Thought I’d see how a 17 calibre varmint bullet would fare in the wet newspaper test. I’m almost exclusively using the Hornady 25g Vmax in the 17 Fireball at present, loaded to a mild 3500fps muzzle velocity from the 20” bbl. Accuracy is excellent with this load.
I stacked up a wad of 9” of wet newspaper, though not totally saturated as it had a couple of winter days to slightly dry. I figured 9” would be enough to capture and stop the Vmax at the distance of 50 yards I intended to shoot it. It certainly was enough.
For a fun comparison I thought I’d shoot a 22LR 40g high velocity solid into the same stack at the same distance.
So the results:
25g Vmax
Impact speed 3250fps
Penetration 3.5 inches
Retained weight 6g
Expanded diameter .300
Here’s the interesting bit - the 40g 22LR which would have impacted around 1100fps at 50y - sailed right through the 9 inches of newspaper and if not for the dirt bank, might still be going as far as I know!
The 22 obviously expanded very little if at all from the looks of the newspaper.
Anyway a couple of pics. The Fireball is the top hole...
One inch into the stack
Two inches
Three inches
The recovered Vmax
The shallow penetration, explosive expansion and almost complete breakup of the Vmax didn’t surprise me. The complete penetration by the 22 did take me aback just a bit. I thought 9” of semi dried paper would have stopped it!
Hope someone finds some interest in this test.
I stacked up a wad of 9” of wet newspaper, though not totally saturated as it had a couple of winter days to slightly dry. I figured 9” would be enough to capture and stop the Vmax at the distance of 50 yards I intended to shoot it. It certainly was enough.
For a fun comparison I thought I’d shoot a 22LR 40g high velocity solid into the same stack at the same distance.
So the results:
25g Vmax
Impact speed 3250fps
Penetration 3.5 inches
Retained weight 6g
Expanded diameter .300
Here’s the interesting bit - the 40g 22LR which would have impacted around 1100fps at 50y - sailed right through the 9 inches of newspaper and if not for the dirt bank, might still be going as far as I know!
The 22 obviously expanded very little if at all from the looks of the newspaper.
Anyway a couple of pics. The Fireball is the top hole...
One inch into the stack
Two inches
Three inches
The recovered Vmax
The shallow penetration, explosive expansion and almost complete breakup of the Vmax didn’t surprise me. The complete penetration by the 22 did take me aback just a bit. I thought 9” of semi dried paper would have stopped it!
Hope someone finds some interest in this test.
