Wetpack test results (.25 acp, .32 S&W-L, 38 Special)

[Pyro]

Tested some ammunition I was curious about, here are my results.
Haven't seen many tests simulating “heavy” clothing in general so I folded a cotton shirt to make an 8-ply barrier.
Keep in mind this was a non-scientific experiment.
If I had more time I would have shot two of each and compared: bare vs 8-ply cotton.

16 inch wetpack + cotton shirt (folded to 8-ply to simulate heavy clothing) from 1 yard.
Barrel lengths (excluding chamber):
-.25 acp- 1.885 inch barrel
-.32 S&W Long- 3.5 inch barrel
-38 special- 1.6 inch barrel

Results:

.25 acp
Winchester 50 grain FMJ

Bare wetpack surface
Penetrated 5.5 inches
No expansion.

Winchester 45 grain “Expanding Point”.

Bare wetpack surface
Penetrated 3 inches
Expanded to approximately .44 inches.

8-ply cotton
Penetrated 4 inches
No expansion.

Speer 35 grain Gold Dot

Bare wetpack surface
Penetrated 4 inches
No expansion.


.32 S&W-Long
Magtech 98 grain SJHP

8-ply cotton
Penetrated 5.5 inches
No expansion.


38 Special
Hornady Critical Defense 110 grain FTX JHP

8-ply cotton
Penetrated 6.5 inches
Expanded to approximately .43 inches.

Buffalo Bore 150 grain WC

8-ply cotton
Penetrated 10.5 inches
No expansion.

Glaser Safety Slug 90 grain Silver (non +P)

8-ply cotton
Penetration variables:
-Farthest pellets found at 4.5-5 inches
-Bullet jacket found at 3.5 inches
-Expansion was noted to have occurred between 1 and 2 inches due to location of large permanent cavity.
Complete fragmentation occurred.

 

[481]

Cool.

Thanks for the newest set of tests in wet pack. Always entertaining to see what a bullet'll do when it hits something.

That 150 gr. WC really went far. Buffalo Bore must have its velocity cranked right up there.

 

[Pyro]

That 150 gr. WC really went far. Buffalo Bore must have its velocity cranked right up there.

Yup, they usually run mid-high 800's. That thing is a wrecking ball.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Try Buffalo Bore 158gr LSWHPs and see what that does!

Deaf

 

[Pyro]

Try Buffalo Bore 158gr LSWHPs and see what that does!

I wish I could find some of those locally.
What prompted me to take the wadcutters over the LSWHP was the potential weak bone striking ability. A lead that soft will most likely flatten the HP and deform when hitting a rib or the sternum. As far as I have seen in phone book tests, a deforming bullet means a lot of lost energy.

 

[forgetitohio]

Thanks for the info.

I tried a wet phone book test with my re-loads.
Hornady 90Gr. XTP and a 90Gr. Critical defense FTX out my .380.
Basicly the same bullet @950FPS.
The XTP had some expansion; It filled up. While he FTX opened up perfectly.
Didn't pay attn. to exact penetration just expansion to prove a point.

Now I'm carring a .38 so I tried a 110gr. Win.Silvertip; filled up. Very little expansion.
Switched to FTXs in my .38 also.
Sorry no pics.

That which does not kill me makes me stronger. - Friedrich Nietzsche

 

[fasttheo]

Cool to see some 25 ACP testing.

The Hornady CD in .38 looks very similar to the expanded round in 380. They both have that 'clean', uniform expansion. I don't have a lot of experience with it, but it seems like a good round.

 

[Pyro]

I don't have a lot of experience with it, but it seems like a good round.

I don't like them for carry all that much, 110 is light and it doesn't feel like Hornady loaded them heavy.
To boot I'm hesitant to carry a round that has little to no "street credit" unlike Speer Gold Dot or even Glaser Safety Slugs.
I wish my little derringer was +P rated so I can get some DPX.

 

[heeler]

Interesting test.
I too was impressed with the Buffalo Bore wad cutter.
I have my S&W M 37 snub loaded with the Buffalo Bore 158gr. non + P low flash SWCHP and have not done any testing but have heard good things about it.
What kind of wet pack did you use.
Phone books?
How long did you soak the test medium?

 

[Pyro]

Phone books soaked overnight in a bucket of water. I had to take them out of the bucket for about an hour before the test since they were falling apart.
The wadcutter had a very noticeable shock "ring" around it's "wound channel" and was found resting on sideways. The hole it made in the phone books had looked like a .36 caliber hole puncher had struck it, which is exactly how the round is supposed to behave.

 

[Fisherdave10]

Try Buffalo Bore 158gr LSWHPs and see what that does!

TNoutdoors9 has a Youtube channel dedicated to testing ammo and shooting. He tested this load in Sim-test ballistic gel with denim and posted the results earlier today.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvVNtKicux4&feature=feedu

 

[heeler]

Wow...That's the first real test I have seen of that round.
I am impressed.
I had no idea that thing could penetrate so deeply out of that short a barrel.

 

[788Ham]

Delete

 

[orionengnr]

To boot I'm hesitant to carry a round that has little to no "street credit" unlike Speer Gold Dot or even Glaser Safety Slugs.

I think your research is incomplete. Glaser Safety Slugs are an overpriced gimmick.

 

[Pyro]

I think your research is incomplete. Glaser Safety Slugs are an overpriced gimmick.

They have a reputation is the idea I was trying to get across.
http://yarchive.net/gun/ammo/glaser_ss.html
Might not be a great one but it at least has one.