Sand Testing

Disposable Heart · 05-19-2008

While not accurate, sand testing does test whether or not (especially with denim covering the sand barrel) a round will clog. As to their actual performance, many of the rounds tested actually mimic those recovered in gelatin and water testing. Heres a few of my pet loads (all have been tested with denim over a wet sand barrel):

Upper, left to right:
115gr Sierra Powerjacket (9x19) with a light 4.5gr. Titegroup behind it (1100fps)

147gr Hornady XTP (9x19) with 6.3gr. Bluedot behind it (roughly 1050 fps)

115gr Gold Dot (9x19) with a heavy charge of Bluedot (cant remember, chronoed at 1200 fps, replica of factory load). Very low flash too despite being Bluedot!

My Favorite: 115gr Nosler Sporting JHP (9x19), bunch of 3N37 behind it (1250 fps). Very low flash. Nosler claimed reliable expansion at 700 fps. This one expanded and folded back on itself, almost like a mushroom with a very pointy top. Ouch! Also very low flash for all the handloaders out there. When I sent the pic to Nosler and told them of the scenario (denim covered sand), they told me to rest assured that their bullets will expand despite even the worst clogging situations. I am a believer.

124gr Berry's copperplated HP (9x19) with a stout charge (5 gr. Unique) for 1200fps. Reminds me of the Federal Nyclads for 9mm.

Lower Row, left to right:

Hornady 158gr SWCHP (.38 Spec) with a stout charge of Titegroup (900 fps). Didnt expand very well (more deformation) and leaded horribly. I thought it was the powder, but after a variety of lower velocities and powders, the bullets still leaded like nuts. :(

200gr Berry's Plated HP (.45) with a good charge of Unique (browning concept load replica). Neato! Retained 195grs and expanded consisently to .655" roughly. I would load more of these. Penetrated pretty deep too (sand not an good indicator of penetration, but a foot and a half is pretty good in my book).

Anyone interested in a certain round, give it to me at the range and I will test it!

All the Best,
Disposable Heart

Disposable Heart · 05-19-2008

Oops, need the pic.

absrio · 05-21-2008

An interesting side note about shooting in sand. If you shoot a either a 350gr Hornady XTP at 2087 fps or a 400gr Sierra JSP at 1870fps out of the 500 S&W mag you will find nice mushroomed jackets but very little bits of lead.

05-19-2008	#1 (permalink)
Disposable Heart By popular demand, Anime Chicks again!!! Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 959	Sand Testing While not accurate, sand testing does test whether or not (especially with denim covering the sand barrel) a round will clog. As to their actual performance, many of the rounds tested actually mimic those recovered in gelatin and water testing. Heres a few of my pet loads (all have been tested with denim over a wet sand barrel): Upper, left to right: 115gr Sierra Powerjacket (9x19) with a light 4.5gr. Titegroup behind it (1100fps) 147gr Hornady XTP (9x19) with 6.3gr. Bluedot behind it (roughly 1050 fps) 115gr Gold Dot (9x19) with a heavy charge of Bluedot (cant remember, chronoed at 1200 fps, replica of factory load). Very low flash too despite being Bluedot! My Favorite: 115gr Nosler Sporting JHP (9x19), bunch of 3N37 behind it (1250 fps). Very low flash. Nosler claimed reliable expansion at 700 fps. This one expanded and folded back on itself, almost like a mushroom with a very pointy top. Ouch! Also very low flash for all the handloaders out there. When I sent the pic to Nosler and told them of the scenario (denim covered sand), they told me to rest assured that their bullets will expand despite even the worst clogging situations. I am a believer. 124gr Berry's copperplated HP (9x19) with a stout charge (5 gr. Unique) for 1200fps. Reminds me of the Federal Nyclads for 9mm. Lower Row, left to right: Hornady 158gr SWCHP (.38 Spec) with a stout charge of Titegroup (900 fps). Didnt expand very well (more deformation) and leaded horribly. I thought it was the powder, but after a variety of lower velocities and powders, the bullets still leaded like nuts. :( 200gr Berry's Plated HP (.45) with a good charge of Unique (browning concept load replica). Neato! Retained 195grs and expanded consisently to .655" roughly. I would load more of these. Penetrated pretty deep too (sand not an good indicator of penetration, but a foot and a half is pretty good in my book). Anyone interested in a certain round, give it to me at the range and I will test it! All the Best, Disposable Heart __________________ I figure that BO has put more steel on American streets than GM has in the past year! All gun store owners should put a picture of Obama in their store, with salesman of the month below it.

05-19-2008	#2 (permalink)
Disposable Heart By popular demand, Anime Chicks again!!! Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 959	Oops, need the pic. __________________ I figure that BO has put more steel on American streets than GM has in the past year! All gun store owners should put a picture of Obama in their store, with salesman of the month below it. Last edited by Disposable Heart; 08-12-2008 at 06:03.

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05-21-2008	#3 (permalink)
absrio Plinker Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 54	An interesting side note about shooting in sand. If you shoot a either a 350gr Hornady XTP at 2087 fps or a 400gr Sierra JSP at 1870fps out of the 500 S&W mag you will find nice mushroomed jackets but very little bits of lead.