I recently started carrying Hornady TAP 168 grain .308 ammo in my M-14. I wanted to conduct an informal expansion test of the round so I gathered up a stack of old newsprint approxiately 12 inches thick and taped it together. I let it soak in water for 24 hours in order for it to get really soggy. I then shot it at 25 yards with the M-14. The round exited the stack of newsprint and lodged in the bark of the tree I had it propped up against.

Here is a pic of about 4 inches in where the front of the bullet began to fragment.


Here is a pic of the rest of the round which did not fragment.


The round mushroomed out to .535" at it's smallest diameter.


The round largest measurement was .805 but it included a portion of the copper jacket.


Here is a pic of the bottom of the round.


I am very pleased with it's performance and I plan on keeping it as my carry rounds for my M-14.
 

Good test, I always wanted to know what that round did in wet news print.  I was always worried that if wet phonebooks attacked, I wouldn't have the right round ready.

Yep, thats good to know.  Just icing on the cake, as I don't really care if it opens at all in one respect.  It shoots dang near 1/2" groups at 100 yds if I can do my part.  If I can pick my spot with that kind of accuracy, it doesn't matter if it mushrooms at all.

Doc

Quoted: I recently started carrying Hornady TAP 168 grain .308 ammo in my M-14. I wanted to conduct an informal expansion test of the round so I gathered up a stack of old newsprint approxiately 12 inches thick and taped it together. I let it soak in water for 24 hours in order for it to get really soggy. I then shot it at 25 yards with the M-14. The round exited the stack of newsprint and lodged in the bark of the tree I had it propped up against. Here is a pic of about 4 inches in where the front of the bullet began to fragment. x402.putfile.com/4/10318583019.jpg Here is a pic of the rest of the round which did not fragment. x402.putfile.com/4/10318563748.jpg The round mushroomed out to .535" at it's smallest diameter. x402.putfile.com/4/10319003199.jpg The round largest measurement was .805 but it included a portion of the copper jacket. x402.putfile.com/4/10319013097.jpg Here is a pic of the bottom of the round. x402.putfile.com/4/10318593559.jpg I am very pleased with it's performance and I plan on keeping it as my carry rounds for my M-14.

You might want to make sure it will cycle right in .223 it jams sometimes and brakes the tip

Quoted: Quoted: I recently started carrying Hornady TAP 168 grain .308 ammo in my M-14. I wanted to conduct an informal expansion test of the round so I gathered up a stack of old newsprint approxiately 12 inches thick and taped it together. I let it soak in water for 24 hours in order for it to get really soggy. I then shot it at 25 yards with the M-14. The round exited the stack of newsprint and lodged in the bark of the tree I had it propped up against. You might want to make sure it will cycle right in .223 it jams sometimes and brakes the tip

I dont think it will fit.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I recently started carrying Hornady TAP 168 grain .308 ammo in my M-14. I wanted to conduct an informal expansion test of the round so I gathered up a stack of old newsprint approxiately 12 inches thick and taped it together. I let it soak in water for 24 hours in order for it to get really soggy. I then shot it at 25 yards with the M-14. The round exited the stack of newsprint and lodged in the bark of the tree I had it propped up against. You might want to make sure it will cycle right in .223 it jams sometimes and brakes the tip I dont think it will fit.

I think he meant that sometimes in the .223 versions of TAP, the tip can brake off.

ROFLOL

"I think he meant that sometimes in the .223 versions of TAP, the tip can brake off. "

Or even break off...