When in 1999 I first published my theories on supercavitating non-deforming bullets SuperPenetrator,
I gave also a ranking for the nose shape of different bullets on its effect for penetration.
The SuperPenetrator, featuring a flat protruding disk was followed for near the same penetration by an appropriate designed flat nose. That refers to a flat meplat with sharp edges and not too steep an angle relative to the bullet´s axis.
In the meantime the better penetration ability of FN bullets is common sense and many manufactures are offering such bullets. E.g. "Dzombo" in SA. When Barnes, as a major manufacturer, came with their new FN banded Solids, I repeated my tests for comparing the original SuperPenetrator with the new Barnes FN.

For simulation of aqueous media I used a row of 12 plastic containers of 1.3 gallons of water, each for 18.5 cm ( 7.3" ) penetration. For stopping the bullet was a backing of a strong steel plate. The total penetration was 222 cm
( 87.5 " ) water and 1.2 cm ( 1/2 " ) plasic walls.
For simulation of bone, hide, sinew etc. I used a stack of 20 á 38 mm ( 1.5 " ) resin bonded hard board.
Test setup:


Close up of the hard board:


The SP (490 grs 2350 f/s) and the FN (450 grs 2440 f/s) showed in the row of water containers the same straight-line penetration through all 12 containers and were stopped at the steel plate, compressed due to the retained velocity. I don´t know, how many containers would stop these bullets.

From left: SP new; SP recovered: FN new; FN recovered.

In the hard board both bullets show straight line penetration, the SP penetrated 17 boards, the FN 14 boards and stuck totally in the 15th. This difference is mainly due to the different diameter of the meplat, the SP is 7.3 mm, the FN 8.0 mm.

Stimulated by RIP´s "Steel Mistress" I will use in the future a setup of the water containers arranged alternating with one sheet of hard board. See this video with Media Player 9 or Real Player: Video

Thank you, Norbert, for a very interesting post.

It appears that the Barnes flat nosed, monometal solid is acquitting itself far better than did the old Barnes round nosed, monometal solid

As always, I am happy for an opportunity to read about these tests.

Did the SP which you tested include a steel disc at the nose?

Norbert,
Good show!
Whatever that video shot was, it left 3 of the 9 compartments intact? Was that the SuperPenetrator load with the new technique of wood and water sandwich? Your boards are mighty thick. 1.5" particle board planks?

I started off with 3 of the ~1/2" plywood boards for a total of ~1.5" of wood boards to 6.5" of water. Finally I stretched it out to 1/2" wood to 7.5" of water, to allow a better resolution of bullet differences.

I do note that the North Fork FPS has a less rounded edge to its flat nose meplat than the GSC FN, but it is not as sharp as the meplat edge on the Bridger Brass flat nosed solid, which should be interesting ...

Sounds like Barnes banded-flat-nosed solids are pretty good.

Whatever the mechanism behind it, your SuperPenetrator flat out works, I do believe.

One interesting test to check the effect of the nose shape would be to grind a cutting tool to make the meplat and then chuck the Barnes bullets in a lathe and cut a SP type nose on them. The loss of metal would be minor and the bullets would have essentially identical SD's. Load them identically and any difference in penetration would be due to nose profile.

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:
It appears that the Barnes flat nosed, monometal solid is acquitting itself far better than did the old Barnes round nosed, monometal solid

Yes, much better. The hemispherical nose tends to tumble and veer off after 5 containers.

quote:

Originally posted by 500 grains:
Did the SP which you tested include a steel disc at the nose?

No. It is the integral brass type. A steel disk is used with copper monometals.

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:
Whatever that video shot was, it left 3 of the 9 compartments intact? Was that the SuperPenetrator load with the new technique of wood and water sandwich? Your boards are mighty thick. 1.5" particle board planks?

It was only one preliminary shot with the SP load.( I run out with the containers.)
The bullet didn´t reestablish the cavitation bubble after the 6th board, tumbled in the 7th container, keyholed the 7th board and exited the 8th container top left. Board 8 and container 9 left intact.
This test might become very interesting, because the bullet undergoes two subsequent different mechanism of penetration: stabilisation by cavitation in the water containers, followed by stabilisation by forces on the shank in the hard board.

quote:

I started off with 3 of the ~1/2" plywood boards for a total of ~1.5" of wood boards to 6.5" of water. Finally I stretched it out to 1/2" wood to 7.5" of water, to allow a better resolution of bullet differences.

I will continue with this ratio: 7.3" water followed by 1.5" board, because the supply is relative cheap and the setup easy. The resin bonded planks are homogeneous, an advantage over plywood, which has a structure.

.

Norbert,
Your particle board may well be "harder" than my plywood in the current applications.

I do think that the 3-ply, glued together plywood is averaged and uniformed enough to be not problematic for repeatable consistency ... as long as I don't allow knot holes in the wood ... and oops, I can't see that middle ply of the plywood can I?

So, yea verily, the proper thickness of masonite or composite/particle board might well be an improvement for consistency, and I may have to switch to this new kind of board ... yep, soon as I use up the plywood I have on hand.

Nevertheless, in the Steel Mistress, most of the work is done by water, but the 1/2" plywood is important for detecting the keyholing and bringing the bullets to a quick stop after keyholing.

Your setup is nice, if one has a supply of those plastic water containers.

RIP:

stay with your plywood, it is interesting enough.

How do you name the material of those kitchen boards in american (english) ?

The water containers are sold, filled with aqua dest., in our "do it yourself" markets for $1.5 a piece.

Norbert,

If the boards you are referring to are particles of wood pressed/glued together, we call them 'particle board'.

You guys and your sand boxes, your worse than bunch of cats, shooting boards, sand, mud mixed with hair, water bottles, gel, wood pulp, phone books and peat moss!! all with the same results but never twice in a row ????????...you need to get a real job!!


Just kidding guys!

quote:

Originally posted by Norbert:
RIP:

stay with your plywood, it is interesting enough.

How do you name the material of those kitchen boards in american (english) ?

The water containers are sold, filled with aqua dest., in our "do it yourself" markets for $1.5 a piece.

Norbert,
I see now that you are using the "pressed wood" or "particle board" that is used for counter tops, etc., and it looks like you are using the 1.5" thick stuff that has a plastic veneer simulating wood grain, etc. Some of the countertop particle board is also laminated with thick and stout veneers of melamine, etc., and can get pretty expensive. This is basically sawdust that is formed into boards under pressure with glue.

On second thought, if there is a knothole in the internal ply of my plywood, it would be filled with glue in the lamination processing of the plywood. It should not be a weak spot, and the process of averaging the 3-ply plywood over a 12-or-more board span ought to make it pretty uniform, as long as I discard any boards with visible external knotholes in the bullet path.

Gotta go cut some boards for tomorrow. Each of my boards costs about 25 cents.

My water bags (25 cents/ $0.25) are a lot cheaper than your containers, epecially when I fill them with a garden hose or a bucket of pond water. It takes about four gallons to bulge my bag enough for each compartment.

So it is about $6 per shot to set up the Steel Maiden. She's a cheap date.

Ray,
Just killing time until Chief Thunderstick and Chief Big Foot take our part Cherokee blood to the Selous.

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:
So it is about $6 per shot to set up the Steel Maiden. She's a cheap date.

RIP, but you have to write off the investment of your Steel Maiden.
But let us not discuss the costs, I would pay more for the fun.

An advantage of the containers is, that I can follow the bullet´s path and see where and when the bullet tumbles or veers off. I also have some indication of the energy dissipation. First containers are blown up into pieces, next show multiple splits and then follow containers which show only holes of bullet entrance and exit.

that video is awesome!
if you stop it at its first frame it is very impressive. we need to shood these things at high speeds and slow it down for slow-motion

Norbert,
Yawohl. If you and I each shoot 1000 tests we will be about even on expense.

Anyone wishing for video of the splash from the Iron Buffalo (formerly Steel Mistress), please refer to Norbert's video above. It is similar to the treat I witness when smacking the Iron Buffalo.