Full Report: WWB (Walmart) .45acp HP

[Josh Smith]

Since my pistol is functioning again, I decided to start testing a bit early this year. I have to know that my ammo functions.


Most of you are familiar with my setup by now, 4 layers of denim over the first milk jug.

I did not make a movie this time, though it likely would have been fun to watch.


After the shot I found the first jug shredded on the ground. Not pictured was the denim layer, as it's nothing spectacular.


The second jug was blown out...


... as was the third jug. The fourth jug is leaking in this picture.


The bullet came to rest about halfway through the fourth jug.

I did not measure the bullet as I cannot find half my stuff. The jacket did try to separate, and it looks as if the bullet just ignored the effects of the denim.


My deceased grandfather was an intelligence officer in WWII, operating out of England into the European Theater. This picture was taken on one of his GI blankets. You can see the bullet well expanded, next to the silver half dollar.

I like this ammo.

The bottom line is this: After passing through four layers of denim, a Winchester White Box 230 grain hollowpoint round will expand in the first 6" or so of water and continue on for a total of about 21" of penetration in water, or about 10 to 12 inches in gelatin. Not the latest and greatest hollowpoint out there, it is certainly still serviceable.

Josh <><

[sjstill]

Thanks for the info. I bought a box of those to test also, just haven't done it yet.

I normally carry Federal 230 HST, non +P in my Kimber.

[Disposable Heart]

Hey steve! We gonna get the sandbarrel out again!?

[Josh Smith]

Sand barrel?

[sjstill]

Originally Posted by Josh Smith

Sand barrel?

35 gallon trash can filled with sand.

It's real purpose in life is a clearing barrel at the range, but we've found it has MPD

Gotta start saving milk jugs again. Gotta get the time to get out and shoot again, too.

[Disposable Heart]

Informal test. 4-6 layers of denim on top of a barrel of sand, fire into it. Not very scientific (I will get to that in a minute) but if it doesnt clog with those two factors, then you have a good bullet design (and even load/velocity). My new pet is a bunch of 3n37 behind a Nosler sporting HP and it rocks! Accurate and looks like a little mushroom (with a pointy top too!).

Water, gelatin, sand really doesnt replicate the elasticity of a human's mortal coil. They will, however, test a round to see if it expands in something close to flesh, almost guranteeing it's success against mortal coil ( I love that term).

I have sandbarreled almost all my pet loads and have some real mean ones, some of pretty meek origins (BTW, Berry's plated HP bullets act very similarly to the older Nyclad bullets of old). I enjoy bullet testing (Wish I could work for Nosler or Sierra, not in the cards) and would love to share some of my findings with you. I will get some of it together and send it to you. Heck, I may start a new thread (a sticky on any or all bullet testing would be awesome).

[Josh Smith]

Thanks to both.

I was thinking about the 55 gallon drum filled with sand that you point the gun at while decocking the piece.

Since hollowpoints are designed to operate off of hydraulic action, I never thought about using sand as a test medium. But hey, if it works... I'm not a Jello snob!

Josh <><