Tested: Safe Stop Ammo .357 magnum.....

[LOBO]

This test was done using a S&W 686 with a 2 1/2" barrel. The .357 magnum Safe Stop load uses a 125 grain jacketed wadcutter bullet with a wedge type cut-out. The media used was one gallon plastic water jugs lined up one behind the other.

In this test the jacket was found in the first water jug. Before exiting the first jug, the shank and the two "break off" pieces had seperated into three seperate pieces. They made three exit holes in the back of the first jug. The two smaller pieces that broke off the shank made it to the second jug. I was only able to find one of these two pieces. The shank from this round was found in the third water jug.

To me, as a load for self-defense from two-legged predators, this is a very impressive loading! This would be an especially nice load to use for home defense seeing how the bullet is designed to seperate into multiple pieces with limited penetration.

 

[off road]

I don't see how this improves on excellent existing ammunition, like Glasers.

 

[LOBO]

I don't see how this improves on excellent existing ammunition, like Glasers.

The two loads are different animals.

Glaser is a jacket that is filled with shot, then it is secured in place by a "nose cap".

Safe Stop is a conventional jacketed bullet that has been specifically designed to break into three large pieces (four if you count the jacket).

There are many choices out there, so to each his own. Safe Stop is just one that I thought I would share with the forum.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Looks like somebody was really mean to some Golden Sabers...

 

[pete950]

Looks like somebody was really mean to some Golden Sabers...

You are correct. The bullet started out a 357 125 grain Golden Saber before it was swaged into the Safe Stop.

Pete

 

[GatorFarmer]

I can't recall off the top of my head how water penetration depth is supposed to match up compared to gelatin. However, these seem rather lackluster in terms of penetration. It would seem that 12" of gelatin penetration has remained the standard for a while in terms of what is generally felt to be sufficient to reach vital organs on a human. (The original IWBA standard was 18" or more, and the current kind of/sort of standard is actually 12" or more. 12" is a min. standard and not a max, which many people don't realize.)

 

[LOBO]

I can't recall off the top of my head how water penetration depth is supposed to match up compared to gelatin. However, these seem rather lackluster in terms of penetration. It would seem that 12" of gelatin penetration has remained the standard for a while in terms of what is generally felt to be sufficient to reach vital organs on a human. (The original IWBA standard was 18" or more, and the current kind of/sort of standard is actually 12" or more. 12" is a min. standard and not a max, which many people don't realize.)

I feel that these would penetrate deeper in gel that they did in water since (from what I have read) water is "tougher" on a bullet than gel.

 

[The Last Standing Knight]

Reminds me of the old "dum-dum" bullets of eons ago. I would be concerned about the round breaking up on firing and causing a barrel obstruction.

 

[LOBO]

Reminds me of the old "dum-dum" bullets of eons ago. I would be concerned about the round breaking up on firing and causing a barrel obstruction.

While I guess anything is possible, this doesn't seem like it could ever really be a valid concern.

 

[old&slow]

Lobo, Thanks for the test information. Any / All information is good to know. But, I think I'll stick to my Gold Dots or Hydro-Shoks.

 

[LOBO]

You are most welcome.

 

[nightshade2x]

SURE looks like they took a Golden Sabre and smooshed the heck out of it. You can even see the "flutes" in the jacketing.

Very odd. Thanks for posting.

Have fun and be safe.
Nightshade2x

 

[J. W.]

Personally, I don't trust any of this frangible "safety ammo" to hold together and reach the vitals of an attacker. Considering all the variables, I want a round that I know will penetrate through things like belt buckles, heavy clothing, "extra" muscle and bone, (like a forearm) etc and still reach the vitals.

I can think of a few cases off the top of my head where the good guys died becase of a lack of penetration. On the other hand, I can't recall a single incident where a bystander was injured by overpenetration.

 

[pete950]

Personally, I don't trust any of this frangible "safety ammo" to hold together and reach the vitals of an attacker. Considering all the variables, I want a round that I know will penetrate through things like belt buckles, heavy clothing, "extra" muscle and bone, (like a forearm) etc and still reach the vitals.

I can think of a few cases off the top of my head where the good guys died becase of a lack of penetration. On the other hand, I can't recall a single incident where a bystander was injured by overpenetration.

I make the Safe Stop ammunition that particular round was a test round,
as soon a Chris gets around to it he has the 38 load to test which will perfrom a lot better. The 38 ammo he has to test is the original loadings that were made for the late Jim Cirillo. The ammo he use to carry while in the NYPD Stake Out Unit. Also he is testing them in water Jugs which causes bullets to expand more agressive than Ballistic Jell. The concept was designed for the 38 to cut a full wadcutter hole and get the penitration needed to get to the vitals and the sharp edges were dsigned too cut through bone and skull the "V" notch was to get some kind of expansion.

Here is a case for you a very close friend of mine on a Chicago land PD shot and killed a 300 + pound male attacker who took 7 rds of 45 230 grain Speer Gold Dot they found one of the rounds lodged in the wall of a bussiness 3 block away. The subject was only wearing a t shirt. The round went through the shoulder area.

See attchments of the 38 Safe Stop Bullets and Loaded ammo.