Simulated "Bone" Wetpack for Sternum

[oldgranpa]

Finally did the simulated "bone" wetpack after our range reopened. The pictures show the front side of the plywood "bone" with bullet holes, a picture of typical holes on the back side, and the main picture, recovered bullets from the wetpack behind the plywood.
As we had planned, the "bone" is a piece of 3/4" plywood which simulates (by comparative compressive strength) the sternum bone. I used 6" of wetpack behind the plywood and a 1/2" plywood backing behind that. The main purpose was to compare .380acp ammo with three different pistols, a Sig P232 (3.6"barrel), a P3AT (2.75"barrel), and a NAA G380 (2.5"barrel). Also included were a few .25acp shots with a Beretta 950 pistol, some .22magnum rounds from a NAA mini (1-1/8"barrel). And since I had my new Bersa 380CC to range test, one shot from it with a round of MagTech ammo.
We already knew that 9mm ammo would penetrate 3/4" plywood from Box-O-Truth tests. But no data on 380 or lower caliber, and no data on what the bullets do if they penetrate the plywood. Thus the reason for using a wetpack behind the plywood.
All rounds, except two, penetrated the plywood and continued into the wetpack. The two that failed to penetrate were the .25acp JHP rounds shown in the picture. Those two bullets were dug out of the plywood. Normally, no one would carry a .25 pistol, but if you do, only FMJ could be depended on to penetrate bone.
The little .22magnum bullets did surprisingly well, some keyholing as they penetrated, and all going 5" into the wetpack. Note that only the ammo shown could be expected to do that. More tests on other brands of .22magnum available would be needed.

For the .380acp ammo, the results are as follows:
Remington 102gr Golden Saber. All rounds lost their jackets, 3" into wetpack, bullets went 5" with expansion.
CorBon 80gr DPX.  All rounds went 5 to 6" into the wetpack with the petals strangely folded inward.
Rem UMC 95gr FMJ. All bullets went full 6" of wetpack and were imbeded in the 1/2" plywood backing.
The MagTech (a JHP) fired from the Bersa380CC went 6" into the wetpack and did not expand.

All rounds produced a lot of shards of plywood into the wetpack along with the bullets.

Sorry, no chronograph readings, the temp was 38F and my hands were freezing, so I packed and went home.

[Bobo]

Thanks OG,

As always you did a great job!

Looks the the Golden Sabers continue to shine as they have in most tests.
The "collapsing" DPX are a surprise, never would have expected that. I thought they would do about as well as the GS.

I was going to switch to DPX in my P-3AT once my Gold Dots were used up, but now you've convinced me to use Golden Sabers.

Thanks again...
Bobo

[oldgranpa]

I cannot explain why the DPX collapsed! Really weird to see the petals turned inward like that. On all three rounds from three different pistols. I had 1" of wet paper on top of the plywood (like the thin skin over the sternum) to maybe get some expansion started, but it didn't help.

However, initially I was concerned that the DPX might not even penetrate the plywood being a light weight copper bullet. But it did penetrate, so we should not rule it out for our pistols if that's what you like to carry.

The plywood was very severe for the Golden Sabers. Although it stripped the jacket, the lead bullet still expanded and continued to penetrate. The bullet from the longer barrel P232 actually elongated into a really wicked looking thing. For all around use, the Golden Sabers seem to be a better deal than anything else in .380acp.

I didn't really expect the .25acp to do much. The fact that .25 FMJ penetrated explains why in 1940 the .25pistols were high on the list for fatal shootings and why the imported ones were banned.
I don't have any .32's anymore. I'd welcome someone to do the test with their 32. Just get some good exterior grade 3/4" plywood (it's actually sold as 23/32", best I could find).

Glad you enjoyed the report, Bobo. Nice to hear from you.

og

[markster]

I told ya they would go thru!

[oldgranpa]

U  WUZ  RITE!!

The results are good news for the .380!!

If anyone wants to contribute an actual sternum bone, I'll be happy to repeat the test!!

og

[Norfdet]

Great test OG, thanks for all you do for the USRange.

[Preacherman]

You've convinced me that I should stick with FMJ.  I would like to see a bullet have the ability to punch through some bones, continue though "wet" media, and then punch through a spine, too, if it gets in the way.

[oldgranpa]

FMJ good but I would recommend alternating 380 rounds, FMJ, GS, FMJ, GS, FMJ, GS, etc. That way take advantage of both.
I've given up on DPX. OK if anybody want to use it. But expensive and no improvement over GS.

og

[unit1069]

Thanks again for all your work, OG.

Looks like you've saved me some money on JHP rounds
that I don't really need.

[unit1069]

Looks like you've saved me some money on JHP rounds
that I don't really need.

That is, you've saved me money on the DPX I was thinking of trying out.

I have Golden Sabre ammo and it's been reliable.  I had been awaiting your
wetpack test and in the meantime my local dealer announced a 10% off sale
on ammo.  Just my luck he carries Golden Sabre.

[Preacherman]

I've always like Golden Saber, too.  I use FMJ in my 380, but Golden Saber was the first ammo I ever bought for my p3at.

[cobb]

THANK YOU...VERY COOL.

I have also found the goldern sabre to be excellent in .380acp. and use it in my seecamp as my edc load.

water tank test ..unclothed and clothed.




.380 Seecamp test

l-r  dpx gold dot dpx gold dot
l-r  clothed          unclothed

[markster]

Thanks for the pics cobb!

[oldgranpa]

hi, Cobb

and welcome to USRange. thanks for making Ballistics your first post with a great set of pictures with the SeeCamp .380 and the KelTec 380.

You can do us a great service here at USR if you would be willing to do a little "bone" test with the 380, especially with the Seecamp 380.

My friend, flyandscuba, has the Seecamp that we have used in the past for wetpack tests. But he couldn't come for the "bone" wetpack, weather just nasty and I didn't ask him to fly up here for that. So I couldn't include the Seecamp for that test.

But since you have one it would be real easy to run a test and you don't need a wetpack, just the piece of 3/4" plywood. Just get a piece from your local store, Lowes or HomeDepot, someplace like that usually has scrap pieces left over. And just shoot some of your ammo into it to see if it will penetrate. Use your water tank behind it to catch the bullets if you want to.

This would really complete the "bone" test with a short barrel pistol like the Seecamp.

Let us know if you can.

Cheers,
og

[cobb]

 Pics of 3/4 inch plywood with a round of dpx,gold dot,wwb ball,goldern sabre fired into it from a seecamp.380 on its way.