Range report on bullet penetration

AL45

New member
I came across a green oak log today and was curious how deep my Rossi .357 magnum rifle with 16" barrel and Ruger Blackhawk .45 Colt with 4 5/8" barrel would penetrate it from 20 yards. Here are the results: .357 magnum load-158 grain RNFP cast lead using 4.5 grains Universal-2 1/2". .45 Colt load-250 grain RNFP cast lead using 11.7 grains Blue Dot-2". .45 Colt load-300 grain JSP using 21 grains H110-1". .45 Colt load-.360 grain LFN cast lead using 19 grains H110 3 1'2". .45 Colt Winchester .225 grain defense load-made it through the bark and barely into the wood.
 
Sounds like a vest with four inch thick oak inserts could replace that light Kevlar stuff we're always reading about. We would probably have to change them out regularly, though, because I have a feeling green oak might be harder to penetrate than seasoned oak. :D

Seriously, it sounds like you had fun and that's the important part.
 
357 magnum load-158 grain RNFP cast lead using 4.5 grains Universal: 2½".

45 Colt load-250 grain RNFP cast lead using 11.7 grains Blue Dot: 2".
45 Colt load-300 grain JSP using 21 grains H110: 1".
45 Colt load-360 grain LFN cast lead using 19 grains H110: 3½".
45 Colt Winchester .225 grain defense load: through bark/barely into wood.
Who says "lead doesn't penetrate..."? (Sometimes, even, too much) :D
 
The defense load is the most curious. The fact that it only penetrated the bark makes me wonder how well it would work on a large guy wearing a jacket or vest A few years ago I fired a .45 Colt Hornady defense load into 3/4 particle board and some rounds didn't even go through the board. Makes me a little skeptical of them.
 
AL45 The defense load is the most curious. The fact that it only penetrated the bark makes me wonder how well it would work on a large guy wearing a jacket or vest A few years ago I fired a .45 Colt Hornady defense load into 3/4 particle board and some rounds didn't even go through the board. Makes me a little skeptical of them.

People aren't made of bark and wood. Hollowpoint defensive rounds are designed to dump all energy into 12" of mostly water...ie muscle, tissue, fluids etc.
 
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