More Penetration Testing

Caliber: 470 Nitro Express
Rifle: Krieghoff Double
Twist Rate: 1 in 18.9
Brass: Jamison
Primer: Remington 9 1/2M
Powder: Reloder 15 for standard velocity load (approximately 2100 fps)
AA 5744 for reduced loads (approximately 1650 FPS)

The test box is fabricated from 2 by 6 pine boards and is 72” long.
Test media consisted of ¼” luan, 12” of saturated newspaper, 2 by 6 treated pine (shooting through the 1 5”8” thickness), an approximate 1 ¼” void and then a series of twelve pieces of ¾” plywood with ten saturated newspapers 20 pages each between each piece of plywood (plywood, newspaper, plywood, newspaper etc) and approximately 33” of saturated newspaper to fill the box. Great care was taken to make certain the newspaper was thoroughly soaked in a tub prior to placing in the test bed.
After placing the paper in the test bed excess water was permitted to drain for 30 minutes.
The bullet entered the box at 32 feet from the muzzle.

Bullets tested:
North Fork 500 Grain solid
Bullet Length: 1.414”
Bullet Meplat: .335” or 70.67% of diameter

Test consisted of firing consisted of firing two North Fork bullets in the test media at standard Nitro velocity and two North Fork bullets at reduced velocity.

Reduced Velocity:
Average impact velocity of the was 1672. The first round stopped in the 11th piece of plywood. Total penetration was approximately 38”. The second round stopped between the 11th and 12th piece of plywood. Total penetration was approximately 39”.

Nitro Velocity:
The two bullets fired at standard Nitro velocities penetrated through all twelve pieces of plywood and approximately 21” more than the lower velocity rounds for a total of 60”.

Penetration was usual for the North Fork bullets, perfectly straight.



The picture above is the first piece of plywood the bullets penetrated. Note the location of the holes.



The picture above is the 11th piece of plywood the bullets penetrated. Note the location of the holes as they relate to the first picture.



This is where the standard Nitro velocity rounds stopped. You can barely see the bullet in the top hole above the very visible bullet. Again note the location of the holes after traveling through another 21” of wet newspaper.

Caliber: 470 Nitro Express
Rifle: Krieghoff Double
Twist Rate: 1 in 18.9
Brass: Jamison
Primer: Remington 9 1/2M
Powder: Reloder 15 for standard velocity load (approximately 2100 fps)
AA 5744 for reduced loads (approximately 1650 FPS)

The test box is fabricated from 2 by 6 pine boards and is 72” long.
Test media consisted of ¼” luan, 12” of saturated newspaper, 2 by 6 treated pine (shooting through the 1 5”8” thickness), an approximate 1 ¼” void and then a series of twelve pieces of ¾” plywood with ten saturated newspapers 20 pages each between each piece of plywood (plywood, newspaper, plywood, newspaper etc) and approximately 33” of saturated newspaper to fill the box. Great care was taken to make certain the newspaper was thoroughly soaked in a tub prior to placing in the test bed.
After placing the paper in the test bed excess water was permitted to drain for 30 minutes.
The bullet entered the box at 32 feet from the muzzle.

Bullets tested:
Woodleigh 500 Grain solid
Bullet Length: 1.333” Prior to firing
Bullet Meplat: Round Nose

Test consisted of firing two Woodleigh bullets in the test media at standard Nitro velocity and two Woodleigh bullets at reduced velocity.

Reduced Velocity:
Average impact velocity was 1670. This was approximately 40 FPS faster than my previous Woodleigh loads. The ambient temperature was approximately 20º warmer for this test and I am not certain how temperature sensitive 5744 is. The first round stopped in the 7th piece of plywood. Total penetration was approximately 28.5”. The second round stopped between the 8th and 9th piece of plywood. Total penetration was approximately 32”. Both bullets were sideways by the fifth board.

Nitro Velocity:
Average impact velocity was 2070. The first round stopped in the 8th piece of plywood. Total penetration was approximately 31”. The second round stopped in the 9th piece of plywood. Total penetration was approximately 33”. Both bullets were sideways by the seventh board.

Bullet length grew by .011” due to pushing the core out of the base.

This is the fifth test I have conducted with the Woodleighs. I also have conducted five tests with the North Forks. This may sound like a broken record but the North Forks have consistently outperformed the Woodleighs regardless of velocity or test media.



The picture above is the first piece of plywood the bullets penetrated. Note the location of the holes.



The picture above is the 5th piece of plywood the bullets penetrated. Note the location of the holes as they relate to the first picture. Bullets are beginning to go sideways and off course.



More sideways bullets

It tells me these North Fork bullets are serious medicine!!!! Better beware of the background behind the animal...because this bullet is going through! I still think the Woodleigh is a good bullet...just that it has a different purpose.

enysse,

You are right I could shoot through a couple of buffalo with these. I think in terms of elephant when using NFs, although I am anxious to try same North Fork cup points in my 470.

Started testing some Hornady DGS bullets. Decent results, better than Woodys and not as good as North Forks.

There is no doubt the Woody's have killed plenty of game and will continue to do so, but from what I have seen and what has been proven by two other guys in different parts of the country, the NF out-penetrate hands down.

I love the format of this test; it would be useful if you could also do it in video format. Shoot me a private message if you want some help on recording your next penetration test. It's rather simple and relatively cheap to make it a hands free process.

Good stuff Mike.

Caliber: 470 Nitro Express
Rifle: Krieghoff Double
Twist Rate: 1 in 18.9
Brass: Jamison
Primer: Remington 9 1/2M
Powder: Reloder 15

The test box is fabricated from 2 by 6 pine boards and is 72” long.
Test media consisted of ¼” luan, 12” of saturated newspaper, 2 by 6 treated pine (shooting through the 1 5”8” thickness), and approximately 60” of saturated newspaper. Great care was taken to make certain the newspaper was thoroughly soaked in a tub prior to placing in the test bed.
After placing the paper in the test bed excess water was permitted to drain for 30 minutes.
The bullet entered the box at 32 feet from the muzzle.

Bullets tested:
Hornady 500 Grain solid @ an average impact velocity of 2079
Bullet Length: 1.2935” Before firing
Bullet Length: 1.294” After firing
Bullet Meplat: .271” or 57.3% of diameter

The test consisted of firing consisted of firing 3 Hornady bullets in the test media.

Shot 1: 48” of straight line penetration, it began to turn sideways and traveled another 21” stopping sideways.

Shot 2: 40” of straight line penetration, it began to turn sideways and traveled another 23” stopping sideways.

Shot 3: 34” of straight line penetration, it began to turn sideways and traveled another 20” and exited the top of the box.


Better than the Woodleigh, not as good as the North Fork.



.474 500 Grain Hornady