How to test bullet expansion?

[Jclark225]

Hello, new to this forum and have a question. For those who've tried, how did you test bullet expansion at distance?

I've packed newspaper into a tub then soaked with water to try to simulate an animal's body cavity and it worked okay but only for one or two shots before the tub is useless.

However I was able to put it out on the range and "catch" my bullets to see how they perform at varying velocities to determine where my max range should be. Sure I can group well at 700 but if the bullets don't expand, it's like hitting them with a field point arrow. (Looking at you Mr. 28 Nosler shooting that elk 6 times from 900)

Anyway just wondering what people have tried and what worked. Thanks!

 

[DoneNOut]

Ok. I love your enthusiastic intents. For the love of all things holy, please use 10% calibrated ballistic gelatin. Wet phone books and water jugs won't give all of us a standard by which to judge. Put a piece of hide and bone, or at least a 1/2" plywood, and shoot it at 100yds. Post your results.

 

[Reelamin]

Ballistic Gelatin, and lots of youtube videos on how to make it. Only real thing to show true expansion and be consistent across the board. Just down load it to the velocity you want and shoot it at 5 feet....ok ok...10 feet. Simple minded Fella on youtube has a lot of lower velocity expansion. So far my minimum FPS and energy on target requires the big powder eaters to get past 800yds.

 

[meatyrem]

Milk jugs full of water lined up. Be sure to use at least 6 and hit them straight. This will be your cheapest and easiest test. I know it's not real world (actual game) performance but will expand bullets efficiently This is 280Rem 100yds water jugs approx vel 3000fps

140 Failsafe

140 accubond

 

[cohunt]

A wild hog from TX, plenty of them, cheap-- just begging to be shot a 1/2 dozen times or so. ZenA might be able to hook you up with a few

 

[Jclark225]

Ballistic Gelatin, and lots of youtube videos on how to make it. Only real thing to show true expansion and be consistent across the board. Just down load it to the velocity you want and shoot it at 5 feet....ok ok...10 feet. Simple minded Fella on youtube has a lot of lower velocity expansion. So far my minimum FPS and energy on target requires the big powder eaters to get past 800yds.

Interesting, looks like I'll need to order some ballistics gel. I bought some stuff to try to make it a while back for broadhead testing but never got around to it. Also it wouldn't be the legit calibrated kind.

I can't believe I never tried "loading down" my velocities. I always tried putting the bullet catching system out at long distance to hit it when the round is slowing down. Good call.

 

[cohunt]

Interesting, looks like I'll need to order some ballistics gel. I bought some stuff to try to make it a while back for broadhead testing but never got around to it. Also it wouldn't be the legit calibrated kind.

I can't believe I never tried "loading down" my velocities. I always tried putting the bullet catching system out at long distance to hit it when the round is slowing down. Good call.

Problem with "loading down" is that you drastically slow down the rpm of your bullets too, this messes up the expansion .as rpm at impact is a major factor of expansion

 

[DoneNOut]

Problem with "loading down" is that you drastically slow down the rpm of your bullets too, this messes up the expansion .as rpm at impact is a major factor of expansion

That is a very valid consideration.

 

[Reelamin]

A wild hog from TX, plenty of them, cheap-- just begging to be shot a 1/2 dozen times or so. ZenA might be able to hook you up with a few

Why aren't they free all over to shoot? Seems the farmers are all complaining about the 100's millions of damage and they want you to pay to shoot them. How can a guy from outbid state find a place that lets you on for free?

Interesting, looks like I'll need to order some ballistics gel. I bought some stuff to try to make it a while back for broadhead testing but never got around to it. Also it wouldn't be the legit calibrated kind.

I can't believe I never tried "loading down" my velocities. I always tried putting the bullet catching system out at long distance to hit it when the round is slowing down. Good call.

don't waste your money.....just get some Knox and a plastic tub. Then put it in the shop fridge and re melt it after you use it. You can calibrate it with your red rider. Then calculate what it would do if your not exact 10%

 

[Reelamin]

That is a very valid consideration.

This was intended for @cohunt. Watch the Independent tests and even guys testing it in gel videos. They pretty much call BS on the spinning claim. Some even run totally different twist barrels and really call BS on the claim.

 

[Reelamin]

I hate technology. Tried something on phone and screwed it up.

 

[DoneNOut]

A wild hog from TX, plenty of them, cheap-- just begging to be shot a 1/2 dozen times or so. ZenA might be able to hook you up with a few

This forum has turned me into an amateur coroner! Finding the slug on opposite hide is always a treat!

 

[Chuckrub]

Problem with "loading down" is that you drastically slow down the rpm of your bullets too, this messes up the expansion .as rpm at impact is a major factor of expansion

rpm slows as soon as it leaves the barrel along with speed. I learned that over 50 years ago playing with spinning tops

 

[DoneNOut]

Why aren't they free all over to shoot? Seems the farmers are all complaining about the 100's millions of damage and they want you to pay to shoot them. How can a guy from outbid state find a place that lets you on for free?

I joke about this all the time. "Hey ya'll, we are over run with feral hogs destroying everything! So, come pay us to help us out with our problem!" I equate it to having the plumber pay me to fix my broken pipe. LOL

I might be one of the last lucky guys in the world. The past 20yrs I've been able to vermin reduce hogs on a ranch for free. The rancher is a logical man.