Bullet Testing Experiment

[dmurphy317]

Here are the final results of my son"™s science fair experiment where he was testing 3 different bullets for penetration. The bullets he chose were all lead and included a .535 round ball, 54 cal 310 gr. Buffalo Ball-et and a 54 cal 410 gr. Maxiball. The tests shots were done using 60gr of Pyrodex RS from his 54 cal CVA Bobcat into damp clay at a distance of 5 yards. The reason for the low powder amount is to approximate an impact at distance instead of point blank. Here are the individual shots and their stats. Weights were done in grams since this was for his science class.

[align=left] Bullet 54 PRB Powder Charge 60
Shot 1 Shot 2 Shot 3 Shot 4 Shot 5Average SD MaxMin Spread
Velocity 12261238 1250 1233 1177 1224.800 28.119 1250 1177 73.000
Penetration 9 7.75 9 99.258.800 0.597 9.25 7.75 1.500
Pre Weight 15 14.9 15.1 14.9 15.1 15.000 0.100 15.1 14.9 0.200
Post Weight 15 14.9 14.9 14.8 15 14.920 0.084 1514.8 0.200
Weight lost 0 0 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.080 0.084Avg. % Retained 99.467
Max Expan. 0.801 0.8570.867 0.833 0.833 0.838 0.026 0.867 0.801 0.066

Bullet 54 Ball-et Powder Charge 60
Shot 1 Shot 2 Shot 3 Shot 4 Shot 5 Average SD Max Min Spread
Velocity 997 895 7971044 996945.8 99.382 1044 797247.000
Penetration10.75 12 11 12.75 12.25 11.750 0.848 12.7510.75 2.000
Pre Weight 20 20.2 20 20.05 20 20.050 0.08720.2 20 0.200
Post Weight 19.9 20 19.9 20 19.9 19.940 0.055 20 19.9 0.100
Weight lost 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.05 0.1 0.110 0.055 Avg. % Retained 99.451
Max Expan. 0.727 0.577 0.565 0.75 0.63 0.650 0.0850.75 0.565 0.185


Bullet 54 Maxi Powder Charge 60
Shot 1Shot 2Shot 3Shot 4Shot 5Average SD Max Min Spread
Velocity 870 971 9361011 907939 54.7771011 870141.000
Penetration 17 1615.518.75 14.7516.400 1.547 18.7514.75 4.000
Pre Weight 26.6 26.6 26.6 26.15 26.1 26.410 0.261 26.6 26.1 0.500
Post Weight 26.5 26.4 26.4 26.1 26.05 26.290 0.201 26.5 26.05 0.450
Weight lost 0.1 0.2 0.20.05 0.05 0.120 0.076 Avg. % Retained 99.546
Max Expan. 0.575 0.623 0.627 0.596 0.5990.604 0.021 0.627 0.575 0.052
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The shots were made over 2 days mainly due to the amount of time it took to find the bullets after each shot. We started off with a plastic garbage can that was only big enough to do 1 shot at a time. On the second day of testing I had made a wooden box out of scrape plywood so we could do more than one shot at a time then measure the approximate depth and dig out the bullets from the top instead of the entry, it proved to be easier and faster. Next is a picture of the bullets laid out in order for comparison.



For a comparison we also shot 2 150 grain 30-30 rounds into the damp clay to see how well it penetrated. Shot 1 was at 5 yards and went 8.25 inches into the clay. Shot 2 was at 50 yards and went 7.5 inches in but it separated and the core could not be found. Then my son wanted to see what would happen with his Apex elk load, 285gr Barnes and 100gr of Pyrodex P launched at around 1730 fps. The 5 yard shot would represent a worst case scenario for many bullets due to the high impact velocity. The all copper bullet penetrated 17 inches and only lost .8 grains in weight. I must say that is one amazing bullet.

[frontier gander]

I like the last pic the most. Thats the reason i no longer use those bullets, havent used them since my first year muzzleloading due to 2 lost deer. Barely got the 3ed one.

Great pics and info. Surprised with #2 and 3 on the ball-ets

[dmurphy317]

Sorry about the way it posted the first time, for some reason the chart didn't come out right. I re edited it so it looks right now. More pictures to come when I get time.

FG, I too was surprized by Ball-et's 2 and 3. So what was the problem with the bullet you use to use?

[frontier gander]

I used a 240 grain maxi ball with 70 grains pyrodex RS, Shot my first buck at 80 yards in the chest. One small splatter of blood, deer was never found.

The second buck and a friggin huge SOB, 65 yards, Put it right behind his shoulder, he jumped up in the air like they normally do with a lung shot and he takes off haulin tail. My brother and i wait about 10-15 minutes and start up the mountain to where he stood, Fair amount of blood that lasted 1 foot and then zero. We continue to search for half an hour and i turn back and look on the next ridge 2-300 yards away and theres the 4 deer standing there looking at me! They take off and that was the last i ever saw of him. It kills me now just thinking of him. He had double drop tines on one side of his rack and this was a mule deer, not a white tail!

Next day, same load, an easy close range 30 yard shot, First shot was a few inches higher than i wanted due to the close range he was, he trots off for 1/4 mile, we get into the truck and find the property owner cutting hay and he allows us to go in and shoot him, Perfect 60 yard shot right through the center of his lungs, SOB hauls Arse for 1/2 mile and then lays down next to a cattle guard! We gave him about 20 minutes, Hes "dead" when we get there, dad slits his throat. Throw him into the back of the truck, get into the camp pull off area and my dad looks in the rearview mirror and the SOB is standing straight up!
At 30 yards, the bullet didnt even exit the lung shot, We never did find the bullet, im guessing it was in the gut pile.

Keep in mind this was my first year muzzleloading and it wasnt easy.

The next year i upgraded to a TC renegade with a 295 grain powerbelt over 90 grains RS, First year hunting the Greenhorn Mountains Wilderness area we were driving the ATV's closer to our hunting area when my dad spotted 3 bucks 40-50 yards away. I went to pull the trigger on my renegade and guess what.... Forgot to pull the darn hammer back! I never shot a deer with the renegade i had.
Dad busted his first muzzleloader buck a couple days later with his cabelas hawken.

Almost every year after that ive got a deer.

I wont ever use the maxi ball ever again, not even for targets.

[dmurphy317]

FG,
Sorry to hear you had trouble with the Maxi's. In reading what they are designed for I found that they are mostly meant for elk, moose and bear where you need maximum penetration. Maybe they are too much for deer size animals.

My son picked them for a couple of reasons, First, because we already had them and they were of the right size and caliber for the test. Second, they were the closest thing we had to the nose design of the other 2 bullets.

[frontier gander]

Wouldnt really consider the 240 grain maxi ball an elk bullet.

I actually just found a 350 grain maxi hunter i shot out of my X-150 with 100 grains pyro rs and it hit a sand stone rock. Barely any mushrooming at all.

That was a hard first year but ive learned much more and now found all my performing loads.

[Underclocked]

Did he include units in the charts he made for his project? Those numbers might be less useful to someone unfamiliar with ballistics, especially without the units.

Interesting - hope he gets an A.

[RugerMike]

Question the Barnes 285 copper bullet you shot? Was it a polymer tip type? Similar to the SSTfrom Hornady? I love to see the impacted bullet as well, please? You can e-mail me at mikem@tls.net or post here?
Thanks
Mike

[dmurphy317]

Mike,
Here you go on the Barnes, it looks like it may have hit a small rock or something in the clay since one side folded the wrong way. This is not one of the polymer tipped bullets.

[dmurphy317]

Here are some pictures of 2 bullets impact points and wound channels, left is a Maxiball, right is a Ball-et. (Edited to correct for proper bullet location).






The gardning spade on the left is about 9 inches long for a reference.