Well we got out to the 'secret' range for some shooting on Saturday.  Between the late start and some other required work (rifle zeroing and ammo chronographing) we didn't get much time to run a full repeat of the previous penetration tests.   So I picked 2 factory rounds to test, SSA 110gr TSX and Hornady 110gr BTHP.

The purpose of these tests was to see how well the rounds penetrated 1 gallon water jugs AFTER going through a concrete block.  This time I picked up the blocks from my local Home Depot; the cost was lower, the blocks thinner, but as we'll see they were a bit tougher than the last batch.

The sun had already gone below the horizon so use of the Chrony was out.  Range from the rifle to the block was 25 yards.  The first water jug was placed 4 inches behind the block on the side we intended to shoot.  A second water jug was placed directly behind the first one - with walls touching as best we could.

Test 1: Silver State Armory 110gr TSX

Unfortunetly my partner got to this one before I could photograph it and disturbed the jug.  The bullet entered and exited the first jug, but completely missed the 2nd ( it exited into the ground).  If you look carefully on the block to the left of the lower crack you'll see one of the TSX's 'petals' that we found in the first jug.

Test 2: Hornady 110gr HPBT

This one I really messed up.  I tried to aim higher so the round wouldn't exit into the dirt prior to the 2nd jug.  Instead it was too high and clipped chunks out of the top of the bock as you can see.  It clipped the side of the first jug (knocking it down the hill to leak out there, and missed the 2nd jug altogether.

So we decided to quickly retry the tests.
Test 3: Silver State Armory 110gr TSX (part II)

Round went through the block.


Entered the first jug


Exited the first jug


But skimmed the 2nd jug .  We never managed to recover the core

Test 4: 110gr VMAX (handload) at 29.5gr H322, 2.29 COAL, small primer
After test 3 we still had half a block so I though I'd demonstrate the 'block pulverizing' capability of this round as was demonstrated in our last set of tests.  Remember how I said these blocks were thinner, but tougher?

The 110gr VMAX blew a hole in the front of the block, but was stopped by the rear wall (much like the 90 gr TNTs in the last test).  It seems these blocks don't crumble as easily as our last set.  

Test 5: 110gr Hornady BTHP
This was setup as a retry of test 2.

The round entered and exited the block with a minium of fuss, cracking the block on the way out.


The first jug has some respectable damage done to it.  Big entrance hole, no exit hole.


The second jug was untouched.



This was the largest part of the bullet found (the base) in the first water jug.

I was thinking the same thing - something that would fit between the middle and left target stands...

The design I have, materials and time are my limiting factors at the present.

Added link for Team Members to original thread in the Archives: 6.8 Penetration Testing