Help interpreting ammo test

[uncle norman]

Yesterday I went to the range and did some water-filled milk jug testing. I shot at very short range (10 feet from muzzle) to keep from missing the lined up jugs. I fired one round of several types of ammo from the .38, .357, 9mm, .40 and 45. All popped the jugs and made things close by wet. But my 3rd round was a 135gr .357 Gold Dot Short Barrel out of a Ruger SP101. When it hit, the first jug exploded and shot water back on me and everything on both sides. It stopped in the 3rd jug and had beautifully peeled back petals. After I moved my range bag 20 feet to the side, got a fresh, dry piece of paper to mark on and dried my glasses I fired my 9mm with a +P 124gr Gold Dot (not a Short Barrel). It hit about like all the other rounds which didn't douse me and peeled back nicely and stopped in the 3rd jug. My question is this: How could the .357 135gr GDSB at about 980fps splatter so much more than the 9mm 124gr +P at about 1250fps? The only thought I have at this time is maybe the .357 expanded too quickly and gave up too much energy in the 1st jug. I don't like that if that is the case. It might mean I wouldn't get deep enough penetration to get through heavy clothing and ribs on a BG. Can anyone help me interpret this?

 

[ChadW]

Sounds like the 9 and .357 both stopped in the third jug.... but the .357 had a more violent splatter?

Sounds like a plus to me!

 

[Ron H.]

Sir, have you chronographed the loads in question? I wouldn't be surprised if the actual velocities were different from the advertised velocities.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[uncle norman]

I haven't chronoed any of them. I'm just going by what the boxes say. I can't believe the fps could be that far off from what Speer lists. If their .357 Short Barrel was moving along at greater than 1250fps I'm sure they'd be touting that.

 

[GatorFarmer]

Could also be something such as a variance in the construction of the water jugs, how the lid fit on, etc.

Some jugs simply burst more easily than others. I've found this out simply by accidentally dropping them (I drink bottled water).

 

[Pisgah]

Sounds to me like you have too much time to think about stuff that is inconsequential ...

 

[uncle norman]

Originally posted by Pisgah:
Sounds to me like you have too much time to think about stuff that is inconsequential ...

Maybe, but I don't what an impressive splatter on some perps chest without a solid hit going in all the way.

 

[OKFC05]

Shoot 15 jugs with each, measure the spatter distance and area, and then come back for a statistical analysis to see if the difference is real and significant. A sample of "one" gets a statistical confidence score of "zero."

So far, all this may amount to is "I threw two coins and one came up heads."

 

[stiab]

so much more than the 9mm 124gr +P at about 1250fps

I could be wrong, but doubt it is really that fast. What barrel length were you using? Although I have not chronoed that particular load, I have tested their non +P version and it averaged 1119 fps from a 4.05" barrel. The only 9mm loads I have tested that went 1250 or above were +P+ Federal and +P+ Remington, and those were only 115 grain bullets. Also, Super Vel 90 grain went over 1250. I could be wrong, but 1250 sounds ambitious to me.

 

[flop-shank]

I've fired Speer SB .357 from a 1 7/8" gun into four layer denim/Perma-Gel and from a 4" 586 into bare Perma-Gel. In each case I got excellent expansion and penetration. That's a great bullet loaded into a great cartridge. It will do it's job if you do yours. Load your gun and stop worrying about it, bro.

The short barrel and heavy cloth were an attempt to choke the bullet. It didn't choke. The 4" barrel and bare gel were to simulate the other end of the spectrum. That is, the most favorable conditions for expansion that the maker claims that cartridge is suited for. It passed each test with flying colors.

 

[Hoptob]

But my 3rd round was a 135gr .357 Gold Dot Short Barrel out of a Ruger SP101. When it hit, the first jug exploded and shot water back on me and everything on both sides.

Nice! Now you should try hitting your jug with full house 125 grainer from a 4-incher. That number should launch it into the orbit.

P.S. I clocked Speer 124 gr. 9 mm+P at 1180 fps from Glock 19.

 

[uncle norman]

Thanks, everyone. I used my Glock 19 for the 9mm shot. I did shoot a 158gr lead nose hollowpoint .357 out of the 101 but I couldn't find it. It didn't penetrate to the 5th jug. Best I can figure it deformed and went off at an angle out the side of the 4th one.

Overall, I shot the Speer from all 4 calibers. I also shot 2 other .40s. The Speers all looked impressive, especially the 230gr .45 out of my Glock 30. The 9 also had sharp petals still sticking out at some nasty angle. I imagine if the bullets continue to spin much after they open up they would act like a sewer cleaner and really cut. The 135gr SB out of the Ruger had the farthest folded back leafs of all the rounds. I guess those people have certainly done their research to get that kind of expansion out of a snubby. My carry rounds are all Speer in whatever piece I am carrying on a particular day. Incidently, all 3 different rounds I shot from my Springfield XD 40 expanded well and went into the 4th jug. All the others that open up stopped in the 3rd.