I found a very simple, readily available solution for air gun ballistic gel. Although not exactly a "gel," I picked up a 10 pound bucket of clear soap glycerin from the craft store down the street. The bucket it came in is deep enough to stop a .177 at 10fpe, so all I had to do was turn it up on its end and shoot straight at it.
Once i I was done, I flipped the bucket and smacked it on the counter a few times, and the whole block slid out with all my shots clearly visible.
i took a spool of fine wire, nail knotted the end to a spoon, and used it to slice the glycerin into thinner pieces that each held one shot, and shine a light from behind to clearly illuminate the ballistic channel, and took some pictures.
After I was done, I dug the pellets out with a screw driver, put all the glycerin back in the bucket, and melted it in the microwave.
It works wonderfully. It is thick enough to activate hollow points, but may not stop a pointed pellet (diabolos almost went completely though).
Still, the soap captures entry-point shockwave details at the surface, the cavitation is captured accurately, and penetration is shorter so you don't need long lengths of gelatin: 6-8 inches is all you need.
Thats what she said, at least.
Once i I was done, I flipped the bucket and smacked it on the counter a few times, and the whole block slid out with all my shots clearly visible.
i took a spool of fine wire, nail knotted the end to a spoon, and used it to slice the glycerin into thinner pieces that each held one shot, and shine a light from behind to clearly illuminate the ballistic channel, and took some pictures.
After I was done, I dug the pellets out with a screw driver, put all the glycerin back in the bucket, and melted it in the microwave.
It works wonderfully. It is thick enough to activate hollow points, but may not stop a pointed pellet (diabolos almost went completely though).
Still, the soap captures entry-point shockwave details at the surface, the cavitation is captured accurately, and penetration is shorter so you don't need long lengths of gelatin: 6-8 inches is all you need.
Thats what she said, at least.
