Terminal Ballistics of .223 Ammo (with pics)

[Newton]

That 55 grain Tactical BSP load looks like a great performer.

That'd be my choice.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Interesting thing to me was the overall performance of the lowly 55gr fmj... still a pretty good bullet. and the woeful performance of most of the rounds against glass.

Neat info.

 

[JohnKSa]

Glass and other hard, shattering substances are very hard to defeat. They do a lot of damage to the bullet, and absorb a lot of energy when they break.

I seem to recall some years back that some company was offering body armor based on this principle. It used a "ceramic matrix". It was supposed to defeat most rifle rounds without requiring trauma plates.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Thanks a lot.....Why couldn't y'all have posted this BEFORE I went and spent all that money on the Hornady TAP Balistic Tip ammo???

Darn those plastic tipped bullets suck HARD!

 

[blackhawk2000]

Excellent post!

Any info on the Black Hills 77g HP?

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Black Hills loads the Sierra 77gr MatchKing... if you go to the AR15.com link from the previous page, you'll see a picture of that bullet in gel. Very long neck before fragmentation; but otherwise a top performer.

 

[larryw]

I find it interesting the 40gr HP performs signifcantly better shooting through heavy clothing than bare gel. Figuring out why that is doesn''t take a lot of thought, but interesting results none-the-less.

 

[Newton]

Is there anywhere we can purchase Federal's Tactical ammo.

If the 55gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw uses the exact same bullet as the 55gr Tactical load, are the 2 cartridges essentially identical ? Could be the easy option to get that 55gr Tactical BSP by another name.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I haven't seen the 55gr Federal Tactical TBBC load; but the hunting bullet uses nickel cases and has a cannelure to prevent setback in autoloaders as well as using the same 55gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw bullet. I imagine that performance would be very close if not identical to the Tactical load.

One thing to remember though is that the bonded soft point (TBBC) bullets are very good penetrators. The TBBC will penetrate intermediate barriers better than the M855 with steel penetrator. All that stuff about .223 presenting less of a threat of overpenetration does not apply to these rounds.

 

[army_eod]

WOW

I want me some o' those LE223T3 62 grainers. Where can I buy???

Why..right here

http://www.streichers.com/ProductDetail.aspx?Catalog=Guns and Ammo&Category=AMMO_TACT&Prod=FC-223LET

 

[147 Grain]

Great Thread and Thanks to Dr. Roberts!

The following data was compiled from Federal's Tactical 223 Rifle Data Book using standard wound ballistic testing procedures located HERE. Rifle used was Colt M4, with 14.5" barrel, 1 in 7 twist, and fired into test media 10 yards away.


Bare Gelatin

Federal LE223T3 (62-gr. Trophy Bonded Bear Claw) = 16.0"
Federal LE223T1 (55-gr. Trophy Bonded Bear Claw) = 14.75"
Federal AE223 (American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ) = 14.5"
Federal T223L (TRU 64-gr. SP) = 12.0"
Federal T223F (TRU 55-gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip) = 11.50"
Federal T223E (TRU 55-gr. Sierra Match King BTHP) = 11.25"
Federal T223A (TRU 55-gr. SP) = 7.75"
Federal T223D (TRU 40-gr. HP) = 5.75"


Heavy Clothing - 4 Layers

Federal LE223T3 (62-gr. Trophy Bonded Bear Claw) = 17.0"
Federal LE223T1 (55-gr. Trophy Bonded Bear Claw) = 15.5"
Federal T223L (TRU 64-gr. SP) = 12.25"
Federal AE223 (American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ) = 12.25"
Federal T223F (TRU 55-gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip) = 12.0"
Federal T223A (TRU 55-gr. SP) = 11.50"
Federal T223E (TRU 55-gr. Sierra Match King BTHP) = 11.0"
Federal T223D (TRU 40-gr. HP) = 9.0"


Steel - 2 Pieces of 20 Gauge

Federal AE223 (American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ) = 16.0"
Federal LE223T3 (62-gr. Trophy Bonded Bear Claw) = 14.25"
Federal T223L (TRU 64-gr. SP) = 11.25"
Federal LE223T1 (55-gr. Trophy Bonded Bear Claw) = 10.75"
Federal T223A (TRU 55-gr. SP) = 9.5"
Federal T223F (TRU 55-gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip) = 9.0"
Federal T223E (TRU 55-gr. Sierra Match King BTHP) = 9.0"
Federal T223D (TRU 40-gr. HP) = 6.25"


Wallboard - 2 Pieces of 1/2" Sheetrock

Federal LE223T3 (62-gr. Trophy Bonded Bear Claw) = 17.75"
Federal LE223T1 (55-gr. Trophy Bonded Bear Claw) = 14.0"
Federal T223E (TRU 55-gr. Sierra Match King BTHP) = 12.5"
Federal T223L (TRU 64-gr. SP) = 12.25"
Federal AE223 (American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ) = 11.25"
Federal T223F (TRU 55-gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip) = 8.5"
Federal T223A (TRU 55-gr. SP) = 7.25"
Federal T223D (TRU 40-gr. HP) = 7.25"


Plywood - 3/4"

Federal LE223T3 (62-gr. Trophy Bonded Bear Claw) = 17.5"
Federal LE223T1 (55-gr. Trophy Bonded Bear Claw) = 15.0"
Federal T223F (TRU 55-gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip) = 13.75"
Federal T223L (TRU 64-gr. SP) = 12.25"
Federal T223E (TRU 55-gr. Sierra Match King BTHP) = 11.25"
Federal T223A (TRU 55-gr. SP) = 10.5"
Federal AE223 (American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ) = 10.0"
Federal T223D (TRU 40-gr. HP) = 6.5"


Auto Glass - Laminated Glass is Offset at 40* Horizontal Angle & Weapon is Offset 15*

Federal LE223T3 (62-gr. Trophy Bonded Bear Claw) = 13.5"
Federal LE223T1 (55-gr. Trophy Bonded Bear Claw) = 11.5"
Federal T223F (TRU 55-gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip) = 8.25"
Federal T223L (TRU 64-gr. SP) = 6.5"
Federal T223E (TRU 55-gr. Sierra Match King BTHP) = 6.25"
Federal AE223 (American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ) = 3.25"
Federal T223A (TRU 55-gr. SP) = 2.25"
Federal T223D (TRU 40-gr. HP) = 1.5"

Source:Federal's Tactical 223 Rifle Data Book

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Hornady TAP 75gr data (Bushmaster 16" 1:9)
Original Source

Bare gel
Muzzle velocity: 2,665fps Penetration: 13.5" Max Temp. Cavity: 6.5" Depth to max cavity: 4.5"
Car door
Muzzle velocity: 2,682fps Penetration: 12.0" Max Temp. Cavity: 6.0" Depth to max cavity: 3.25"
Fire Door
Muzzle velocity: 2,695fps Penetration: 8.75" Max Temp. Cavity: 5.5" Depth to max cavity: 2.25"
Safety glass
Muzzle velocity: 2,711fps Penetration: 6.5" Max Temp. Cavity: 4.5" Depth to max cavity: 3"
Wallboard
Muzzle velocity: 2,688fps Penetration: 6" Max Temp. Cavity: 6.25" Depth to max cavity: 3.25"

 

[army_eod]

I picked up the TRU 64 grainers. They are cost effective, so to speak.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Ballistics gel testing of 40gr, 55gr and 75gr Hornady TAP offerings from a 16" 1/9 barrel.

These images are from the article "Terminal Ballistics; A Critical Consideration" by M.L. McPherson published in the December 1998 issue of Tactical Shooter (out of print) and were scanned and shared by Molon of AR15.com - Thanks.

 

[DMK]

Definitely shows why light .223 loads suck as self defense rounds.

 

[lamazza]

It looks like 55gr FMJ is sufficient in every test, but these tests were done at 10yards!

 

[glockman19]

Great thread.

Thanks

 

[jpwilly]

Great info...wonder how the Wolf 55gr FMJ's would do. I have a few ammo cans full of that stuff.

 

[springmom]

I can't read the pics. Can you give a link to the original? On my computer it ends up as illegible chicken scratch

Springmom

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Great info...wonder how the Wolf 55gr FMJ's would do. I have a few ammo cans full of that stuff.

They hit and yaw at a random distance. When they yaw, the hole goes from 5.56mm to 45mm as the bullet yaws and then the bullet travels base forward in a long curving trajectory. They don't really fragment at all, though they do squeeze a little bit of lead out of the bottom like toothpaste. See this archived thread for more details. All in all, not a great defense choice.

I can't read the pics. Can you give a link to the original?

Those are the original pics. They are labeled from left to right: 40gr VMAX 16" 1-9, 55gr VMAX 16" 1-9, and 75gr BTHP 16" 1-9. A ruler is beneath each picture and the penetration depths are as follows:

40gr max depth: ~5.5"
Neck: <1"
Max cavity depth: ~2"

55gr max depth: ~8.25"
Neck: <1"
Max cavity depth: ~2"

75gr max depth: ~14"
Neck: 2"
Max cavity depth: ~5.5"

And if you have never seen it, The AR15.com Ammo Oracle is definitely worth a read for anyone interested in .223 ballistics and terminal performance.

 

[SoCalShooter]

Thats pretty cool thanks. It would seem that good home defense ammo would be 40gr loads.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

It would seem that good home defense ammo would be 40gr loads.

Well, the classic problem posed by home defense is that if you don't penetrate deeply enough to reach major blood-bearing organs or the central nervous system, you will not physiologically stop the attacker. The attacker may choose to break off the attack after being hit; but it will be at their option. If you don't want to rely on the psychological effects of being shot, you need to hit those major organs or CNS. The FBI has determined that the minimum ballistics gel penetration necessary to meet this in a variety of scenarios is 12". On the other hand, all of us are concerned about penetrating too deeply or what might happen if we miss... so the same penetration that makes the round effective can also be a liability.

5" sounds like plenty of penetration at first until you consider that this is just gelatin (no bones, clothing, etc.). So already we can see penetration might be more shallow than 5"... now start thinking about less than optimum profiles, or intervening structures/body parts. For example, picture someone facing you in either a Weaver or Isoceles stance wielding a handgun. If you shoot center mass, what is going to be right in the middle of your target zone? Both arms and a chunk of metal... if you have 5" of penetration max and strike an arm, you aren't going to have any effect on the torso (though the 40gr VMAX will make a mess out of that arm).

Further let's take a look at how that 40gr behaves - it expands immediately and violently (i.e. before it has penetrated inside the body to the major organs). On an average male, the heart sits about 2-3" deep in the chest (and behind the sternum). By 4", the 40gr is already past its maximum wound cavity and is nothing but tiny fragments that are shrinking down rapidly by 5". So if the sternum doesn't reduce your penetration AND if you have a nice unobstructed torso shot AND if you are accurate enough to place the smaller shrinking cavity of the 40gr on a major blood bearing organ that is less than 5" deep, you will probably get a stop. Change any one of those factors and you are now relying on how your attacker chooses to react to your defense instead of how his body forces him to react.

Here is a cross section of a human male torso showing the major organs and their depth in relation to the body. The torso is about 20" wide and 8" deep. The front (chest) is at the top of the picture.

 

[SaMx]

this is an interesting thread

thanks for the info

 

[Ignition Override]

Being new (last fall) to any kind of shooting other than casual .22 single-shot years ago, how about some basic questions about various .223 ammo sold by Wal-Mart etc?

I bought some .223 Remington (?) and noticed that a box of (20) 55-grain rounds only cost about $9, but the (20) 45-grain rounds cost about $12.
Are they different bullet jackets? Simply lead versus copper?

Yesterday I was able to test a used Ruger Mini-14 then an AK type of rifle at a store way north of here which allows you to test a used gun at the store's range, which is just behind the rear counter! That was quite fun and convenient.
The awkward part was getting used to wiggling the magazines into the guns. It required much more practice than with a simple M-1 carbine.

Can't the ability to quickly load a fresh magazine into your gun affect your survivability in a critical defensive situation (i.e. riot or earthquake anarchy) just as much as the type of .223, 7.62, .308 etc ammo your are using, if the gun is new to you and is a bit difficult to change magazines?

I never see a debate about this. Just a fresh novice here trying to play catch-up on guns, especially military rifles, which always attract my attention (like a tall redhead...).
Reading y'all's opinions is always interesting and entertaining.

 

[N1150X]

I don't mean to cause a problem but I do not see any calibration data shown that would allow for an accurate representation of the rounds performance so I wouldn't base your decesion on what tactical round to use based solely on the terminal ballistics presented above