning to test the 275gr Barnes XPB in the next few weeks, from a .50GI. This should give some idea as to what the other extreme looks like, in terms of penetration depth and expansion.

The company from which these bullets came indicated to me that it is only a first version of many improved design iterations to come. I can say that I am happy that there is now a factory-produced, expanding bullet available for the .50GI cartridge.

John

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I believe the Hammer of Thor was the .401 Winchester, or has it been dethroned?

 

[sinistr]

thanks for the info....i have been curious about this round.