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.
Range report on bullet penetration
- Thread starter AL45
- Start date
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. 
Seriously, it sounds like you had fun and that's the important part.
Seriously, it sounds like you had fun and that's the important part.
g.willikers
New member
Might explain why the frontier forts and cabins were built the way they were.
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.
chris in va
New member
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.