Very dumb question about testing ammo

[FN1910]

On this site they have a Ballistics Testing Comparision Tool that shows their different bullet tests.

Winchester Law Enforcement

I was playing around with it and it says that their 380 "T" series bullett will penetrate 9.3" of steel. I have trouble with this so can someone explain this to me?

Their .40 Cal will penetrate 20.4" of steel. Talk about armor piercing.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[nn]

I could not find any reference to steel or anything but 9mm or .380

[Ram Rod]

No way. Can't see that. You have to understand a little bit of physics to realize that's impossible. They may mean the bullet travels that many inches after going through an automobile panel (sheet metal), but penetrating steel? I'm not even going to check out the link to prove a statement like that. The only caliber I have that will actually penetrate steel to any depth would be my 22-250, and I think it's limit is around 1/4" going through. It might make a nice deep dent in 1/2" plate, but that's about it.

[FN1910]

Middle column. I agree totally with it is crazy but was wondering what they meant by it.

This is a screen shot of the report.

[Cupcake]

That sure cast doubt on the rest of the info there, huh?

[FN1910]

I could not find any reference to steel or anything but 9mm or .380

If you would have scrolled down and to the right there were several other options. I thought the same thing at first.

[Ram Rod]

Yeah---right. Anyone volunteer to contact them in respect to this and post the results? I mean-that would be cool. I've got enough irons in the fire as it is.

[morintp]

These are the basic FBI ballistics tests. They put a thin sheet of steel (not sure of thickness) in front of ballistic gelatin. The distance is how far into the gelatin it penetrates. They do the same thing with plywood, autoglass, wallboard, and heavy clothing.

[mtnfreak]

From Winchester's website (News and Press Releases - Winchester Ammunition:

We use specially made industry standard 10% calibrated ballistic gelatin blocks to do the testing. We shoot bare gelatin and use barrier materials in front of the gelatin such as light cloth, heavy cloth, 4 layers of denim, 20ga steel, plywood, wallboard and automobile glass to conduct these test

.
Note sure how 'Industry Standard' and 'Specially Made' ended up together, but there it is.
On another page I found this:

When in Doubt Ask

Winchester has a Senior Law Enforcement Ammunition Technical Specialist to answer any questions you may have. You may contact him directly by phone from 8:00 to 4:30 Central Time Monday through Friday. You can also write, e-mail or fax at any time with your questions.

.
I may have to call and ask how shooting through denim, wallboard, etc. can result in greater penetration than just shooting into the gelatin.

[FN1910]

From Winchester's website (News and Press Releases - Winchester Ammunition: .
Note sure how 'Industry Standard' and 'Specially Made' ended up together, but there it is.
On another page I found this: .
I may have to call and ask how shooting through denim, wallboard, etc. can result in greater penetration than just shooting into the gelatin.

I noticed that also but the steel just jumped out. I am not an expert on penetration ballistics but some things didn't seem right.

[goawayfarm]

Here is an interesting link to bullet expansion in water. It has different calibers & different loads.

table 3

click on 'TERMINAL PERFORMANCE' under BULLET INFORMATION

[morintp]

Here is an interesting link to bullet expansion in water. It has different calibers & different loads.

table 3

click on 'TERMINAL PERFORMANCE' under BULLET INFORMATION

Thanks for the link! There's a ton of great info on that page.

[aus71383]

The reason it penetrates more gelatin after going through steel than it does in bare gelatin is because the hollowpoint doesn't open up like it should. Since it doesn't open up, it doesn't waste energy opening up, and it also has less surface area so less resistance going through.

Austin

[obxned]

Shooting through anything before entering the gelatin either fills the hollow point or crushes it. The bullet then performs more like an FMJ and less like a JHP. This is true of all JHPs.

[MitchellCT]

On this site they have a Ballistics Testing Comparision Tool that shows their different bullet tests.

Winchester Law Enforcement

I was playing around with it and it says that their 380 "T" series bullett will penetrate 9.3" of steel. I have trouble with this so can someone explain this to me?

Their .40 Cal will penetrate 20.4" of steel. Talk about armor piercing.

Those numbers are inches of ballistic gel penetrated after a bullet is shot through a thin sheet of steel which is supposed to represent a common barrier encountered like a car door.