Ballistic gelatin testing results : .32NAA 90 grain Sierra JHC

[Brass Fetcher]

This is a repost of a test that I included in another .32NAA thread, now it is posted by itself here. These results are the best that I have obtained to date for the .32NAA - a wound equal to a 45 caliber wadcutter that penetrates 12.5" and fires from a 200 dollar pocket pistol.

The calibration of the block was 607 ft/sec at 9.6cm penetration.

Shot 1 impacted at 933 ft/sec, penetrated 16"+ and was recovered at 0.332" average diameter. Charge was 2.6 grains of Vihtavouri 310 with Winchester SPP.

Shot 2 impacted at 940 ft/sec, penetrated 15.3" and was recovered at 0.400" average diameter. Charge was 2.7 grains of Vihtavouri 310 with Winchester SPP.

Shot 3 impacted at 962 ft/sec, penetrated 13.1" and was recovered at 0.404" average diameter. Charge was 2.8 grains of Vihtavouri 310 with Winchester SPP. Track is outlined in blue on photo.

Shot 4 impacted at 978 ft/sec, penetrated 12.5" and was recovered at 0.452" average diameter. Charge was 2.9 grains of Vihtavouri 310 with Winchester SPP. Track is outlined in yellow on photo.

Shot 5 was a denim-faced block, bullet impacted at 977 ft/sec, penetrated 14.3" and was recovered at 0.326" average diameter. Charge was 2.9 grains of Vihtavouri 310 with Winchester SPP.

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing and for the web page!

 

[Dark Helmet]

What were the recovered weights of your slugs? You might try a 60 gr. Gold Dot, I have seen .5" expansion and very good retained weight in 32 H&R (water testing).

 

[Sylvan-Forge]

Awesome, thanks for sharing JE223

 

[Brass Fetcher]

Not a problem, in fact I'm actually starting to like this gelatin stuff

Hmm, good question - I am away from the recovered bullets but I can probably get those recovered weights sometime next week. They really are as fragmented as they appear in the pics, with most of the fragmenting apparently taking place towards the end of the track. Good call on the Speer bullets - that will be my next test. Thanks.

The challenge here seems to be to find the right bullet - and they seem to be few and far-between with the .32 caliber. If someone with the lead moulding capability were to make a 0.311" diameter, ~ 90 grain lead HP (ala the 'FBI load' in .38 Special), you might make .32NAA history (at the very least you would make a number of people here happy, I guess?). I can load them if someone can cast them.

JE223