Brass Fetcher
Member
Special thanks to Buffalo Bore Ammunition for sponsoring this test.
Cartridge : .38 Special, Buffalo Bore Ammunition 150gr standard pressure Hard Cast Wad Cutter (Part # 20D)
Firearm : Smith and Wesson 642 with 1 7/8" barrel length
Block calibration : All depths corrected (From 9.9cm @ 593 ft/sec)
Shot 1 - Impacted at 907 ft/sec, penetrated to 23.1" and was recovered at 0.356" average diameter.
Shot 2 - Impacted at 899 ft/sec, penetrated to 23.1" and was recovered at 0.356" average diameter.
Shot 3 - Impacted at 882 ft/sec, penetrated to 23.0" and was recovered at 0.357" average diameter.
Shot 4 - Impacted at 908 ft/sec, exited the side of the block at 20.2" and was not recovered.
Shot 5 - Impacted at 905 ft/sec, penetrated to 16.0" depth in the initial block, exited out of a side corner of this block and traveled at an approximate 15 degree angle into a stopper block placed to the side and rear of the initial block, in anticipation of such an event. The bullet penetrated to 6.5" in this block, for a total penetration of 20.7" (corrected).
It's rare that I capture a bullet (in gelatin) on an exit from the side of the primary gelatin block. In so doing, it is usually possible to take a look at the stability of a particular bullet after a somewhat sideways impact, such as would occur if the bullet struck the edge of a bone or traveled through two different tissue types (densities) at once - IE, one side of the bullet in lung tissue, the other in muscle tissue.
The different densities of the fluid that a bullet is in contact with creates an imbalance of static pressures acting on the bullet sides, as was the case today. This occurred at the moment of bullet exit from the side of the gelatin block (IE the air at the firing range, acting on the side of the gelatin block, was much less dense than the gelatin, which is mostly water). This created a high pressure area on the gelatin side of the wadcutter, much greater than the ambient air pressure pushing the bullet toward the gelatin block. As such, a less stable bullet would have tumbled, where the tested wadcutters did not. The reduced penetration experienced with shot 5 (and the increased damage and angled travel through the stopper block) indicates that some bullet yawing took place, but no tumbling.
Cartridge : .38 Special, Buffalo Bore Ammunition 150gr standard pressure Hard Cast Wad Cutter (Part # 20D)
Firearm : Smith and Wesson 642 with 1 7/8" barrel length
Block calibration : All depths corrected (From 9.9cm @ 593 ft/sec)
Shot 1 - Impacted at 907 ft/sec, penetrated to 23.1" and was recovered at 0.356" average diameter.
Shot 2 - Impacted at 899 ft/sec, penetrated to 23.1" and was recovered at 0.356" average diameter.
Shot 3 - Impacted at 882 ft/sec, penetrated to 23.0" and was recovered at 0.357" average diameter.
Shot 4 - Impacted at 908 ft/sec, exited the side of the block at 20.2" and was not recovered.
Shot 5 - Impacted at 905 ft/sec, penetrated to 16.0" depth in the initial block, exited out of a side corner of this block and traveled at an approximate 15 degree angle into a stopper block placed to the side and rear of the initial block, in anticipation of such an event. The bullet penetrated to 6.5" in this block, for a total penetration of 20.7" (corrected).
It's rare that I capture a bullet (in gelatin) on an exit from the side of the primary gelatin block. In so doing, it is usually possible to take a look at the stability of a particular bullet after a somewhat sideways impact, such as would occur if the bullet struck the edge of a bone or traveled through two different tissue types (densities) at once - IE, one side of the bullet in lung tissue, the other in muscle tissue.
The different densities of the fluid that a bullet is in contact with creates an imbalance of static pressures acting on the bullet sides, as was the case today. This occurred at the moment of bullet exit from the side of the gelatin block (IE the air at the firing range, acting on the side of the gelatin block, was much less dense than the gelatin, which is mostly water). This created a high pressure area on the gelatin side of the wadcutter, much greater than the ambient air pressure pushing the bullet toward the gelatin block. As such, a less stable bullet would have tumbled, where the tested wadcutters did not. The reduced penetration experienced with shot 5 (and the increased damage and angled travel through the stopper block) indicates that some bullet yawing took place, but no tumbling.
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