Author Topic: Full Water Test: WWB .45acp HP  (Read 651 times)

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Offline Joshua M. Smith

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Full Water Test: WWB .45acp HP
« on: March 10, 2008, 06:43:45 AM »
Since my pistol is functioning again, I decided to start testing a bit early this year.  I have to know that my ammo functions.


Most of you are familiar with my setup by now, 4 layers of denim over the first milk jug.

I did not make a movie this time, though it likely would have been fun to watch.


After the shot I found the first jug shredded on the ground.  Not pictured was the denim layer, as it's nothing spectacular.


The second jug was blown out...


... as was the third jug.  The fourth jug is leaking in this picture.


The bullet came to rest about halfway through the fourth jug.

I did not measure the bullet as I cannot find half my stuff.  The jacket did try to separate, and it looks as if the bullet just ignored the effects of the denim.


My deceased grandfather was an intelligence officer in WWII, operating out of England into the European Theater.  This picture was taken on one of his GI blankets.  You can see the bullet well expanded, next to the silver half dollar.

I like this ammo.  It's some strange stuff though as the recoil wasn't enough to lock the slide back with an 18.5# spring, while the regular ball WWB is.  I returned the spring to stock and it functions fine.  I wonder if it's somewhat downloaded.

The bottom line is this:  After passing through four layers of denim, a Winchester White Box 230 grain hollowpoint round will expand in the first 6" or so of water and continue on for a total of about 21" of penetration in water, or about 10 to 12 inches in gelatin.  Not the latest and greatest hollowpoint out there, it is certainly still serviceable.

Josh <><

Offline Mikey

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Re: Full Water Test: WWB .45acp HP
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2008, 10:40:55 AM »
Josh - very interesting test, thanks for the post.  Do you test any other type of projectile with that technique?  It would be interesting to see how a cast swc or a fmj-swc would penetrate.  Mikey.

Offline Joshua M. Smith

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Re: Full Water Test: WWB .45acp HP
« Reply #2 on: March 10, 2008, 03:43:42 PM »
I'm new to the .45acp, but have done a lot of .38spl and 9mm tests.  They're easy to run across on Google.

If the solids behave anything like 9mm, they'd zip right through without much disruption.

Josh <><