Trophy COPPER BULLET WATER JUG TEST
 

THIS TEST WAS DONE IN JUNE


Wanted to do a water jug test of these bullets to see if they would EXPAND as they say they do, BUT AT THE 100 YARD AND 200 YARD TEST, I HAD TO KNOW .

THE SET UP WAS THE SAME AS THE ACCURACY TEST.

Went out yesterday mourning, temp was 42 degrees, Humidity was 96% 2 mph wind,

110 grains of BH 209. Started off with 6 bullets for the test and finished the test with 3 to take home.

First test was the 100 yard water jug test, pic #1, bullet was found in the #3 jug, bullet opened up like they were made to open up, Real Nice.
The 200 yard test, There are 2 parts to this test,
1st test, the water jugs pic 2, The base of the bullet was found in the #2 water jug, pic #3 the bullet on the other hand was found in the #5 water jug, The bullet did not open up at all. This was the reason for the next test. To see if it would happen again at the same yardage of 200 yards.
Test #2 Instead of using the water jugs, I shot into the plastic back stop that I was using, there was a 7/16th fiber board that was on the bale, I used that, as the target for my aim point, After shooting into it, We found the base of the bullet 2.5 inches into the bale. loaded everything up and brought it home to start looking for the bullet. Found it about 8 inches into the bale Pic #4 shows the front of the bullet still in the plastic with wood fiber in the nose of it, and that the bullet did not open on impact with the board or the plastic. pic #5 shows the back side of the bullet still in the plastic

Pic # 6 shows the top of all the bullets

HERE IS A PICTURE OF THE RANGE, THAT I SHOOT AT. 100, 200, 300 YARD RANGE
<a href="http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/Dlethcoe1/media/IMG_0012_zps8e4c118b.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q624/Dlethcoe1/IMG_0012_zps8e4c118b.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0012_zps8e4c118b.jpg"/></a>


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PICTURE OF THE TEST SETUP
<a href="http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/Dlethcoe1/media/100yardsetup_zpsc049a257.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q624/Dlethcoe1/100yardsetup_zpsc049a257.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 100yardsetup_zpsc049a257.jpg"/></a>

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100 yards THE Bullet WAS FOUND In THE 3rd WATER JUG
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200 YARD WATER JUG TEST, BASE OF THE BULLET WAS FOUND IN THE 2ND JUG, THE BULLET MADE IT TO THE # 5 JUG.
<a href="http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/Dlethcoe1/media/200ydbasein2jug_zps569135c8.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q624/Dlethcoe1/200ydbasein2jug_zps569135c8.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 200ydbasein2jug_zps569135c8.jpg"/></a>

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#5 JUG. BULLET DID NOT OPEN ON IMPACK
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PART 2 OF THE TEST, USING THE PLASTIC BALE THAT WAS MY BACK STOP FOR A TARGET, WITH A PIECE OF 7/16 INCH FIBER BOARD. THE BULLET DID NOT OPEN WITH THIS TEST ALSO. FRONT OF THE BULLET WITH FIBER BOARD STILL IN IT.
<a href="http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/Dlethcoe1/media/200ydtest2_zpsb7de8a7c.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q624/Dlethcoe1/200ydtest2_zpsb7de8a7c.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 200ydtest2_zpsb7de8a7c.jpg"/></a>

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BACK OF THE BULLET STILL IN THE PLASTIC
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A PICTURE OF ALL THE BULLETS THAT WERE USED AND 1 THAT WAS NOT.
The bullet that went into the plastic bale shows that it deformed upon impact.
<a href="http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/Dlethcoe1/media/IMG_0028_zps8685f5dc.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q624/Dlethcoe1/IMG_0028_zps8685f5dc.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0028_zps8685f5dc.jpg"/></a>

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I feel that this bullet is a great bullet, very accurate. Loads very easy, no sabots needed.
Carlos was informed of the finding of the tests that I did.

AT THE TIME OF THE TESTING, THERE WAS A RANGE MASTER FROM THE GUN CLUB WHERE I DID THE TESTING, AND A FRIEND THAT WAS THERE TO HELP WITH THE SET UP AND CLEAN UP. IF SOMEONE NEEDS NAMES AND NUMBERS LET ME KNOW, AND I WILL P.M THEM TO YOU.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU, GOES OUT TO THE HAWKEYE RIFLE AND PISTOL CLUB, OF SIOUX CITY IA. FOR ALLOWING US DO THIS ON THEIR RIFLE RANGE. THANK YOU


Dave

Dave, if you use the IMG code in Photobucket instead of the HTTP code your images will show in the post.

Thanks, It has been a while since I have done it.

so i'm left to wonder if expansion will be a problem with these bullets?
i read a review last night from a hunter that shot 2 deer in the same day from under 15 yards (tree stand shots i think) and neither bullet was recovered. it caused me to wonder if a shot that is so close in range typically holds shape until some of the energy/velocity is lost. the first was a high back and second a clean lung shot.
they do look like an interesting option though.

My test was done with the bullets before they were released to the public, and they have inproved them, As far as the recovery of the bullet from the deer, I assume they were pass thru shots, The only way to see if they did there job as to opening up, would be to see how the exit hole was, if it was about the size of a golf ball, then I would say that it open up like they are suppose to.

for sure.
one thing i can really get behind with these bullets is no need for a sabot. i'm currently shooting powerbelt aerolite bullets from my optima for the same reason. they are also accurate as can be but again they leave me with mixed reviews about expansion on impact.
i have yet to do any real world testing as i failed to bring an animal home this muzzleloader season again!

powerbelt aerolite bullet are a great bullet and they do a great job, I have not played with them very much, so I can not say very much about them.
In my MR I shoot it sabotless and have had great accuracy with Hornady and the Barnes bullets, My season starts the 6th of Dec so I hope to see how they do, Other wise I have been shooting the Hornady 452, and the 458/250 gr Monoflex bullets.

so you mean you just load it without the sabot? i never really even considered that as a possibility as i assumed the projectile would tumble if the gasses didn't seal relatively evenly

The bullets that I have been playing with for the MR, are Hornady 500/300 gr FTX and the Barnes 500/275 XPB both are hand gun bullets. You knurl them up to fit your barrel (some need more and some need less) depends on your barrel, I like to use a felt wad between the powder and the bullet to help seal the gases,(there are sub bases by MMP also but have not tried them), There is some great info about it on this forum about it, check out sabotless shooting.