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A good range test of a hog bullet #7724598 01/21/20 11:06 PM
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tacotime Offline OP
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For range testing a hog gun and load/bullet, what do you figure makes a good thing to fire into, other than a hog?

I don't have ballistic gelatin - I'm thinking something like a couple of 2x6 or 1x6 inch boards maybe with a bunch of wet newspaper stuffed in between, or something like that, where there is a tough skin and some softer internals and a tough skin on the other side, to compare how some different hog bullets perform.

What kind of contraption do you figure makes a target that is similar to a hog in the way a bullet will show results you can test on a range or in a pasture? And NO, not the neighbor's cows.

Thanks.

Last edited by tacotime; 01/21/20 11:07 PM.

When in doubt, take the .45-70
Re: A good range test of a hog bullet [Re: tacotime] #7724603 01/21/20 11:15 PM
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wet stack of newspaper

Re: A good range test of a hog bullet [Re: tacotime] #7724681 01/22/20 12:27 AM
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I imagine we can save you the trouble. Tell us what caliber and which bullet(s) you are considering and we can probably tell you if its good on hogs or not.


Spartans ask not...how many, but where!
Re: A good range test of a hog bullet [Re: tacotime] #7724827 01/22/20 02:51 AM
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Got a good idea what works on hogs but I'm looking to have some fun doing some realistic bullet and load testing.


When in doubt, take the .45-70
Re: A good range test of a hog bullet [Re: tacotime] #7724946 01/22/20 09:35 AM
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Just for fun one time some years ago, I took half a big boar just to play around and see what would penetrate it well. I hung up the whole shoulder area, and started playing with pistol cartridges starting with 44 mag and working my way down. I got to a .22 short....and it penetrated it too ! Too many variables on figuring out a lot of this stuff...but there are a lot of effective cartridges for hog hunting and finding one that does the internal damage you need would be the determining factor as far as I can see.

Re: A good range test of a hog bullet [Re: flintknapper] #7725069 01/22/20 01:55 PM
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Originally Posted by flintknapper
I imagine we can save you the trouble. Tell us what caliber and which bullet(s) you are considering and we can probably tell you if its good on hogs or not.

Hit the nail on the head

Re: A good range test of a hog bullet [Re: tacotime] #7725235 01/22/20 03:54 PM
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Originally Posted by tacotime
Got a good idea what works on hogs but I'm looking to have some fun doing some realistic bullet and load testing.


Like you , I don’t have access or want to invest the money into ballistic gel.

I’m a big backer for using wet newspaper:

I think 16 - 18” is plenty of width to simulate hogs (150 lbs +)

I don’t use the Ads from newspaper because the material and construction is different than standard newspaper which makes it more difficult when prepping the wet pack, I do mine in 6” layers so lay it in the holder and soak a couple of times until absorption stops and then work the next 6”.

I put weight on the paper for 24 hours to compress it and then 12 hours before i shoot it I drain all the excess water and leave it sitting with weight still on it.

Here is an example of some fun bullet testing I did with wet pack:



Note: when I indicate penetration that’s to say what stage in the wet pack I’m evaluating not necessarily the size of the wound tract.


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Re: A good range test of a hog bullet [Re: tacotime] #7725459 01/22/20 06:40 PM
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Nice video and I will use your way of making up a test bucket, thanks.


When in doubt, take the .45-70
Re: A good range test of a hog bullet [Re: tacotime] #7726707 01/23/20 10:17 PM
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30 gallon drum of Jello, lemon lime is my favorite.

Re: A good range test of a hog bullet [Re: tacotime] #7726862 01/24/20 12:59 AM
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There are enough hogs around that the best medium for bullet testing is probably another hog.


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Re: A good range test of a hog bullet [Re: tacotime] #7728419 01/25/20 11:28 PM
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Drilling a hole through a hog ain’t that hard. I suggest a field study. Dissect the critter afterward if that is what your into? We have been killing plenty with 200 fpe airguns for some time. Find a rifle and ammo you can shoot MOA groups with and have at it.


They make ammo specifically for hunting for a reason! nidea
Re: A good range test of a hog bullet [Re: tacotime] #7730860 01/28/20 02:57 PM
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Now that mention of hogs with an air rifle is interesting...


When in doubt, take the .45-70
Re: A good range test of a hog bullet [Re: tacotime] #7730875 01/28/20 03:08 PM
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Just shoot nosler partitions and have no fear or doubt. They are the gold standard of hunting bullets.


It's hell eatin em live
Re: A good range test of a hog bullet [Re: tacotime] #7731394 01/28/20 10:54 PM
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I hear you on the Noslers but I have not seen any for 44 Magnum or 45 Colt.


When in doubt, take the .45-70
Re: A good range test of a hog bullet [Re: tacotime] #7731847 01/29/20 01:40 PM
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Originally Posted by tacotime
I hear you on the Noslers but I have not seen any for 44 Magnum or 45 Colt.


For jacketed bullets I have shot 240 grain sierra JHC with good results in a 45 colt. I have also shot a few XTP mags but they litteraly didn't expand, I dug them out of gravel pit walls and thought I could reload them. Also been pretty happy with 250 grain cast in the colt.

In 44 mag have loaded xtp's and been happy.


It's hell eatin em live
Re: A good range test of a hog bullet [Re: tacotime] #7732099 01/29/20 05:05 PM
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Gold dots are good too - have fun in your testing and let us know how it turns out


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Re: A good range test of a hog bullet [Re: tacotime] #7732172 01/29/20 06:05 PM
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Originally Posted by tacotime
Got a good idea what works on hogs but I'm looking to have some fun doing some realistic bullet and load testing.

why not just do it on hogs?


"You may all go to hell and I will go to Texas".
Re: A good range test of a hog bullet [Re: syncerus] #7732189 01/29/20 06:19 PM
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Originally Posted by tacotime
Got a good idea what works on hogs but I'm looking to have some fun doing some realistic bullet and load testing.


Originally Posted by syncerus
There are enough hogs around that the best medium for bullet testing is probably another hog.


^^^ This ^^^
Hogs are plentiful. Realistic testing can really only be done on hogs. Gel tests are not realistic representations of what a bullet will do to a hog, but will show what will happen to a bullet under ideal circumstances of the bullet going in and hitting nothing but uniform soft tissue. On top of that, ballistics gel only simulated the density and viscosity of muscle tissue, but not as muscle, but as an amorphous, uniform gel, which muscle is not. Gel does not simulate organ tissues (which is what you really want to damage and of which there are a variety of different types) blood vessels (also good to hit) etc. At best, what gel tests give you is a very idealised and sanitized version of what might happen.

People are often surprised when they shoot game, such as hogs, and the bullets do not perform exactly as shown from gel testing. This isn't the fault of the bullet. It is the fault of the users of the information in believing that gel testing is realistic. It is nothing of the sort. It is a simulant, and one of limited scope. Gel, water jugs, or wet media may give you a good idea about how a bullet can expand, but don't rely on depths or damage to your test media to be representative of what happens in a hog. The bullet may open sooner or later in a hog than in test media, fyi.


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Re: A good range test of a hog bullet [Re: tacotime] #7732719 01/30/20 12:52 AM
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I totally agree with DNS about using hogs for your information about performance. Hitting a bone or two along the way would make a real difference compared to gel or something along that line.

Re: A good range test of a hog bullet [Re: tacotime] #7733065 01/30/20 02:36 PM
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Okay, allright! No fun allowed on the range then!


When in doubt, take the .45-70
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