Ballistic Gel

Festus · #8 04-26-2006, 10:02 PM

Ian,
Are you allowed to disclose where this column will appear? I'm anxious to hear of your experiences. Didn't mean to be impatient.
Cheers, Festus

Ian M · #9 04-26-2006, 11:10 PM

I write the Guns, Ammo and Optics column for North American Hunter mag. Guns, ammo and optics about covers it, wouldn't you say...

Ian M · #10 04-28-2006, 12:36 AM

Shot the Bullet Test Tubes today at 100 and 200 yards with 175 HPBT, 168 A-MAX, 155 A-MAX, 180 Accubond and 150 Remington Corelokt Ultra. Did not cut all of the tubes open since I wanted to get the shooting finished.
The wax material stops bullets quickly - the tubes are 9-11 inches long and we did not have any two-tube pass-throughs. Usually stopped about 11-12 inches. Wound cavities very graphic, easy enough to determine. Bullets seem fairly easy to spot and recover. Got several tubes with bullets in them , now to open them up and see what the bullets look like.
More to come.

Festus · #11 05-10-2006, 03:07 PM

Ian,

In an effort to lower the cost of use, do you think it would be poosible to reassemble the two halves of the test tube and securing them with large hose clamps for re-use?

Thanks, Festus

deerkiller · #12 05-10-2006, 08:27 PM

Festus,
Probably get a bunch shoot out the split seams.
If you surround the one containing the gel with a second one,
offset the seams & used a few draw bands...might work.
Several wraps of rope or flat tie down straps might work even better.

DK

kidcoltoutlaw · #13 11-04-2009, 10:46 AM

Are any of you still using the Bullet Test Tube ? How are you making your molds ?

Thanks,Keith

elkaholic · #14 11-04-2009, 11:57 AM

Good post! I have a box built to test the bullets that I make and have used various AVAILABLE materials to test. I haven't used the commercial stuff because I shoot a lot and thought it was kind of spendy. I would, however; like to hear what some of you think about the Gel. One thing that I have tried that works fairly well is the stuff that absorbs xxxxxxxx times it's weight in water (turns to a gel and you can use it forever) Sometimes I mix various media with it such as hydro mulch to change the consistency. All these things change the bullet performance. It's good to have a setup to shoot into that you can simulate hide or bone if you want. Keep testing guys!! It will change your views on some of the premium bullets; especially at long range! I use reduced loads in my '06 to test 1000 yd. performance with my 300 ultra and shoot point blank......Rich