Ballistic Gel Testing

[Nate Eller]

I am thinking of starting a small YouTube channel or blog, testing various 6.5mm, 7mm, and 30 caliber projectiles in ballistics media at different velocities. Is there any interest in that kind of testing here? I would post videos and articles here, with videos and links to the articles on YouTube. Any advice on test procedures or anything you think that is done wrong in this area? This will be a small hobbyist thing, not a living. Planning on an article/video every two-four weeks. Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[EastTNHunter]

I go down rabbit holes watching bullet tests on YouTube every once in a while instead of watching TV or movies. Point being that a lot of them already exist. I find them fascinating, but setting yourself apart from everyone else to get views may be difficult, unless you already have a twist in mind.

A few thoughts… get a methodology down, explain it, and be consistent. Take input and donations of projectiles from watchers. Compare different projectiles with each other, or the same projectile at different ranges or with different cartridges. Test different twist rates. Test “non-hunting” bullets, or even old-school bullets that don’t get much love anymore because they lack the shiny wow factor from marketing. Maybe add some meaningful additional medium to it that doesn’t look cheesy just falling over like the other guys who put sunglasses on mannequins or a board or rack of ribs in front of a gel block. High speed photography adds “cool factor” and some value in seeing the temporary wound cavity.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Going to be hard to get the rotational velocity and impact velocity close to real world to test minimum expansion if your targets are close range.

I.e. if you download a bullet and shot it at 1600 fps the RPM of the bullet will be very low (with typ twist rate) compared to a bullet thats traveled 600 yards and left the muzzle at 2700 fps and is going 1600 fps at impact.

 

[Nate Eller]

Going to be hard to get the rotational velocity and impact velocity close to real world to test minimum expansion if your targets are close range.

I.e. if you download a bullet and shot it at 1600 fps the RPM of the bullet will be very low (with typ twist rate) compared to a bullet thats traveled 600 yards and left the muzzle at 2700 fps and is going 1600 fps at impact.

150,000 vs 250,000 rpm by my quick calculations. It would be interesting to shoot some gel at 300 yards compared to the downloaded bullets, to see a direct comparison if RPM's play into terminal performance or not. This is doable for me, and gives me something to think about. @EastTNHunter I will be testing corelokts and interlocks, as well as their modern counterparts to see if their is a difference in mild cartridges between bonded bullets, monolithic bullets, and cup and core bullets, both tipped and soft points.

 

[Redmt]

I shot a couple of my 6.5 favorites through some FBI gell blocks end to end at 100 yds. I wasn't able to recover the bullets but the unrestrained gell blocks video is pretty entertaining.

 

[Nate Eller]

I shot a couple of my 6.5 favorites through some FBI gell blocks end to end at 100 yds. I wasn't able to recover the bullets but the unrestrained gell blocks video is pretty entertaining.

Planning on using a 20 inch block backed by water jugs, with the gel secured to the table. Hoping to both catch projectiles and analyze tracts of damage.

 

[Redmt]

 

[Nate Eller]

Was the camera being manned, or was that just your reaction

 

[Redmt]

My buddy was holding his cell phone taking the video. I laugh every time I watch it.

 

[howl]

Yeah I like those. I'll search specifically for barrel lengths and specific bullets to get an idea of what might do what. Tests showing what bullets do at different velocities and having passed through hide, muscle and bone are more informative.

The thing about yt is not everyone has a look nor a personality that is engaging to viewers. There are videos with millions of views on things like how to eat a watermelon. People watch because of the person.

 

[Nate Eller]

Yeah I like those. I'll search specifically for barrel lengths and specific bullets to get an idea of what might do what. Tests showing what bullets do at different velocities and having passed through hide, muscle and bone are more informative.

The thing about yt is not everyone has a look nor a personality that is engaging to viewers. There are videos with millions of views on things like how to eat a watermelon. People watch because of the person.

That's fair. My face will not appear on camera if I can help it

 

[Forkyfinder]

150,000 vs 250,000 rpm by my quick calculations. It would be interesting to shoot some gel at 300 yards compared to the downloaded bullets, to see a direct comparison if RPM's play into terminal performance or not. This is doable for me, and gives me something to think about. @EastTNHunter I will be testing corelokts and interlocks, as well as their modern counterparts to see if their is a difference in mild cartridges between bonded bullets, monolithic bullets, and cup and core bullets, both tipped and soft points.

I would predict that the rpm plays a major factor in bullet performance. The spin makes for a centrifugal force that adds to the bullet expanding/deconstructing.

 

[Nate Eller]

I would predict that the rpm plays a major factor in bullet performance. The spin makes for a centrifugal force that adds to the bullet expanding/deconstructing.

I have reached out to Barnes, Hornady, Nosler, Hammer Bullets, and Federal on this subject today, and am waiting to hear back from them, I will post their responses here for those that might be interested

 

[brockel]

I would predict that the rpm plays a major factor in bullet performance. The spin makes for a centrifugal force that adds to the bullet expanding/deconstructing.

I can tell you a nosler 50 grain ballistic tip exits far fewer times at 3800fps out of an 8” twist than it does a 14” twist on coyotes.

 

[Forkyfinder]

I can tell you a nosler 50 grain ballistic tip exits far fewer times at 3800fps out of an 8” twist than it does a 14” twist on coyotes.

The centrifugal force is over 3x more (based on 342k rpm and 195k rpm) on the 14" twist.

Id be more interested in seeing a big delta of a twist rate with the same bullet at similar speed like that into ballistics gel than typical bullet tests.

That kind of counters the typical knowledge of getting a slow (1 in 12) twist for varmints too.

 

[brockel]

That kind of counters the typical knowledge of getting a slow (1 in 12) twist for varmints too.

Matching twist rates for varmint hunting makes sense to me if shooting prairie dogs and you get your barrel hot enough you can’t touch it. I’ve read that that can contribute to jacket failure though I’ve never heated a barrel up enough to do that. Add in the extra RPM that isn’t needed with the varmint bullet and you are stacking the odds against you

 

[Nate Eller]

Hornady's response

 

[Nate Eller]

Talked to Steve if Hammer bullets today, he recommended testing at range if the bullets being used were monolithic in nature, because of their excess length they require higher RPM's to remain stable after impact, in order to expand and penetrate as designed

 

[RealMuddyboots]

The higher RPM from both twist and velocity provides enhanced petal disbursement along with better shank stability that provides better straight line penetration.

 

[Nate Eller]

Barnes Response