Phonebook vs. .45ACP vs. .22LR

IM_Lugger

IM_Lugger

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Couple of phonebooks made a mistake coming with me to the range... they never had a chance….:cool: I had a .22 and .45 pistols with me and decided to do some testing;

I stacked up 2 phonebooks and shot 2 rounds of both .22LR and .45ACP from 5 yards away. To my surprise neither caliber penetrated the first book completely! But all shots managed to brake all the pages (see pics) in the first phonebook and tear a few pages (~100) of the second. Both .22 and .45 bullets penetrated about the same and were recovered in the first phonebook about 80-90% in.

Here's the load Info:

.45ACP load: 7gr of VihtaVoury N350 behind 200gr RN plated bullet. Gun - P220(4.4” barrel)

.22LR - Federal Champion 36gr plated HP. Gun- Norinco M93 (4.6” barrel)

Phonebook thickness - 1.8”

Distance: ~5yards

I have to say .45 load might’ve been a little light, I will try another/hotter load next time.

Also going to try; 9mm (124 and 147gr), hotter .45ACP load, .22LR Velocitor 40gr (I have my money on the 9mm!) Might also try .22 from a rifle.

Yeah, so if anyone is looking for body armor save the money and strap on a phonebook!;)

Here are some pics;

front of the first phonebook;
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This gives an idea of the thickness of the phonebook;
274_28_04_08_9_53_36.jpg


Last page of the first book;

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274_28_04_08_10_06_09.jpg


.45ACP bullet recovered in a first phonebook :)

274_28_04_08_9_50_11.jpg


Here are all 4 bullets recovered as well as a 'before' shot;

274_28_04_08_9_47_06.jpg


another shot;

274_28_04_08_9_59_54.jpg
 
I'll have to try that, next trip to the range, along with the el cheapo Ballistic Gelatin I plan on making. I'm surprised you didn't get more penetration, especially with plated round nose. I'll have with me some 185 gr hollowpoints, and 200gr semi wad cutters.

I'll bet that the 9 mm does a pretty good pass, especially if it's a nice warm loaded FMJ.
 
This is great. Thanks for posting.

Two things.

#1. I'm shocked that the .22 actually crushed (or opened - whatever way you look at it) with the velocities from a handgun.

#2. I also have money on the 9mm.
 
I'm surprized both bullets went in the same distance, I thought the .45 would go in alot further. I'd like to see a test like this with the 7.62X25mm Tokarev round.
 
I'm hoping to hit the range tomorrow after work if the weather allows (it's been cold and rainy). I still have 4 or 5 more identical phonebooks left so I'm set. :)

Forgot to mention that a while ago I chronyed that Fed .22LR load and got either 930 fps or 970fps can't remember exactly...fwiw

Not that surprised that .22 penetrated as far as it did, in fact I expected more from it. I'm guessing the heavier, faster Velocitor (pretty much the most powerful .22LR load) is going to punch thru the first phonebook completely...

I'm going save my judgment on the .45 for after I try a full power load, may even load a +P load as well...

Kinda curious which 9mm load is going to 'win' 124 or 147gr :)

Taking bets now :D

.22LR Velocitor 40gr HP
9mm 124gr RN*
9mm 147gr RN*
.45ACP 200gr RN*

*full power Power Pistol loads
 
I shot a phone book from 10 yards with a factory American Eagle (Federal) 230gr ball out of 1911-A1 government. It shredded the phone book and bullets were never recovered as they ended up in a berm.
 
I'm a little surprised that the penetration of the .22 wan't more too. They whizz through a 2X4 like its not even there. A hotter round nose probably would go through.

Don't know that the 9mm would do much more than the 45 for a similar load or bullet. A .40 would do much better I'm betting. So would real full metal jacket ammo in any calibre.
 
I've shot numerous different 9mm rounds at a 2000 page phone book. Every single one went right through.

Hey, with Canada411.com, phone books have found a new purpose!
 
Cool, IM Lugger! I have played around with phone books in the past, but always saturated with water. I heard about this years ago as the poor mans ballistic gelatin. This is pretty neat, as the pages mould to form a permanent wound cavity. I just soaked them overnight in a big bucket.
 
A Toronto phone book would be a good test! I'll have to get my hands on a Ottawa yellow pages and give that a try some time with what I have on hand, .45 ACP, .45 GAP .40S&W and .44 MAG, unless someone beats me to it!! Lugger, you may have started an EPIDEMIC!!!
 
I did the same test only using not pistol but CZ varmint .22LR bolt action.
I used .22LR Remington Subsonic on 2 Toronto 2008 phone books place one after another from approximately 15 yards.
The .22lr subsonic went true the first one no problem and stack in the middle of the second one, leaving quite a damage...
 
Cool, IM Lugger! I have played around with phone books in the past, but always saturated with water. I heard about this years ago as the poor mans ballistic gelatin. This is pretty neat, as the pages mould to form a permanent wound cavity. I just soaked them overnight in a big bucket.
Click to expand...

What he said. You'll get more impressive and more easily comparable results with a soaked book than dry.
 
Thirty years ago I installed a Lexan (polycarbonate) windshield on my motorcycle. Since Lexan is supposedly bullet-proof, I took a piece of scrap to the pistol range. A .45 bullet made a dent half-an-inch deep but bounced off. The .22LR bored right on through. Those were the only two I tried.
 
I thought about using wet phonebooks but it sounds messy and I'm guessing wet paper would be much easier to punch thru and I only have 4 phonebooks left :)

I'm not trying to duplicate gelleten/flesh, just want to see how far each caliber would go thru. I wouldn't mind testing on other stuff like wood, drywall, metal sheets etc.
 
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IM_Lugger said:
I thought about using wet phonebooks but it sounds messy and I'm guessing wet paper would be much easier to punch thru and I only have 4 phonebooks left :)

I'm not trying to duplicate gelleten/flesh, just want to see how far each caliber would go thru. I wouldn't mind testing on other stuff like wood, drywall, metal sheets etc.
Click to expand...

For the sake of science, I'll be happy to send you mine and my neighbours phonebooks.
 
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