doggy1953
Member
I have some 9mm ammo HP from Freedom munitions and some from Reliant ammo. Is there a way to test them for expansion? I thought about using some water jugs and or a wet phone book. Any ideas? 
Hollow point expansion
- Thread starter doggy1953
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bigfatdave
Member
water jugs
soaked paper
ballistics gelatin
mud
soaked paper
ballistics gelatin
mud
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Soaked phone books or mud may give better results then water jugs.
I have used jugs for many years until last year.
I was working up handloads with Speer Short Barrel Gold Dot in .38 Spl.
I simply couldn't get them to expand in water jugs.
Ones recovered inside the jugs looked good enough to load again.
Then I dug some out of the wet clay berm behind a target and they had all expanded to twice the diameter in perfect mushrooms.
rc
I have used jugs for many years until last year.
I was working up handloads with Speer Short Barrel Gold Dot in .38 Spl.
I simply couldn't get them to expand in water jugs.
Ones recovered inside the jugs looked good enough to load again.
Then I dug some out of the wet clay berm behind a target and they had all expanded to twice the diameter in perfect mushrooms.
rc
351 WINCHESTER
Member
I have had failures with wet phone books, but I have had best results in water jugs, which at handgun velocities closely duplicates ballistic gel., or so I've been told.
You could also fire straight down into a large drum filled with water, if you don't mind the splash. If this is a one-off you can just tip it over afterward and get the rounds.
If you need to do this often, you can do this:
1) Get some fine netting, a length of garden hose and about 8 small magnets
2) Cut the garden hose so that when the ends are brought together it makes a circle that is just smaller than the circumference of the inside of the drum.
3) Fill the hose with sand and tape the ends together (you have a kind of weighted hula hoop now)
4) Fill up the drum with water
5) Get your netting and drop it into the drum, with the hose hoop inside. It doesn't have to go all the way snug to the bottom of the drum, just a few feet down
6) Use the magnets to secure the netting edges to the outside of the drum at the top
All done. You shoot your rounds and retrieve the net at the end of the session.
If you need to do this often, you can do this:
1) Get some fine netting, a length of garden hose and about 8 small magnets
2) Cut the garden hose so that when the ends are brought together it makes a circle that is just smaller than the circumference of the inside of the drum.
3) Fill the hose with sand and tape the ends together (you have a kind of weighted hula hoop now)
4) Fill up the drum with water
5) Get your netting and drop it into the drum, with the hose hoop inside. It doesn't have to go all the way snug to the bottom of the drum, just a few feet down
6) Use the magnets to secure the netting edges to the outside of the drum at the top
All done. You shoot your rounds and retrieve the net at the end of the session.
Do the manufacturers give expansion information on their web sites? If not, like others have said.....save your gallon milk jugs and don't forget 4 layers of denim, it seems standard in expansion tests nowadays.
The gun you use makes the biggest difference, barrel length, revolver or self loader. Or you always have the option of using known ammunition that reliably expands. A little more homework is in your future....
The gun you use makes the biggest difference, barrel length, revolver or self loader. Or you always have the option of using known ammunition that reliably expands. A little more homework is in your future....
BSA1
member
One of the main problems with hollowpoints is the cavity fills up with material so it acts like a soft point.
I add several layers of clothing in front of a water barrel. For example I might use four layers of demin from old pair of jeans and four layers of cotton from a shirt. Maybe I will add a old winter coat. You get the idea...real world clothing.
Be prepared for some surprises.
I add several layers of clothing in front of a water barrel. For example I might use four layers of demin from old pair of jeans and four layers of cotton from a shirt. Maybe I will add a old winter coat. You get the idea...real world clothing.
Be prepared for some surprises.
doggy1953
Member
Fired a 115gr JHP and a 124gr JHP into a trash can full of water. They both expanded well, with 124 gr just a tad larger than the 115 gr. Being here on Mississippi gulf coast, folks don't have a need for alot of heavy clothing that BSA1 is talking about. Thanks for the input.
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