Testing .177s in 10% ballistic gel JSB 10.34, JSB Hades, Hunter Extreme, Polymag

[sharroff]

 

Shooting distance roughly 17 yards (my typical max .177 shot distance on pests around the feeders).

Here is the gel penetration

JSB 10.34 5.8"

JSB Hades 5.2"

Hunter Extreme 4.0"

Predator Polymag 3.1 "

Also note what look to be a projectile channel infront of the two JSB pellets. Almost looks like they went farter into the gel then got 'sucked back'. Any thoughts there?

Topview and expansion

JSB 10.34 .1795

JSB Hades .183

Hunter Extreme .210

Predator Polymag .231

Muzzle Velocity and POI velocity

JSB 10.34 861 800

JSB Hades 865 801

Hunter Extreme 879 764

Predator Polymag 937 828

Side View

For me, the JSB 10.34's are very accurate out to 50 yards. The Polymag and Hunter Extreme both fall off on accurate around 25 yards. My .177 shots are mostly bird feeder pest shots at 5-17 yards so 5 tins of Polymag on the way. 

 

[FelixS]

Thanks, I appreciate your effort in providing us this information!

 

[sharroff]

Thanks, Felix. I'd take a +1 if you'd like

 

[Motorhead]

That track out in front of the 2 pellets would IMO absolutely be telling of a position retraction. Suction or an elastic bounce while the wound channels still open have no clue on the physics of whats "Tell Tail" in the gel we see ?

 

[sharroff]

Motorhead,

I agree. I did 240fps videos on previous testing (on the 22 testing thread) and from "impacting gel" to "all over with" is 3/240's of a second. And completely random on what one captures in those 3/240s

 

[JungleShooter]

sharroff,

again you've done excellent testing work!

Helpful for the .177 shooters who want to know at what velocity they still can expect hollow point expansion from different HP pellets.

THANKS!!



The Hades hit the simunimal at 35fps faster than the H&N Hunter Extreme, but expanded so much less, only .183 vs. .210.

Sure, the Polymag expanded even more (.231) — but it was even faster then the Hades, almost 65fps faster then the H&N Hunter Extreme.



Matthias

 

[sharroff]

JungleShooter,



Yep! I taught myself I need to switch from the Hunter Extreme to the Predator Polymag. They are both good (one rough hole is my definition) at 20 yards, but open up after that; By 30, chipmunk headshots are hit and miss so I switch to the JSB 10.3s past 20. I'll take hitting what I'm aiming at vs potential expansion on a target I missed.



If anyone wants me to test their favorite 177 or .22 pellets (or slugs) so we have an apples to apples comparison in ballistic gel, PM me for my address and send a few of them via USPS. Cheap test.

 

[Caper]

I hope these pics work. I think the trick is a fairly hi FPS. Around 800+. The pellets fired at the clay target were chonoed at 825Fps. I used cheap natural clay and made a wax cast out of cavity. The actual pellet is shown. Hope this works. 

 

[Caper]

Sorry for two replies not a wiz with the computers. 

I have Chono data for both JSB's out to 36 yards, as well did an expansion test with the clay at numerous ranges out to 36 yard. That a as far as I shoot, I only use a red dot, no magnifying. At my max range they are still traveling 800Fps+_5. Still expanded nicely. 

They are both very accurate and pack a punch, I have a bunch of pics at various ranges. 

Platform; GAMO Magnum IGT. (1650Fps man claim). Pushes these pellets to 980Fps at the muzzle. 


Here is a fun pic of some water balloons at 15yards. 

 

[sharroff]

I did a bit of clay testing here, but didn't use your wax trick. I just pulled fishing line down the middle (which wasn't really the middle). My clay was harder than your as my pellets stopped in a shorter distance.



https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/pellet-testing-jsb-18-hunter-extreme-hades-polymag-slug-in-ballistic-gel/?view=all#post-946538

 

[sharroff]

Caper,



Cool picture!

 

[Caper]

Thanks, it's a screen shot from one of my videos.

I used just natural earth model clay(cheap) from art store. Straight up DIABLOs went right through

An observation: How a so called hollow point works effectively depended on a few factors. Mostly velocity of projectile and density of target mass. If the pellet is too slow then no good(expansion), if your target material is too soft then good. There is absolutely no use to fire a HP pellet at a target it will just pass right through. 

I was really interested in seeing how they work so I ended up shooting over a 1000 HADES in different tests and such. I still prefer the regular DIABLOs, pin accuracy and smash hard. 

I made videos and pics of all sorts tests, some failures some cool, tried with light 7.9gr Crossman hp. My gun shots em way way too fast(1150Fps) for accuracy but they disintegrate on impact with clay at 5yards.

Cheers

Aim small shoot small

 

[JungleShooter]

How a so called hollow point works effectively depended on a few factors. Mostly

▪ velocity of projectile and

▪ density of target mass.

Caper,

thank you for sharing your test results.



Your two factors for hollow point expansion you mention are indeed some of the most important! 



I'm a little bit confused as to whether it should be density of the ballistic medium — or the hardness of the medium (ballistic gel, soaked newsprint, clay, water, wood, quarry).



For the hunter trying to decide which HP pellet (or slug) to use, the most helpful expansion tests are those that use a ballistic medium close to that of animal tissue (bones usually only improve expansion).

So, ClearBallisticGel.com (10%), or DIY ballistic gelatine (calibrated with a BB), and soaked newsprint (acc. to test protocol) promise the best real-to-life results (that is, real-to-death results).



Other factor influencing expansion include the hardness of the lead, the width and depth of the HP cup, the thickness of the walls of the HP cup, and if a ballistic tip improves expansion.



This stuff is so much fun!!

Cheers, 

Matthias

 

[Caper]

You are exactly correct. There are many factors. The design geometry and composition of the pellet will absolutely be a contributor to the desired result. The shape of the expansion area is were I see being the main contributor. It will dictate all other factors as excellently pointed out by Mathias (thanks) in the above post.

Lead is an element and has a consistent mass, so that really isn't a big issue. You need to get into alloys to get different mass for a given volume. I don't know snot about the pellets with the funny plastic tips, they might be excellent. 

I tried the wet newspaper, even an old not fit for consumption meat with bone, pork. I did the water bucket, the whole lot. lol

I actually don't hunt what so ever. I only did it out of fun and interest. Turns out its not exact science for me as I'm not the sharpest. 

I'm going to give the H&N a try just to see. 



For the actual hunters I wouldn't listen to me at all.

I would be great to hear from hunters who use these for what they were intended. 

Cheers

Chris