What should I shoot in to to test HP expansion?

Status
Not open for further replies.
A

AbitNutz

Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2008
Messages
975
Ok, so I went to a bit of trouble to make some hollow points that will work in my ROA. I'm now ready to start testing...then it occurred to me. What should I shoot at to test how/or if the HP expands?

I want something relatively convenient. I've been told to use wet newspapers but that is just too much of a mess. Paperback books maybe?
 
You can easily make calibrated ballistcs gel with simple Knox unflavored Gelatine from your nearest grocery store. How-To instructions are plentiful on the internet.
 
I use either water jugs or raw beef brisket sometimes fronted with beef ribs and wrapped in denim or other clothing. I then rush home and cook the meat. Water is considered a hard medium but results are similar to meat and often the brisket provokes more expansion than the jugged water.
 
Water soaked paper is one of the oldest test mediums around.

It is not consistent with real meat, but will give you a pretty good idea of whether or not expansion is going to occur.

We often use old phone books, magazines, catalogs, etc.
Newspapers ain't all that bad either, and are commonly available.
Tie them in bundles before you soak them and they are easy to handle.

BTW: If you think wet newspapers are to messy, don't even think about making the homemade cherry flavored ballistics gel!

rc
 
You can easily make calibrated ballistcs gel with simple Knox unflavored Gelatine from your nearest grocery store. How-To instructions are plentiful on the internet.
Click to expand...

This or liquid soap.
 
Huh, funny you have this post.

I was just thinking that I want to check penitration of my 50 cal at 50 yds, 100 yds and 150 yds...

I came up with the idea to use Identical Phone books. DRY Duct taped together.

Set one at 50 yds. shoot look at how deep the bullet goes. ie: Page 440

then same at 100 and 150. check pages see if loosing great amount of energy at diffferent ranges or if its the same.

FYI. I havn't done this yet.

Way way way back when we shot a phone book at 100 yds with 357 mag 4" barrell with reloads and the guys at the range could not belive their eyes.

Only used a sand bag too. :)

Dry you get some confetti FYI.. Enjoy.
 
Mec: please send me the Brisket.. preferably cooked.. I will send you gelatin blocks in return. :)
 
Well, I went to the range. Here are my results.

TC Renegade, 50 cal flintlock 1/48 twist
295 gr Powerbelt with 100 grains of ff and 4 dabs of ffff in the flash pan (same flint)

50 yds. 1800 pages of phone book, duct taped together--- In and out.
50 yds. with (2) two 1800 page phone books duct taped together same as the original one. Through the first book and to page 542 on the second book.
the bullet maintained it weight but it is very distorted.

100yds (2) identical phone books duct taped again.

Through the first book and to page 488 on the second book.

I am impressed. How about you?

sorry I didn't take pics.


Oh, and just for fun.
One phone book duct taped at 100 yds with 35 remington 150 gr soft points.

CONFETTI woo hooo that was neat! ok. :)
 
A huge plastic garbage bag filled with water.:uhoh:
Be prepared though - I shot my 500 Magnum with 275g Barnes XPB Solid Copper bullets into a full-size plastic trash can full of water. :confused:

The bullet went 30" in the water, blew the entire side I shot at wide open and actually was stuck in the opposite inner side of the plastic!:eek:

I was not only soaked from about 10' away, but I was amazed!:D

I still have that bullet, perfect six-point razor-sharp pedaling!:)
 
bellyup039 said:
Well, I went to the range. Here are my results.

TC Renegade, 50 cal flintlock 1/48 twist
295 gr Powerbelt with 100 grains of ff and 4 dabs of ffff in the flash pan (same flint)

50 yds. 1800 pages of phone book, duct taped together--- In and out.
50 yds. with (2) two 1800 page phone books duct taped together same as the original one. Through the first book and to page 542 on the second book.
the bullet maintained it weight but it is very distorted.

100yds (2) identical phone books duct taped again.

Through the first book and to page 488 on the second book.

I am impressed. How about you?

sorry I didn't take pics.


Oh, and just for fun.
One phone book duct taped at 100 yds with 35 remington 150 gr soft points.

CONFETTI woo hooo that was neat! ok. :)
Click to expand...
I cannot visualize that many pages.
How many inches would you say the bullet penetrated?
 
I would say 4 1/2 inches penitration.

Picture a 3 ring binder, the big ones. Tape two of them together. That's about how big both books were.

It made it deep into the second book and ripped the duct tape due to impact.

I really should have taken pics. But my dad and I had the range to ourselves and that dont happen much. We took advantage of it and kept on shootin.
 
You guys gotta see the phone book I shot. I had such a good time I forgot to take a picture of it...so I'll do it again. I'm also planning on buying a CED M2 Chronograph. This is just too much fun not to share.

So out of my 51/2" SS ROA I'm shooting a hollow Pointed BigLube bullet. The bullets weight about 200 grains and I used a hollow pointing jig. That cuts a perfect cone shaped HP the exact size of the original bullets flat point.

I'm using 40 grains of triple 7, a BigLube 210 bullet and #11 Winchester primers. They fit the Treso nipples, the #10's do not.

I had Clement deepen the chambers so I can just get 40 grains in it with the bullet. I have no leading problems and it shoots clean.

The yellow pages phone book blew up some where around the plumbers section. The bullets routinely expanded the size of a quarter and stayed in one piece.

As soon as I get the chronograph I'll let you all know how fast this is going. I'm thinking of shooting the phone book from the back side...this way I believe the bullet should make it all the way to the attorney's section.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top