Ballistic Overpenetration

[Bourneshooter]

Regarding over penetration, if you ever get a chance to attend a ballistic demo or see photos from one, your eyes will be opened.

Recently we shot a double wide trailer in training. During this we shot it with 5.56, 308, 12 ga Slugs and .40s&W. All rounds penetrated the exterior wall or a double plane double plane glass then 3 more interior walls before exiting the final exterior wall.

Almost 100% of homes where I live and work are manufactured homes. Knowing that every shot I take could and will penetrate anything around me is a good thing. If I need to shoot through an intermediate barrier to hit the threat, I can. But they can as well.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bourneshooter]

To add round choice clarification:
5.56
55gr FMJ
64gr Gold Dot

.308 168 BTHP and FMJ

.40 165gr Bonded Golden Sabre

Unknown weight of slug but a Federal Tactical load


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Pat Tarrant]

Great info. Over penetration is definitely an issue for me, living in a townhouse with a large buildup of other townhouses within rock chucking distance. I'm primarily concerned with home defense, but anyone that could use of firearms in this area for duty would be very wise to study and consider what the chances are, and the repercussions, of this.

 

[Atlas]

I would love to sit in on a real ballistic test one day.

 

[Erick Gelhaus]

I read something on over penetration the other day, can't recall who the author was. The gist of his point, was that for most, more rounds just plain miss than hit, never mind hit & exited. Based on that, he wanted a round that, when it hit, would penetrate sufficiently. If one isn't missing, then over-penetration issues can climb the list of concerns.

 

[DocGKR]

When doing such barrier testing, it is important to capture the projectile in tissue simulant after it perforates the intermediate barrier to determine its residual ability to cause tissue damage.

 

[Unobtanium]

When doing such barrier testing, it is important to capture the projectile in tissue simulant after it perforates the intermediate barrier to determine its residual ability to cause tissue damage.

I have used 2x4's and phone books in lieu of this. If it will still punch a 2x4 or large phone book afterwards, I consider it will wreck someone's day. Can I say it will do 12"+ or 8"? No. But don't expect it to tickle.

 

[KUTF]

I would love to sit in on a real ballistic test one day.

Hornady has a traveling ballistics/gel shot demo program - and ATK does as well - that will come to you if you can find a local agency to host it. The range doesn't need to be deep, but it needs to be able to handle a good crowd of attendees.