How to setup a waterjug test

[sevenpoint62mm]

I want to see the expansion of some various JHPs so I'm thinking about doing a water jug test. How many jugs do I need to fire through for a 45? Never seen this before so not sure what all to do. Any help would be cool

 

[JShirley]

.45 ACP HP, you'll probably need about 8 (guessing you mean a standard "milk jug" type gallon container). A phone book behind the last jug should catch the bullet if you underestimate by a jug.

Unfortunately, you run through a lot of jugs, if you want to fire many rounds...

John

 

[crawfish]

Since the bullet weight range is so broad and you don't say what weight you will be shooting go with as many as you can collect then add that number again. Look at it this way more is better cause it is a one shot deal for the jugs in front and if your first bullet passes through all your jugs you are done, have no "data" and get to go home early. But for a number, light jacketed no less than 5, heavy jacketed, no less than 8, just in case you feel the need to test these, hard cast heavies no less than 10 and if you are really pushing hard heavies good luck. I have spoken to a noted pistol guy who used to use his swimming pool to test heavy .41 caliber pistol stuff. He told me that he stopped as the bullets were hitting the bottom so hard in 8 feet of water he was in fear of cracking it. 8 feet would be about 16 gallon jugs. BTY doing that is a real hoot, doesn’t prove to much but seeing those jugs explode is sure fun.

 

[Das Pferd]

Your welcome

(not my sight)

http://stevespages.com/page8f45acp.html

For more calibers

http://stevespages.com/page8f.htm

 

[sevenpoint62mm]

Das Pferd all I can say is

Thats a wealth of data. Thank you very much

 

[nitesite]

A shooting bud does this all the time a new bullet design comes out, or just to re-check old preferences.

Thru four layers of heavy denim (like new jeans bought at Salvation Army, both legs folded around the front jug) we've never seen penetration through the 5th jug (.357 and .45ACP included) if it was a good JHP.

Wal-Mart sells distilled or drinking water in 1-gal jugs for $0.53 per jug.

 

[Combat-wombat]

I prefer play-doh to water- It's more expensive (if you buy it commerically- I spent $70. ), BUT you can always make it yourself though, I was just too lazy, and it works again, and again, and again. shoot, recover bullet/fragments, remold, shoot, recover bullet/fragments, remold, etc. I used four 8x8x8 cubes.... but it usually ended up with the rounds (especially the Cor-bon) completely exploding the first block and flinging play-doh up to 30 feet. You can try prevent by wrapping the first block in more than one trashbag.
the rounds never penetrated past 2 (one went slightly into 3 that failed to expand), but then again I was using light bullets. I'd recommend 4 cubes, though, if you're using heavier rounds. IMO, it's a good method- more reusable than a jug of water where you'd only get to test it a few times.


Just my $.02

 

[41mag]

Some years back in one of the shooting magazines one of the editors showed his shooting box.He had made a plywood trough.I don't remember how long but the suggestions above should give you a good starting point.Anyways,on one end he had cut a hole for the bullet to enter.The other four walls were,of course,solid.Instead of milkjugs he used el-cheapo gallon storage bags.You know,like sandwich bags only much bigger.

I don't remember what the cost/bag is but I'm thinking that it could be pretty cheap.

Just another thought.

Oh,BTW,a high velocity .22lr WILL penetrate the bottom of a water filled 5 gallon bucket when fired out of a handgun.In your basement.

 

[BSlacker]

I have used cardboard boxes with a trash bag filled with water would catch a 40 S&W with a 12x12 box.