I apologize in advance for the size of this post!

Part I

Last weekend, bfrshooter and I performed a penetration test using a number of calibers, but mostly focussing on the .475 Linebaugh. While it is not entirely conclusive, the results are interesting nonetheless. Since the test was rather last minute, we didn't soak the newsprint and phonebooks as long as I would have liked. The results as such, are mixed. It is important to note that at the Linebaugh Seminars, the newsprint is soaked for 24 hours and it is evidently a lot softer than our medium. We soaked ours for approximately one hour and it was not enough. As the test progressed and newspaper was replaced, the media got softer as it was soaked for a longer period of time, explaining the differences in the results later in the test.

Here is the box we built:





First up was the Hornady 400 grain XTP load. We chronographed it previously and it could not better 1,250 fps out of my custom .475 SRH. The Hornady went 12-inches into the newsprint, and expanded nicely.



A semi-jacketed softnose from an unknown source (1,250 fps) when 14-inches and didn't open up at all.



Next up was Buffalo Bore's 410 grain WFN at 1,200 fps and it went 19-inches. The nose is distorted indicating a hard media.



Buffalo Bore's 420 grain LFN went next. We have gotten up to 1,375 fps out of this load over the chronograph and it went 21-inches.



Buffalo Bore's 440 grain WFN (1,350 fps!) went 25-inches. This load kicks like the dickens!



bfrshooter's 420 grainer at 1,350 fps went 24-inches.



I will post this in two parts as it will be easier for me -- and you to download the photos. The media is softening up now an ready for some real penetration. It is also important to note that we frequently replaced the newsprint and phone books (always two phone books at the front), and made sure the bullets weren't passing through existing holes.

Part II

Now that the newsprint was more water-logged, penetration was starting to increase considerably.

We retested bfrshooter's bullet at 1,350 fps and it went 36-inches, exiting the back of the penetration box, lodging itself its near full length into a seasoned piece of firewood behind our penetration box!



We did it again, and it again exited the box, punched through the one-inch pine board holding the nexspring in place, and bounced off of a piece of firewood, denting it at about half the length of the bullet! Now we're cooking!



We took this opportunity to retest the penetration champ from before, the Buffalo Bore 440 grain WFN, and it was able to penetrate 33-inches.



We next tested a couple of .44 magnum loads out of my 6.5-inch -3 Model 29. First up was a Remington factory 240 grain semi-jacketed hollow-point. It mushroomed very nicely and went 11-inches.



We tried the 277 grain Ranch Dog flat-point at 1,300 fps and it penetrated 33-inces of newsprint. The bullet retained it's nose shape. This is a very good load that I hope to try on deer this season.



We also tesed some .45-70 loads, but bfrshooter has the photos and I will ask that he puts them up here. I apologize for the size of this post!

For additional info, I shot 2 Zebras with the Hornady 400gr factory load from my 6" FA 475.

These were finishing shots at point blank range, fired right behind the shoulder.

Both bullets penetrated to the opposite side, one just benigh the skin, the other was actually protuding through the skin, base first.

Both had muchroomed nicely.
The bullet that was base first must have turned at the last few inches as the mushroom edges had not been bent back toward the front of the bullet, except for one piece of the jacket, this bullet weighed 377gr the other 374grains.

I have shot a deer, wild pig and a black bear with this same load, all bullets gave complete penetration.

Thanks for the photos and information.

Here's another photo of bfrshooter's bullet. This one was pried our of the piece of firewood. Note the great condition of the bullet.

Whitworth didn't mention that My .475 WFN went 37" on the second shot.
Anyway, the 45-70 Hornady, 300 gr rifle bullet from my BFR only went 11" and broke up. My WFN 378 gr made it 24". Not good because the nose deformed stopping penetration too fast. Since velocity is higher the boolit needs to be harder to get back penetration.
It goes to show that as you speed up, penetration can decrease. Even though the 45-70 was a smaller diameter and was going faster then the .475, it does not match it. The weight is not a whole lot different, only 42 gr's apart.
Marko, show the entry holes of jacketed bullets compared to hard cast.

Notice also that all WLN and WFN boolits penetrated in a perfectly straight line without turning at all. You can see that with the boolit stuck in wood.

Here's the photo of the entry "wounds" -- the two outside holes were made from flat-nosed bullets.



Here's a group photo of the .475 bullets.

Thanks for conducting the experiment and sharing it here. I always enjoy (and appreciate) that type of info.

Great information, thanks.

Having done similar tests in the past i can appreciate all the work involved in setting-up and performing these tests and thank you for sharing them with us. Very informative indeed. Good job.

Thanks Bobby, Redhawl and swampshooter, I appreciate it!

Whitworth

You may have already done this, but I am curious how far a 240/250 Keith SWC would penetrate when fired at @1200fps [like from a 4" barrel???

I have shot several deer with the Remington 240 gr bullets, both the SP and the SJHP from a 44 Mag rifle as well as the old yellow box Winchester Western 240gr with the little HP, and the Federal 240 HP and the Norma Steel Jacket SP. All killed real well, and gave complete penetration.

We're not done with the .44 mag testing and in fact have plans for a pretty extensive test which will include the Keith-style bullets and a whole slew of others. I'm trying to gather up the newsprint now!

Excellent.

I am curious to see how the 240/250 Keith bullet does against say the Federal Cast Core and other @300 grainers out of a 4" barrel.

I got 30" of penetration in wet newsprint using a 250 grain "Keith" style SWC from a .45 Auto Rim cartridge I shot out of my 4" .45 ACP Mtn. Gun. Also got 21" of penetration using a similar bullet weighing 240 grains from my 3" .44 Special.

I plan on testing a number of factory loads as well as reloads on polular bullet styles. Will keep you all posted.

Whitworth,

I can not resist. Re the first picture, which candidate won?

It's been a long day, no deer near my stand, and we just finished the last of the venison, wild rice, asparagus and a nice Cabernet.

Not trying to start anything political, so please don't take this the wrong way.

Still hunting (with a bow) in NH,

Lee

LOL! I don't know, I covered them up with more newspaper! Your dinner sounds great, and I hope you get a shot at a deer the next time you go out (tomorrow??). Funny that after I posted that photo, I expected some commentary! Who will win? Hopefully the guy on the left!

I meant the guy on the left of the photo -- not on the left of the political spectrum -- just thought I would make that point clear!