Recent content by jupiter1

...when the fat lady sings.

I remember that article. The 200 gr load was never intended to defeat cars. It is an antipersonnel round that is a good penetrator of tissue/bone. Most RNL loads, in standard service calibers, are handicapped penetrating auto sheet metal due to the deformation of soft lead bullets. That's why...

I've seen chronograph tests from years ago that listed velocities in the high 500 to 600fps from a 2 inch bbl. As far as catching a bullet in your teeth, think about catching a broad head traveling at half the velocity of those 200 grainers, in your teeth. I don't think there would be any...

That was a Speer .45 ACP load.

Correct; the .38-44 High Velocity round was developed for increased penetration of auto bodies in response to the widespread use of automobiles by the auto bandits of the 30's. The metal point rounds improved on those. I remember seeing a KTW load that used a very dark colored, 200gr pointed...

I experimented with the .357 and .38 Special versions of those years ago. Both behaved similarly to FMJ 9mm on auto sheet metal; the .357 only more so. Only the tip of the bullets are jacketed; a guilding metal cap. The bearing surfaces that contact the bore are lubricated lead just like 158 gr...

I am familiar with their work. They had no access to videos back then and their methodology has been challenged by others in the field. The videos we have now will remove the human error from anecdotal accounts, out of the equation.

This could be settled once and for all. We now have hundreds of videos of police shootings. All that is missing from most of them is the caliber and the specific load used. If law enforcement wanted to do a real study, all they would have to do is gather that missing information and the autopsy...

I have a suspicion that those bullets may be producing larger gel cavities mostly because of their higher than normal velocities and their very light weight for the caliber. Their very low sectional density causes a sudden braking effect similar to what is produced by expanding bullets...

RNL was our issue round till the mid 70's. The only criticism I heard about it was penetration of auto sheet metal. Otherwise, it seemed to do OK from what I heard at that time, I never heard of the term 'widow maker' until the internet came along.

Those 18 round boxes were made for police issue; 12 rounds for drop pouches or speed loaders and 6 rounds in the revolver.

I tend to believe that the .38 Colt was given an unjustified bad rap. It was in service during an unusual time when our soldiers faced determined, fanatical foes, armed with fearsome edged weapons. I suspect that if the reign of the .45 service cartridge was stretched into that time, the result...

There seems to be no problem with oxidation on bullets of 50 yr old standard velocity .22 LR ammo. The bullet lubricant applied at the factory preserves them quite well.

Stop buying; problem solved.

I believe you are right. Apparently, people were satisfied with the power levels of the revolvers back then. Colt could have made longer cylinders and frames for his 1851 Navy if there was a demand for a more powerful.36; a .36 magnum so to speak. Our present service calibers are adequate for...