Posted a while back on Ruger forum, thought folks over here might be interested in results. Have not posted here in a while.

Was up early (early enough I knew I'd have the whole range to myself) one Sunday morning and decided to load up the speed-loaders and clips and head to the range to test penetration and chronograph the Federal 140 grain .357 Barns bullet against what I presently carry. The rounds were shot (from 15 feet) into a bullet trap consisting of shredded rubber mulch, carefully dug out and the penetration measured.

I KNOW it's not ballistics gel. But at least it can give a side by side comparison of various bullets....cheaply. I use the trap primarily to recycle the lead for bullet casting.

The guns were: 340pd and a S&W 627

Present carry ammo:

Buffalo Bore 158 grain LHP 38+p Chronographs at 1000fps from the 340pd

Remington 158 grain sjhp (these were hand-loads with nearly identical velocity to the factory stuff with the "zero" brand bullets) @ 1250 +/- about 25fps from the 5" barrel 627

Federal 140 grain advertised at 1400fps but actually chronographed at about 1320 from the 5" barrel and around 1100fps from the snubby.

Results with the 340pd:

My typical carry ammo from this gun, the Buffalo Bore, penetrated between 10 and 12 inches into the mulch and was a bit "hit and miss" with the expansion.


In contrast, the 140 grain Barnes bullet penetrated 17 to 20 inches into the mulch and expanded consistently to between .5 and .6" This round might actually be a viable self defense round out of the snubby.


Results with the model 627:

My typical carry ammo (simulated here with pretty much identical results to the factory ammo) is the 158 grain Remington sjhp. Penetration was pretty consistent at 14 to 16 inches, and expansion was pretty consistent at about .5" Occasionally a round would fragment, as seen in the bullet pictured on the left, below.


The Barns bullet penetrated a whopping 24 inches (the whole length of the trap) and the petals were swept back further than when the same bullet was fired from the snubby. For the life of me, I can't figure out why this lighter bullet, that expands as much as the heavier one above, ends up penetrating so much further.....so much so, that I will not be using the 140 grain Barnes out of the 5" gun as a SD round. It should be just fine for medium game though, when I traipse through the condor zone.

Thanks for the great report. It looks like the 140gr Barns bullets expand more reliably. That's something to think about. I've been carrying 145gr Winchester Silvertip ammo in my M640. I wonder how it would compare to the ammo you tested.

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SWCA #3437

Interesting results, good data recorded and pics taken. But it is what it is...how bullets perform when they hit rubber.

Great info! Glad to see that a 1 7/8" .357 mag is still a "magnum" from the short tube. (I carry Corbons 125 gr DPX in my 640-1)

All copper bullets are less dense than copper and lead. The all copper bullet will weigh less, but be the same length as a heavier copper and lead bullet. Sectional density and all that stuff.

Copper is the way of the future it appears, no jacket separation, great results etc. I carry it in a lot of guns now except for a few tried and true rounds.

I have been working with this bullet but as a handloading proposition. What I have found so far is it doesn't seem to work well in .38 Special. The bullets are keyholing, and I think that's because I can't get enough powder in the case to get this bullet to stabilize out of my 2" Model 64. Results are much better in my .357 Magnum 4" Model 627. I'm working up some loads and I'll see how close I can get to your 1320 FPS. From the looks of your test results, it looks like this bullet will live up to my expectations. Too bad they're so expensive.

Dave Sinko