Ammo Testing Why?

[Sailor]

I see a lot of ammo tests on here and was wondering is it just for curiosity sake, or for practical purposes?

To be honest the only testing I do is for feeding. I shoot 9mm and use hand loads for training and Corbon DBX for carry.

My goal in training is fist size groups heart and head. Am I wrong to think that a couple of shots in either place will have the same affect with any modern expanding bullet?

[esrice]

If Chevy says their Corvette will do 150mph, do you take their word for it?? Heck no! You run it up to 150mph just to make sure they're not lyin'!

Plus it looks like fun.

[karlsgunbunker]

Everybody need a hobby. lol

[Disposable Heart]

Sailor: Welcome to the best concept in defensive shooting that no one else in the world seems to get: Shot placement. You can shoot a guy with FMJ and as long as you place your shots correctly, you will come out a survivor. Expanding bullets simply improve the odds (no such thing as a one shot stop) of stopping the attacker if a incorrectly placed shot is made. I AM NOT TRYING TO MAKE THIS A FMJ VS HP THREAD so dont go there.

The DPX has been given rave reviews, but mostly in gelatin or water. These mediums (as I said in another thread) do not have the elasticity of human mortal coil. It works great in the other mediums, so it will work how it was designed in flesh.

The biggest thing one must worry about in terms of an expanding bullet is clogging the hollow and feeding. If it feeds, great! If the bullet itself clogs on denim, then its no good. I only trust testing that is done with denim. I would trust it more if they used a 2" sheet of plyboard between their jugs of water or what not to simulate bone (that heart is a tricky, armored part).

Your DPX, while expensive, has proven itself in denim tests with flying colors. Try this site:
terminal ballistics
He does a good job of trying the different rounds (doesnt denim very many, but alot of the ones he sees good performance in). Water is a poor substitute (but NOOOO, we cant go and shoot meth dealing poisonous scum because that's "illegal"), but works for bullet function.

I would buy the Barnes component bullet for the DPX for my own loads if they were not prohibitively expensive. :(

[epsylum]

Testing is to see if what the manufacturer claims is true. Manufacturers claim a lot of things in the name of sales *cough* Extreme Shock *cough,cough*, now it is up to us as the consumer to try and keep them honest by testing their claims. One test is not a big enough sample, so many people like to test them themselves and compare data found elsewhere. Really it is the scientific process in action. We want reliable, repeatable outcomes, just in our case under a whole bunch of different circumstances (different clothing, different angles, etc.).

In the end, yes shot placement trumps all. JHP performance is sort of like taking boxing lessons. Anyone can punch someone and can possibly knock someone out, but with training and technique it will make one's punches stronger and more effective. A good JHP will make that accurate hit you landed more effective.

[Disposable Heart]

Eric, you should know about boxing lessons . Soon enough, you wont need a gun (or that nice Mac-10) .

[epsylum]

Originally Posted by Disposable Heart

Eric, you should know about boxing lessons . Soon enough, you wont need a gun (or that nice Mac-10) .

Unless I can shoot fire balls out of my hands (hadouken!!!), I will still need them.

It is a MAC-11 BTW. Even smaller and more effecient.

[Disposable Heart]

Soon, you will be eating WWB and crapping out hard cast lead!

Extreme shock is such a joke. Premier used to sell it then put it on their clearance ammo rack. I bought a sleeve of it and shot it in my Model 22 last weekend just for fun (plus I yelled EXTREME SHOCK in my mind everytime I fired). PUt it this way: All the .40 from the winter time that the cops dropped and soaked in water fired just fine (WWB 165 gr.) The Extreme Shock that was new, FTF every time. Terrible!