Polymag question

At what velocity do these start to open up at?

What fps does full expansion occur?

Seeing if they'd be a viable option in a lower powered short range pesting rig to keep the energy in the target vs blowing half their head or body apart.

I have pulled some out of squirrels from a 17 fpe 22 and they didn't seem to expand fully, more of a crumple. Over 30 fpe they tend to just blow big holes and make bloody messes of the critter.
 
they work like any other pellet as far as 'effectiveness' goes .. expansion difference and 'super pellets' that kill stuff better is pretty much a myth .. they do look cool, and my experience is theyre a fairly well toleranced and accurate pellet, which is the key word .. the most accurate pellet in your gun will be the most deadly period ...
 
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I have collected expansion data from credible ballistic media: ballistic gel and actual critters.

The critical number for expansion is of course the impact velocity.

Expansion is not a binary issue — "expands" vs. "does not expand."
It's gradual — and the more expansion ➔ the bigger the hole ➔ the better the kill (and yes, it is not necessary to reiterate that "shot placement" is the most important thing).


The Projectile Test summaries describe by how many percent the projectile expanded.


● Impact Velocity = 520fps and 560fps:
Projectile Tests. PT009.  blind dog (2012). -Ballistic Gelatin DIY Calibrated-. Skenco UltraSh...jpg



● 593fps:
Projectile Tests. PT008.  blind dog (2012). -Play-Dough Calibrated+T-Shirt Cloth-. Destroyer. ...jpg



● 739fps:
Projectile Tests. PT090.  dang.ol.winner (2020). -Ballistic Gelatin DIY, of Questionable Quali...jpg



● 750fps:
Projectile Tests. PT011.  Bob Sterne (2016). -Hard Melt-and-Pour Soap.- 19-21FPE. Poly @750fps...jpg



● 771fps:
Projectile Tests. PT025.  STKO (2017). -Ballistic Gel DIY.- 21-22FPE. Red Fire @791fps + Poly ...jpg



● 821fps:
Projectile Tests. PT024.  ApotheosisTK117 (2010). -Ballistic Gelatin DIY.- 24-25FPE. Poly @821...jpg



● 962fps:
Projectile Tests. PT103.  sharroff (2021). -Ballistic Gel 10percent.- 33FPE. Bc HEx @908fps, N...jpg




Now, go and kill something!! 😄

Matthias 👍🏼



PS: If you have expansion test data, please send them to me, or post them. When I get a chance I will transform your data into a test summary like the above.


.
 
I have collected expansion data from credible ballistic media: ballistic gel and actual critters.

The critical number for expansion is of course the impact velocity.

Expansion is not a binary issue — "expands" vs. "does not expand."
It's gradual — and the more expansion ➔ the bigger the hole ➔ the better the kill (and yes, it is not necessary to reiterate that "shot placement" is the most important thing).


The Projectile Test summaries describe by how many percent the projectile expanded.


● Impact Velocity = 520fps and 560fps:
View attachment 314166


● 593fps:
View attachment 314167


● 739fps:
View attachment 314168


● 750fps:
View attachment 314169


● 771fps:
View attachment 314170


● 821fps:
View attachment 314171


● 962fps:
View attachment 314173



Now, go and kill something!! 😄

Matthias 👍🏼



PS: If you have expansion test data, please send them to me, or post them. When I get a chance I will transform your data into a test summary like the above.


.
Awesome thanks!

Seems like they do best around the 18 fpe range to expand to that bird bath shape but not roll backward.

I also see the BH does a nice job at the higher power levels. Would love to use crow magnums but they never seem to group. Best luck I've had was in 25 cal going around 800fps
 
935fps .22. Big pop, everything falls dead. Chose them over slugs in my Taipan. All shots 60 yards or less. The pop from these and slugs, zero difference. The big difference is no spaghetti western ricochets.

View attachment 314246
That's a perfect amount of expansion without the lip separating.
 
I also see the BH does a nice job at the higher power levels. Would love to use crow magnums but they never seem to group.
I have had good accuracy with crow mags in .22 cal but they liked slow fps. I think they were around 675 fps or a little less. worked great on ground squirrels around 30 yds and under. I took a couple real long shots for slow pellet's around 55 yds. It was funny you could hear that big hollow point flying all the way to the ground squirrels head.
 
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