Ballistics gel

joannaardway · Posted: 08/29/2007 16:22 PM Post subject:

Actually, I've been trying the water box'o'truth method.

The problem is that at reasonable speeds, potato atomises immediately as it meets the first layer. The layer can be 1" thick in a flimsy food bag and it can stop it with reasonable reliability.

But the thing that really makes it difficult is that the faster the spud gets, the less penetration it achieves.

Compare this to other rounds:

An ammo like a common 100 grain SG (Spherical Glass) marble will go through around 12 inches of water with a good cannon for a BG penetration of 6 inches.
This is only half of the FBI recommended 12 inch minimum penetration standard.

The lighter 50 grain PB sphere has a good ballistic co-efficient, but fails to hold it's arc after the first 30 feet or so, wasting the advantages of the high muzzle velocity for accuracy at longer distances. It is difficult to place shots beyond this.
High cases of the core seperating from the casing on impact is an indicator that the manufacture of these does not take into account the hydrostatic impact to allow optimum stopping power.
Although 30 feet is an acceptible "across the room distances", the penetration is far below what experts recommend, and although it might be usable in some circumstances, there are much more reliable rounds available.

Potato's low cost can mean extra practise time for the average shooter, but although it makes spectacular impacts as it meets the water, it then fails to penetrate much farther. It is clearly not a good penetrator in soft tissue.
It is not slowed significantly by plywood, which is not ideal for use within the home. There are also high incidences of tumbling rounds, and repeatedly experienced feeding problems.
These factors mean that potato should not be considered as a defense load, but the casual shooter may want to try some for target shooting.