Bullet Penetration Question

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Demonical

Demonical

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I was doing some shooting tonight into a large pine. I didn't measure but I'm guessing about 16" in diameter. I was shooting 2 different calibers and 3 bullet weights.

1) .405Win with 300gr Hornady FN chrony'd at 2230 fps.
2) 8x57 with 200gr Nosler Accubond, chrony'd at 2550 fps.
3) 8x57 with 220gr Sierra GameKing, chrony'd at 2200 fps.

Shots were fired at 60 yards.

Would any of the bullets I listed, go through a 16" pine?
What do you think? What would you vote for?
 
I think I would put my $ on the 200 AB from that 8x57. I had one of those completely penetrate a moose at somewhat of an angle and exit out the far side. But I have been wrong before. Actually I would not be too surprised if all of them made it through. Eagleye.
 
All of the above pretty much should...

I just shot 230gr bullets from a hangun through about 12" of pine, so if the rifle bullets won't get through, somethign is wrong!:)
 
ANSWER:
The 8x57 blew through the tree every time, with both bullet weights.

Alas, the mighty .405Win did not go through.


So what I would say is I am not surprised that the .405 didn't go through, due to it's wider frontal area. Plus it is a flat point. Perhaps the spitzer would do better?
I was surprised that the 220gr Sierra blasted through the tree. I am surprised that the 200gr Accubond did. I thought due to it's higher velocity and lighter weight that it would not be able to penetrate.
One thing I noticed was how tiny the exit hole was for the 220gr Sierras. The exit hole from the 200gr Accubond looked as though the bullet had expanded some, yet still went through.

So the only concern I have after doing this is I'm wondering if that 220gr Sierra will expand sufficiently on a bear. I think I heard someone say that it was developed for the 8mm RemMag (velocities). Anybody know anything about that?

I am not concerned about the .411 cal., 300gr Hornady, or the .323 cal., 200gr Accubond bullets performing on black bear. The Accubond is one of my favorite bullets, in any caliber I have tried. It's accuracy is superbly consistent, and it expands reliably on game. Retains about 70% weight, which I think is ideal.
I suspect the 300gr Hornady will produce "bang-flops", pretty much the same as the old faithful .45-70.

FYI:
I am going to carry my M-1895 .405Win, plus my 2 8x57's, my M-98 Oberndorf Mauser and my M-700 Classic with me this spring, for black bear.
I sure hope I get a chance on a big bear.

Both the M-1895 and the M-98 have iron sights. In the ideal situation, I will grab the .405Win and try to stalk close enough for a shot. Going to see about making some shooting sticks to use.
I would use the scoped M-700 if a chance at a monster bear came up and I didn't think I had time to stalk close enough, in which case I would grab the 200gr Accubond for that.
 
Demonical said:
ANSWER:
The 8x57 blew through the tree every time, with both bullet weights.

Alas, the mighty .405Win did not go through.


So what I would say is I am not surprised that the .405 didn't go through, due to it's wider frontal area. Plus it is a flat point. Perhaps the spitzer would do better?
I was surprised that the 220gr Sierra blasted through the tree. I am surprised that the 200gr Accubond did. I thought due to it's higher velocity and lighter weight that it would not be able to penetrate.
One thing I noticed was how tiny the exit hole was for the 220gr Sierras. The exit hole from the 200gr Accubond looked as though the bullet had expanded some, yet still went through.

So the only concern I have after doing this is I'm wondering if that 220gr Sierra will expand sufficiently on a bear. I think I heard someone say that it was developed for the 8mm RemMag (velocities). Anybody know anything about that?

I am not concerned about the .411 cal., 300gr Hornady, or the .323 cal., 200gr Accubond bullets performing on black bear. The Accubond is one of my favorite bullets, in any caliber I have tried. It's accuracy is superbly consistent, and it expands reliably on game. Retains about 70% weight, which I think is ideal.
I suspect the 300gr Hornady will produce "bang-flops", pretty much the same as the old faithful .45-70.

FYI:
I am going to carry my M-1895 .405Win, plus my 2 8x57's, my M-98 Oberndorf Mauser and my M-700 Classic with me this spring, for black bear.
I sure hope I get a chance on a big bear.

Both the M-1895 and the M-98 have iron sights. In the ideal situation, I will grab the .405Win and try to stalk close enough for a shot. Going to see about making some shooting sticks to use.
I would use the scoped M-700 if a chance at a monster bear came up and I didn't think I had time to stalk close enough, in which case I would grab the 200gr Accubond for that.
Click to expand...

D; How does that 200 AB shoot in your Classic? I have one also, and I have shot groups as small as 5/8", although it averages right at about 1" Eagleye.
 
Eagleye, if I remember right I put 5 shots into about 1.5". I always have the odd "flier' that wrecks a group. If I went with 3 shot groups I believe I could get something < 1".

It's a very nice bullet that Accubond. I'm a big fan! I also swear by the Accubond in .308 cals. I expect it would be good in any caliber it's availabe in actually.

I think both that 200gr Accubond and the 220gr Sierra GameKing would really be nice in an 8mmRM on big fields or cutlines, where 300-400 yard shots might come up; like for deer, elk, moose...

Boomer said:
The .405 bullet must be quite soft and quickly shed it's weight and momentum. A flat nose bullet often penetrates better than a spitzer.
Click to expand...


Yes a hard cast bullet would be cool to try. Something aroung 350-400grs.
 
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