When bare jugs attack! (more .40 tests)

[J.P.]

**Edit to add data for Golden Saber 165gr Bonded**


I shot the following rounds into bare water jugs at 10ft.

(1ea)Gold Dot 180gr
(1ea)Gold Dot 165gr
(2ea)Golden Saber 165gr (non-bonded)

Perceived recoil (least to worst):

165gr Golden Saber
165gr Gold Dot
180gr Gold Dot
180gr UMC JHP (for comparison)

Muzzle flash (least to worst):

Both Gold Dots tied with the lowest flash
Golden Saber
UMC180gr JHP was *really* bad. (again for comparison)

Penetration and Expansion (recovered and full);

180gr Gold Dot:
Recovered in 3rd jug,busted hole in 4th jug.
Recovered diameter .79"
Full diameter .90"

(1)165gr Golden Saber (non-bonded)
Recovered in 3rd jug,no damage to back of 3rd jug.
Recovered diameter .75"
Full diameter 1.1"

(2)165gr Golden Saber (non-bonded)
Recovered in 3rd jug,again no damage to back of 3rd jug.
Recovered diameter .76"
Full diameter 1.1"

165gr Golden Saber Bonded
Recovered in 4th jug
Recovered diameter .66
Full diameter .93

165gr Gold Dot
Recovered in 3rd jug,busted hole in 4th jug
Recovered diameter .69"
Full diameter .94"

The 165gr Golden Saber Bonded left the largest "wound pattern" through the jugs,followed by the 165gr Gold Dot.
The 165gr Golden Saber's "wound pattern" left tell-tale signs of its long sharp jacket.
The 180gr Gold Dot looked rather dismal in this area indicating that it probably has very early expansion.This could be due to the HUGE nose cavity.


(L-R) 165gr GD side/top,165gr GS side/top,180gr GD side/top (no picture of GS Bonded yet)

[LastManStanding]

JP,
Your my hero for providing these..=-). It appears that the 165 Gold Dot would be the deadliest round out of those you shot due to penetration and and wound pattern. Sure it didn't expand as large as the 180 grain but I have found that round expansion on bullets of same caliber doesn't seem to make as big a difference in permanent wound cavity as does round velocity and penetration. Which in both cases the 165gr gold dot wins.


:gun1:

[J.P.]

I hope the Golden Saber 165gr "bonded" does well.
I can't get my hands on any right now though.

When I've tested rounds through 4 layer denim and jugs,they *all* penetrate deeper.

[Pigeon]

When bare jugs attack!

I had a different picture in mind.....

Seriously though, thanks for your work, and for sharing the results.

Did I hear you say you line them up on your tailgate? Sounds like a convenient way to do it.

Have you done any work w/ 45 or 10mm?

[J.P.]

Ideally,I don't line them up on the tailgate and I don't suggest that anyone else do it that way.

I had a nice "Fackler box" using water bags,as i think this gives results closer to what we are looking for but it got scrapped by mistake.
I have done so many rounds into water jugs that I have a large basis for comparison with them.
Usually,I test more than one round each and I have tested various barriers like,glass,steel,plywood,denim,etc.