Gel test: .44 mag 240 gr SJHP & .357 mag 125 gr JHP

[chopinbloc]

357 mag Underwood* 125 gr Montana Gold JHP fired from 4" S&W Model 13 through four layers of denim into calibrated gelatin.

BB: 588.7 fps, 3.1"

Impact velocity: 1,503 fps
Penetration: 16.2"
Retained weight: 105.2 gr
Max expansion: 0.573"
Min expansion: 0.445"


*This is an old load. Underwood now uses Speer Gold Dots.






.44 mag HSM 240 gr semi-jacketed hollow point fired from 7.5" Ruger Redhawk through four layers of denim into calibrated gelatin.

BB: 588.7 fps, 3.1"

Impact velocity: 1,114 fps
Penetration: 19.3"
Retained weight: 240.7 gr
Max expansion: 0.682"
Min expansion: 0.628"

 

[hardluk1]

Montana gold is not a good hp design. 44 mag expanded well but sure is slow.

 

[Jaymo]

That's very poor velocity/expansion for a .44 Mag. That's not even hot .44 Special velocity. Especially for a 7.5" barrel.

 

[bluetopper]

I've always felt like the 357 performed the best with 158gr bullets, in accuracy and penetration.

 

[chopinbloc]

hardluk1, you're right that it's not a premium bonded JHP and I would prefer Gold Dot, HST or even Ranger or Golden Saber to the Montana Gold bullet but the penetration and expansion figures were acceptable. I think that illustrates that the .357 can make adequate use of even marginal bullets.

Jaymo, it is very slow for a .44 mag but I'm sure you know that the reduced velocity also resulted in reduced recoil. The terminal performance was decent so I'd really feel comfortable carrying this for woods defense. We don't have any nuclear powered bears in this state.