There is only water in the jugs, no ice. I believe what looks to be ice in the jugs is just the back side of the labels magnified by the water. There may have been thin ice on some of the puddles, but most of them were ice free also. There was a little snow scattered here and there.

The explosive effect of this brass bullet wasn't much. Only the front 2 of the 6 jugs showed much damage; the rest only had a small hole in, and a small hole out. The last 4 jugs just jumped, and stood there upright with the water running out the 45 caliber holes. All the other bullet i shot through these jugs either shredded them or knocked them over.

Every other bullet fired through the jugs blew plastic and water all around; the Nosler penetrates as far as the brass bullet, plus it has a far greater 'shock' effect. The Gold Dot, and the xtp don't penetrate as far, but they sure blew water and pieces of jug all around the area. The XTP, Gold Dot, and Nosler all shredded the jugs, and made quite a show; not so the brass bullet.

Myself, i won't be using the brass bullet for hunting. I was some surprised the Nosler can penetrate as far as the brass bullet. The XTP isn't an elk bullet, but it certainly is fine for deer. The Gold Dot is a great bullet for deer. The Nosler is great for deer, and elk, and ............................

I have only 1 question left unanswered. Even though i have already shot the 270g 44 caliber Gold Dot through water jugs, and admire how they did, i don't have a quantitative measure of their penetration like i do for the other bullets. I've a hunch the 44 caliber Gold Dot will penetrate more than the 45 caliber Gold Dot. Soon i will have the answer, after i drink some more juice.