I went to the range today. -25C, sunshine, and nobody else there. Can't ask for a better day.
This is a follow up, if you will, to the other test I did a while ago.
Test:I ordered 50lbs of cow leg bones from a butcher I know. All shots were through the joint (thickest part of the bone) portion. I also put a 2" thick piece of neck trim (muscle, silver skin and connective tissue) in front of the bone and behind it to simulate meat on the way in and on the way out. All measurements are of the depth of penetration into the newspaper
ONLY. For total penetration add 4" of meat and another 5-6" for the bone to the numbers I will post for each bullet. Soaked newspaper over night and taped them together in stacks of ~5" with ductape.
These bones were all shot at 5m to simulate an absolute worst case scenario for a bullet. Max impact speed as well as the animal taking a step prior to the shot which turns a easy broadside shot into something else since there is a big elk/moose leg in the way now.
This is not scientific, valid, don't throw out the bullets you've been using for 30 years etc. I did this to satisfy my own curiosity and as much as it sucks to haul a bathtub full of wet heavy newspaper around, it's also fun.
I did not finish all the bullets in the lineup as I ran out of newspaper. I will finish the 30 cal test (165gmx, 180btip, 208amax) and I will also test a .375 270gr tsx and 260gr accubond, just to satisfy my own curiosity.
Bullets up for testing.L to R
165gr hornady gmx, 168gr nosler btip, 180gr nosler btip, 180gr nosler etip, 180gr barnes tsx, 180gr swift scirocco 2, 180gr barnes original, 200gr lapua mega, 195gr Chinchaga, 200gr nosler accubond, 200gr nosler partition, 210 berger vld, 208 hornady amax
Cow bones for testingResultsBullet: .308
210gr Berger Hunting VLDPenetration: 7" (7" is newspaper only. Total penetration was 16" (4" for meat at 5" of bone). All penetration measurements are only newspaper, please add 9" of bone/meat if you want total penetration.)
Weight retention: 57.6gr (27.5%)
Expansion diameter: .694"
Impact speed: ~2800fps
Bullet: .308
200gr Nosler AccubondPenetration: 10"
Weight retention: 127.6gr (63.8%)
Expansion diameter: .697"
Impact speed: ~2825fps
Bullet: .308
200gr Lapua Mega Penetration: 9"
Weight retention: 121.6gr (60.8%)
Expansion diameter: .657"
Impact speed: ~2825fps
Bullet: .308
200gr Nosler Partition Penetration: 12"
Weight retention: 119.5gr (59.7%)
Expansion diameter: .535"
Impact speed: ~2825fps
Bullet: .308
195gr Chinchaga (They are made by Dale Janzen [Chinchaga Custom Bullets] In Peace River AB.)
Penetration: 6.5"
Weight retention: 144.1gr (73.9%)
Expansion diameter: I honestly have no idea how to measure this as I don't know where the front or back/shank/anything is on this bullet. Looks like a blob of lead. It is 1.031" "wide" fwiw.
Impact speed: ~2850fps
Bullet: .308
180gr Nosler E-Tip Penetration: 14"
Weight retention: 178.8gr (99.3%)
Expansion diameter: .697"
Impact speed: ~2900fps
Bullet: .308
180gr Barnes TSXPenetration: 17.5"
Weight retention: 179.8gr (99.9%)
Expansion diameter: .674"
Impact speed: ~2900fps
Bullet: .308
180gr Barnes original (these are considered a "good" cup and core which is why I picked it. .032" jacket thickness)
Penetration: 4.5"
Weight retention: 93.9gr (52.2%)
Expansion diameter: 1.032"
Impact speed: ~2900fps
Bullet: .308
180gr Swift Scirocco II Penetration: 14"
Weight retention: 139.5gr (77.5%)
Expansion diameter: .651"
Impact speed: ~2900fps
Bullet: .308
168gr Nosler Ballistic TipPenetration: 9.5"
Weight retention: 98.6gr (58.7%)
Expansion diameter: .641"
Impact speed: 3100fps
Bullets L to R210gr Berger VLD, 200gr nab, 200gr mega, 200gr pt, 195gr chinchaga
180gr etip, 180gr tsx, 180gr barnes orig, 180gr sc2, 168gr btip
Shanks of those that had any left200gr nab, 200gr mega, 200gr pt
180gr etip, 180gr tsx, 180gr sc2, 168gr btip
200gr partition "bulged" at the top of the shank which can be seen clearly in the picture. The led in the bottom half was also pushed in. This of course means nothing, it is merely an observation.
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Amount of destruction is rather humbling[img]
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I also tested my wife's 243 win with 80gr ttsx at 3150fps as well as my 223 with 55gr hornady gmx at 3300fps into deer femurs. Wrapped with 2" of trim. 5m impact worst case scenario.
Bullet:
.224 55gr Hornady GMXPenetration: 11" (11" of newspaper. Add 6-7" for total penetration of meat/bone/meat/newspaper)
Weight retention: 51.2gr without the little piece I found (93.1%)
Expansion diameter: .673"
Impact speed: 3300fps
Bullet:
.243 80gr Barnes TTSXPenetration: 16" (blew all the petals off so not surprised it went this deep)
Weight retention: 54.8gr (68.5%)
Expansion diameter: .284"
Impact speed: 3150fps