.45 ACP JHP Penetration

[ScottyT]

The post about shooting up the car got me thinking about this.

I searched online, but couldn't find much, so I am hoping someone can answer my question.

What kind of penetration could I expect if I shot a BG center mass with my 230gr +p .45 ACP JHP ammo? Is it going to pass through him? Will it mushroom and fragment enough that it will stay in him? Does it depend on what the bullet hits (bones, etc)? I know one of the cardinal rules is to be aware of what is behind the BG, and I certainly would be, but I am just wondering about my rounds...

Have any of you seen some good tests done on ballistics gel or anything?

[Bree]

Scotty...

The bullet will probably NOT pass through. These rounds will generate about 12-14" of penetration of ballistic gel. That will normally stay in the body. Skin is very elastic and it is actually pretty hard for bullets to exit through healthy skin. Some have estimated the skin on your back to be worth about 4" of gel when the bullet is trying to exit that way.

If you had an FMJ round, the bullet would likely pass through.

[redtree]

Agalindo (another XD talk memeber) posted this info in one of my ammo question threads. Thought you might find it useful!
terminal ballistics This is the link for all the calibers that were tested.
terminal 45 acp This is for 45ACP only.

[ScottyT]

Thanks for the info guys!

[jtkratzer]

Well, it will pass through a deer's chest from a self defense shooting distance (under 7 yards)...that's hair, skin, bones, etc.

[k-dog]

I was doing some tests with a 230 grain JHP Remmington brand which included shooting a milk jug full of water which it passed through easily, then into a thick stack of hold books which it penetrated quite well but didn't mushroom out (almost as much penetration as FMJ). I then shot a regular steel door that was the type on most houses. It went through the door with a really nasty hole on the back side. After seeing that I would have to say unless it hit a bone to change course it would go through someone.

[Bree]

Originally Posted by k-dog

I was doing some tests with a 230 grain JHP Remmington brand which included shooting a milk jug full of water which it passed through easily, then into a thick stack of hold books which it penetrated quite well but didn't mushroom out (almost as much penetration as FMJ). I then shot a regular steel door that was the type on most houses. It went through the door with a really nasty hole on the back side. After seeing that I would have to say unless it hit a bone to change course it would go through someone.

If the JHP fails to mushroom it will go through. But if it blooms, it is unlikely to go through. The body is not gel. It is not homogeneous. And the .45 ACP is a relatively slow moving projectile. It is big and when it blossoms to 3/4" it dissipates energy quite quickly in the body.

The unexpanded bullet passing through steel is not a reason to think that the bullet will slice right through the body. Steel has little flexibility. The body is highly flexible. It absorbs energy. Did you ever think why Kevlar will stop that bullet but steel won't?

[k-dog]

Inside the steel door there was foam that would act somewhat like soft tissue. As JT said it went through a deer which has soft tissue as well.

[fredj338]

It depends on what JHP+P load & how much mass you are shooting thru. Skinny doper or muscle bound ex-con? I will bet the 230grXTP goes all the way thru a very big guy (smaller frontal diameter). HST & Ranger's expand to a larger frontal & probably stay inside.