bullet testing in water jugs

[Divernhunter]

I want to test some bullets using 1 gallon water jugs. I built a wood semi-box that will hold 7 jugs in a row. It has a 2X6 or 8 bottom and 2x6or 8 sides with 2 layers of 2" boards on the end. I would like to know if anyone has done something like this and if it worked out. So they would be one in front of the other in this wood box that has the top and the one end open. I would probably shoot it a100 yards using 338cal 200gr BT, 210gr Sirocco and 160 and 185gr TTSX bullets in my 338Fed rifle.

 

[JD338]

That will work. I just line up jugs on a 2x4 laying on the ground and it works just fine. I've drank a lot of milk and caught a lot of bullets over the years.

JD338

 

[RL338]

Back when I had an ample supply of milk jugs I used a piece of truck frame on saw horses. I could go 3 wide with the jugs , aim at the center row in case the bullet started to veer off. For most cartridges a single row is fine.

 

[ReloadKy]

A board to put them on works fine. Eventually the force will cause your boards to crack and break. I use a rough hewn 2x10 and it has split on both ends.

 

[Divernhunter]

thank all of you for the feedback. I do have lots of empty distilled water jugs. I need it for my CPAP machine.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

I arrange my jugs kind of like bowling pins because sometimes a bullet will go sideways and will not be caught. Have had a bullet to climb but never double stacked jugs. Let us know how this arrangement of jugs works for you. Thanks, Dan.

 

[6mm Remington]

I've shot into water/milk jugs filled with water at 25 - 100 - 200 - 300 - 400 - & 500 yards. Line 7 up and and you should be good. It's good practice and nice to see how your bullets perform. Penetration, expansion, and weight retention.



Fire Away!!

 

[Guy Miner]

I've used a pair of 2x4's, 8' long, separated by an inch or so, to give the force and the water a place to go. If I just used a single 2x8 or something, sometimes the board split.

We had that happen again last summer with a 2x10 I think it was, using the Clear Ballistics Gel blocks. One gallon water jugs are MUCH less expensive than the gel blocks and do a decent job of trapping the bullet, checking expansion and getting at least a rough idea of penetration.

The deepest I remember seeing some bullets go was through eight jugs! Those were non-expanding, heavy bullets. Most won't make it that deep.

Here's a test of some 45-70 bullets that went pretty deep, 6 and 7 jugs:

.45/70 350 gr Hornady & Swift A-Frame

Both were sent into the jugs at 20 yards. Swift is on the left, Hornady FNSP is on the right. Swift A-Frame: 2046 fps, 7th jug, 345 grains, .71" expanded diameter Hornady FNSP: 2086 fps, 6th jug, 296 grains, .846" expanded diameter The Swift is a very expensive bonded-core bullet and...

forum.nosler.com

Have fun! Guy

 

[RL338]

The deepest I remember seeing some bullets go was through eight jugs! Those were non-expanding, heavy bullets. Most won't make it that deep

Sometime back I tested 500gr Partitions and TSX in the 460 Wby at 50yds. They were stopped in the 9th and 10th jugs.

500gr Bullet Test

I had some time to try recovering some bullets from my 460 WBY this week. First one was was the Nosler at 50 yards.It took a couple of tries because the milk jugs bow from the impact , I went 2 wide and was able to recover this one You can see where the sticks of powder imprinted into the...

forum.nosler.com

 

[SJB358]

I set them on an old plank usually. Helps me keep them in line.

I am betting you'll get into the 6-7th jug with the TTSX out of the Federal. Looking forward to seeing how you do.