Inspired by the wonderful website, boxotruth.com, I decided to do my own experiments out in the vast Utah desert. I brought along 20 gallon-sized milk jugs filled with water. I wanted to test some Fiocchi 9mm JHP self-defense ammo. I've been hoping the Fiocchi self-defense ammo is good because at Cabela's a box of fifty costs the same as a box of 25 Remington Golden Saber in 9mm. To those mathmeticians out there, that's half the price. They look cool when you open the box. Fiocchi's supposed to be a good Italian ammo maker.
So here's how the test went. I lined up six jugs of water (I figured that would be enough since the Box O' Truth experiments didn't need more than 5 for various pistol rounds). I loaded up a Fiocchi 9mm 147 grain JHP XTP and shot it. Water was leaking onto the desert floor as my friend and I approached to assess the damage. It had penetrated into four jugs and stuck to the backside of the fourth jug, partially piercing the back wall where it was stuck. We drained the water. I popped the bullet out of it's plastic nest in the jug and shook it into my hand. It had expanded very nicely and uniformly, with the metal jacket still attached to the lead core. I wish I had taken some pictures like the Box O' Truth, but I didn't even think about it. We decided to try the same round to see if the results would be similar. They were nearly identical. The round pierced into 4 jugs again, slammed against the back wall of the fourth jug, partially piercing the plastic, but instead of being lodged in that spot, it had bounced off and was resting in the bottom of the leaking jug. I drained the jug and inspected the bullet. The same good expansion as the last. I guess I'll now have to try the ammo with some cloth in front like the Box O' Truth to test expansion through clothing. Also, I'd like to test other grain weights and ammo brands. Unfortunately, I'm not made of a whole lot of money, so here's my open invitation to THR members. Do your own gallon jug experiments with various rounds and report back to us all. I think it would be an interesting repository of information. I'll continue posting results from my experiments. One thing I wish the Box O' Truth was more consistent about is naming the exact ammo brand and bullet style along with the all-important grain weight. (Still I highly recommend the Box O' Truth to everyone. It is a fantastic website.) By the way, I also fired a Federal blunt nosed FMJ 147 grain target round. It blasted through the six jugs I had lined up and landed somewhere in the desert. We also tried a 115 gr WWB FMJ, but my friends aim was a little off, and it went out the side of a jug. Anyone already have similar experiments to report on? Please share.
So here's how the test went. I lined up six jugs of water (I figured that would be enough since the Box O' Truth experiments didn't need more than 5 for various pistol rounds). I loaded up a Fiocchi 9mm 147 grain JHP XTP and shot it. Water was leaking onto the desert floor as my friend and I approached to assess the damage. It had penetrated into four jugs and stuck to the backside of the fourth jug, partially piercing the back wall where it was stuck. We drained the water. I popped the bullet out of it's plastic nest in the jug and shook it into my hand. It had expanded very nicely and uniformly, with the metal jacket still attached to the lead core. I wish I had taken some pictures like the Box O' Truth, but I didn't even think about it. We decided to try the same round to see if the results would be similar. They were nearly identical. The round pierced into 4 jugs again, slammed against the back wall of the fourth jug, partially piercing the plastic, but instead of being lodged in that spot, it had bounced off and was resting in the bottom of the leaking jug. I drained the jug and inspected the bullet. The same good expansion as the last. I guess I'll now have to try the ammo with some cloth in front like the Box O' Truth to test expansion through clothing. Also, I'd like to test other grain weights and ammo brands. Unfortunately, I'm not made of a whole lot of money, so here's my open invitation to THR members. Do your own gallon jug experiments with various rounds and report back to us all. I think it would be an interesting repository of information. I'll continue posting results from my experiments. One thing I wish the Box O' Truth was more consistent about is naming the exact ammo brand and bullet style along with the all-important grain weight. (Still I highly recommend the Box O' Truth to everyone. It is a fantastic website.) By the way, I also fired a Federal blunt nosed FMJ 147 grain target round. It blasted through the six jugs I had lined up and landed somewhere in the desert. We also tried a 115 gr WWB FMJ, but my friends aim was a little off, and it went out the side of a jug. Anyone already have similar experiments to report on? Please share.
