Water expansion testing.

[archeryrob]

Shot some pure lead into a 55 gallon drum to test expansion. Since casting for rifle and handgun rounds I always wonder about the killing power of defense and hunting bullets. I have changed stuff I use from doing tests like this.

45 colt, 200 grain, probably 800 fps and little expansion. RNFP pretty much became a wide flat point. (Thinking of getting a HP mold now)
45 same bullet, but 255 grain, sabot in a 50 caliber Accura sitting on 80 grans of 777. Velocity matters, for hunting and expansion. It more than doubled in diameter to just short of an inch. (I couldn't be happier with the performance of this one)

 

[archeryrob]

Other stuff done in the same test

Left the 45 colt bullets
Left center - 2 - 30-30, 185 grain, WW lead, Fragmented (Centerfired)
Right center -1 30.06, 172 grain, WW, lead, fragmented (Centerfired)
Right the bullet from above.

I expected more from the 45 colt bullet be pure lead and was surprised the WW lead fragmented at 200o and 2400 fps respectively. Maybe I should have put this post in hunting?

 

[woodnbow]

Other stuff done in the same test

Left the 45 colt bullets
Left center - 2 - 30-30, 185 grain, WW lead, Fragmented (Centerfired)
Right center -1 30.06, 172 grain, WW, lead, fragmented (Centerfired)
Right the bullet from above.

I expected more from the 45 colt bullet be pure lead and was surprised the WW lead fragmented at 200o and 2400 fps respectively. Maybe I should have put this post in hunting?

For whatever reason the high tin/antimony mixes don’t seem to hold together as well as pure lead or softer mixes. 1:30 is all the harder I go with hunting bullets. The lube I use seems to prevent leading up to 1600 fps or so.