A detailed write up of the test firing of the same bullet in the same conditions with radically different hollow point pin designs.
Cellotex test media (photo by Larry Ott)
My son and I carried out some initial test work on bullets cast from the 30 caliber CBE mold that you recently modified for me
Bullets were cast with WW and air cooled. The hollowpoint, with Lyman gas check and super moly lube weighs in at 185 grains. The cup point, Lyman gas check, super moly weighs in at 192 grains.
Target: 10"x10" layers of ½ inch thick cellotex siding, tightly banded together and soaked in water. Two bundles, one 10 inches thick, one 9 inches thick, total thickness: 19 inches. 8x8 pine block backstop.
Results:Both the hollowpoint and cup point were near full expansion at 2 ½ inches penetration based on the size of the holes in the laminations.
Most of the sheared off lead fragments, which mainly came off the hollowpoints occurred between 2 1/2 inches and 6 1/2 inches penetration.
Both bullet styles penetrated the full 19 inches and recovered bullets were either slightly embedded in the pine block or bounced off and fell to the ground.
Three recovered cup points (all started out at 192 gr / 0.311 diameter):
Recovered weight / and max diameter:
• 145 gr / 0.465
• 156 gr / 0.3203
• 168 gr / 0.390 (still had gas check)
Two recovered hollowpoints (all started at 185 gr / 0.311 diameter):
Recovered weight / and max diameter:
• 106 gr / 0.325
• 112 gr / 0.332
I think that the cup point is a pretty outstanding 100 yd load for deer at this approximate velocity. Probably would work pretty well on elk too, although I will see how it performs at +/- 2000 fps first.
The hollow point would also be good for deer, but may be better if dropped to +/- 1500 fps, which was the original plan in a 30-30. We'll get to that.
Penetration certainly does not seem to be a problem with either load (if no big bones are hit). I think putting a lamination of 1" wood in the first 2 inches or so of cellotex might provide more info on penetration and expansion particularly for the hollowpoint.
Tested by Larry and Logan Ott - Lots of fun!! Regards - Larry
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