Yesterday my neighbor asked for my help. He used his tractor to bring over a heating oil tank, that had been cut into 2 sections. He intended to use them as wide barrels to store scrap metal in, but wanted holes in the bottom so the rainwater would drain. Steel was about 1/2 inch thick, I was about 5 yards away, safe behind cover. Happy to oblige and burn some powder, I used my Sig 220 .45 load with Sig jacketed hollow points... "BANG"... just left a big, deep dent. Disappointed and embarrassed, I returned to the house and retrieved my Ruger GP100 3", loaded with PMC jacketed 125 grain hollow points. Ok, NOW we are grooving...... "BOOM"! Although the jackets peeled off on the steel (at well over .75 caliber), the lead core ripped right on through. Damn, I forgot how much raw penetration power the .357 had. Always good to have a .357 Magnum around when you need one.
Years ago, ventilating a burn barrel (old rusty steel oil drum), my .45 1911A1 with 230 grain hardballs would occasionally crack and penetrate one side, but most bounced off and wouldn't make it through 1, much less 2 sides. My Beretta M9 9mm with 124 hardball?? Zipped right on through both sides, no issues whatsoever. Like a hot knife through butter.
So if anyone of you anticipated trouble from steel oil drums or heating oil tanks, you would be wise to arm yourselves with either a 9MM or a .357 Magnum and leave your .45 ACP at home.
Years ago, ventilating a burn barrel (old rusty steel oil drum), my .45 1911A1 with 230 grain hardballs would occasionally crack and penetrate one side, but most bounced off and wouldn't make it through 1, much less 2 sides. My Beretta M9 9mm with 124 hardball?? Zipped right on through both sides, no issues whatsoever. Like a hot knife through butter.
So if anyone of you anticipated trouble from steel oil drums or heating oil tanks, you would be wise to arm yourselves with either a 9MM or a .357 Magnum and leave your .45 ACP at home.