I tested various loads in newsprint for penetration and expansion. The newsprint had been soaked for 48 hours.
The following .45 loads were shot from a 5" Kimber at 3 yards.
Speer Gold Dot 230 gr. JHP:
#1 5 1/2" pen., .65" dia., 229.3 gr. recovered weight.
#2 5 1/2" pen., .67" dia., 229 gr.recovered weight.
Remington Golden Saber 230 gr., JHP:
#1 5" pen., .69" dia., 231.5 gr.recovered weight.
#2 5 1/4" pen., .67" dia, 231.3 gr.recovered weight.
Fiocchi 230 gr. FMJ:
#1 12" pen., no deformation, 229.9 gr. recovered weight.
#2 12" pen., no deformation, 230 gr. recovered weight.
The next load was Winchester .38 spl 158 gr. +p LSWCHP. This load was fired from a S&W 638 snub nose.
#1 4 3/4" pen., .55" dia., 156.5gr recovered weight.
#2 5" pen., .56" dia., 156.5 gr. recovered weight.
Just for comparison I tested a few rounds of 7.62 x 39mm fired from a 16" AK-47.
Wolf 122 gr FMJ:
#1 16 3/4" pen., 109.1 gr. recovered weight.
#2 16 1/2" pen., 113.7 gr. recovered weight.
#3 13 1/2" pen. 108.8 gr. recovered weight.
The first two rounds had completly tumbled, and came to a rest base first. The third round came to a rest sideways.
The following .45 loads were shot from a 5" Kimber at 3 yards.
Speer Gold Dot 230 gr. JHP:
#1 5 1/2" pen., .65" dia., 229.3 gr. recovered weight.
#2 5 1/2" pen., .67" dia., 229 gr.recovered weight.
Remington Golden Saber 230 gr., JHP:
#1 5" pen., .69" dia., 231.5 gr.recovered weight.
#2 5 1/4" pen., .67" dia, 231.3 gr.recovered weight.
Fiocchi 230 gr. FMJ:
#1 12" pen., no deformation, 229.9 gr. recovered weight.
#2 12" pen., no deformation, 230 gr. recovered weight.
The next load was Winchester .38 spl 158 gr. +p LSWCHP. This load was fired from a S&W 638 snub nose.
#1 4 3/4" pen., .55" dia., 156.5gr recovered weight.
#2 5" pen., .56" dia., 156.5 gr. recovered weight.
Just for comparison I tested a few rounds of 7.62 x 39mm fired from a 16" AK-47.
Wolf 122 gr FMJ:
#1 16 3/4" pen., 109.1 gr. recovered weight.
#2 16 1/2" pen., 113.7 gr. recovered weight.
#3 13 1/2" pen. 108.8 gr. recovered weight.
The first two rounds had completly tumbled, and came to a rest base first. The third round came to a rest sideways.