I was testing some ammo out using one gallon water jugs stuffed with shredded news paper wet and packed.
set up 3 jugs filled with news paper then 1/4 plywood then one more news paper jug, jug 5 water then phone book.
fire line 12yds S&W 2 1/2 barrel

jug #3
158gr plated fp
140gr flex tip 18grs win 296
140gr semi jacketed hp 18gr win 296
158gr semi jacketed hp Win
no real expansion

jug4
140gr flex tip no real expansion tip poped out
158gr semi jacketed hp no real expansion
140gr semi jacketed hp no real expansion
158gr federal hydra shok hp .605 expansion

jug 5 water
158gr semi jacketed sp no real expansion
140gr semi jacketed hp .472 expansion

phone phone
Two 158gr plated fp no real expansion
140gr flex tip no real expansion
150 gr PMC starfire hp no real expansion

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A water jug stuffed with wet newspaper isn't a good test media.

Actually neither is water but it's better. I suggest lining up several water jugs back to back and testing the ammo again. I have a feeling you will get better results.

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SWCA #3437

To the "A water jug stuffed with wet newspaper isn't a good test media." Why not?

To the "I suggest lining up several water jugs back to back and testing the ammo again. I have a feeling you will get better results." I have all ready tried it 8 water jugs and at the end a phone book, all the rounds I fired no expansion.

Sorry to have bothered you, I won't in the future.

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SWCA #3437

This is a Federal HST .45 fired through three milk jugs of water. It went through the first two, and stuck into the third.

I'm not questioning your choice of test media, but..........

Unless you threw, not fired, those rounds at the water-filled jugs, your statement above is pure BS.

Thousands of tests, readily available in print and video, prove that hollowpoint bullets of every caliber and nearly every design consistently expand in water-filled jugs. I've personally fired hundreds of rounds into water-filled jugs over the past 40+ years and only on rare occasions has a hollowpoint bullet not expanded. rromeo's photo is typical of what you'd expect to see.

Look here for one of the plethora of test sites available on the Internet-----> terminal ballistics

.357 Magnum results-----> terminal 357 magnum

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Steve
NJ State Trooper (rtd)

I stated with water jugs
150gr PMC Starfire hp no expansion
140gr and 158gr Semi jacket HP the lead flattened sum to the jacketing dia .365
and I looked back at my records and it was not 8 but 6 water jugs and a Phone book at the end.
That’s when I started looking on line and came across some web sites where they used newspaper wet in water jugs.
I wish my tests turned out that good as that terminal ballistics link did

Thanks rromeo


great photo

I will have to make my 45acp a summer project

The human body is mostly water. The gelatin blocks that you see used in ballistic testing are just a matrix to hold that water, that simulates tissue. I have taught anatomy, and I paid my way through college working for the medical examiner of a large populous county. I saw a few bullet wounds! If you are working on the cheap (not making your own gelatain), water jugs are your most realistic test medium. Cover them with material to simulate clothing, a side of ribs, or something like wallboard or wood if you are trying to test bullet expansion after penetrating a hard surface.

I don't know where this facination with newspaper and phone books, wet, dry, or shredded comes from, but as fun as it might be, it is a terrible test media and has no relationship to anything you are likely to encounter in the real world. Don't waste your time and ammo!

I would be interested in the test with Horandy XTP and Winchester Silver Tips.