Bullet expansion/penetration at different speeds

swampratt · Sep 7, 2016

I had a conversation with a person who did not care for the 165 game King HPBT bullets from his .308.
Said it penciled through a deer..
Now I quit using certain bullets that penciled through. The new Sierra # 2156 palma 155 gr was one that was deadly accurate.
But not so deadly on game. At least for me,, shots on deer were under 70 yards and velocity was above 2700 fps during impact.

Got me thinking I need to do a penetration test.
I know what my preferred bullets do on game at 100 yards and some at 300+ yards.

But.. I think it may be interesting to see what happens with different bullets on penetrating stuff at 2000 fps or at 1400 fps.

This should give an estimation on how the bullet would act on game at longer distances.

I normally take a heavy piece of leather 3/16" thick or so.. place it in front of some milk jugs and see how many the bullet makes it through. and recover what is left.

I have also shot through oak boards to check penetration and expansion.

The bullets I want to test in .308" diameter 168 A-max- 155 A-max Sierra HPBT 165 Game King.
I think I need to possibly test some .224" bullets.

Any input from you guys/gals is welcome.

Craig3 · Sep 25, 2016

Ive read on another site that the 168 amax will mushroom and retain out at farther distances when the velo ity drops, or you could reduce the load for closer shots. At hi velocities they may fragment/separate

beastep · Sep 25, 2016

For the past 15 years, every deer I have killed with my 300 Win Mag was with handloads with 168gr Matchkings. Most over 200 yards and up to 450 yards. They are very bad medicine for deer for whatever reason and they dont destroy half the deer. How it compares to others would be interesting. But I have switched just this year to 200gr ELD-X.

Shadowrider · Sep 26, 2016

My input would be to say that I don't know what that would tell you unless you are chasing leather wrapped milk jugs or oak trees. How does that methodology correlate to game?

dennishoddy · Sep 26, 2016

I've lost count of the deer I've killed with the Sierra 165 grain HPBT in my 30-06. I've tried other Bullets over the years but none come close to the amount of internal carnage that round produces.

swampratt · Sep 26, 2016

You first must establish performance of a round you are familiar with. Like the 165 ge HPBT Dennis mentioned above.
I too have killed many animals with that bullet.
So check penetration and mushroom or fragmentation through water jugs or boards or sant... whatever media you feel good with.
Then compare other bullets performance to your baseline bullet.

Just comparative.
My 45acp has no expansion at all It will pass through 5 milk jugs and a couple oak boards..5 Jugs is all i had set up in a row..It may have went through more.
The .308 .30 cal bullets usually stop in the 3rd jug.
This would tell me the 45acp would probably pass right through a deer shooting broad side.

My 165 HPBT will fragment going through a deer neck.. leaving a 4" + exit hole.
My 45acp was small hole in and about 1" out because of the bone it took with it.

I am real curious of the slow speed because the 165 and 168's and 178's I have used left good exit holes if they exited.
My little 30-30 150gr would leave a small hole in and small hole out. just pencil right through.

Almost thinking if I tested my 30-30 150 gr against a lever evolution bullet I may see some expansion in the other . It may make for a quicker kill.

Those pencil through bullets do not make for a quick kill. So finding a baseline and working from there for comparative only.

dennishoddy · Sep 26, 2016

swampratt said:
This would tell me the 45acp would probably pass right through a deer shooting broad side.

I've killed two with 185 grain bullets from a 1911 Government, recovered one that was fully expanded. Other was a complete pass through.

Tcox · Oct 2, 2016

For what it's worth, I've found a 168 amax to be absolutely devastating. I've only tested to about 350 yards but it has been a great performer for me. If you want a couple pics of wound cavities let me know.

dennishoddy · Oct 2, 2016

Tcox said:
For what it's worth, I've found a 168 amax to be absolutely devastating. I've only tested to about 350 yards but it has been a great performer for me. If you want a couple pics of wound cavities let me know.

Post em up!

Tcox · Oct 3, 2016

168 amax MV: 2700ish. Shot was at a hair under 300

I thought I had a second kill but I cannot find the pic. I'll keep looking this Mornin.

Bullet expansion/penetration at different speeds

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