Crazy Hollow-point Expansion!! Pellet/bullet testing Bulldog .357 with pics!!

[Gaberossi]

Hey guys I decided to do some testing using some modeling clay to see how some of these hollow-points disperse their energy. I got some very positive and interesting results form all the HP projectiles I tested. I plan on hunting once in a while with the bulldog but I will mainly be target shooting or long range shooting. Anyways here is what I was up to last night. I may start doing Live Facebook videos or youtube videos of my evening shooting activities. I will have to update this when I receive my Aeromagnum slugs in, Al sent me some of the devastators and some of the new 140gn HP. Big thanks to AOA, Ron Goodhall, Al Clark, Nick Nielsen, Air Venturi, and Pyramid Air.

Gun Used: Benjamin Bulldog(stock other than a moderator)

What I tested: Predator Polymag .35, 81.01gn
Nielsen Ammo(swaged) .356, 110gn
High Arc Hunter .357 Rapter, 174gn
Air Venturi Hollow-point .356 115gn
Nielsen Ammo(swaged) .357 142gn Boat Tail
JSB Exact .35 81.02gn
H&N Grizzly .35 82gn

What I found: All performed great. Would consider to use all for hunting. Some bullets will be better for small game and some can be used on medium game or even a deer/hog. Lets start with some pictures. I will go in the order seen above.

Polymag 81.01gn

Nielsen Specialty Ammo(Swaged) .356 110gn

High Arc Hunter Rapter .357 174gn

Air Venturi Hollow-point .356 115gn

JSB Exact .35 81.02gn (I was highly impressed with the energy this pellet expelled for not being a hollow point)

Nielsen Ammo(swaged) .357 142gn Boat Tail

H&N Grizzly 82gn

So what I found is that the lighter grain pellet/bullet(115gn or less) will be my varmint rounds and the 120gn+ will be for bigger game. All of the ammo I tested performed great. They expelled a lot of energy immediately. I will update as I get more ammo to test. I will update with more bullets as they come in. I will be doing a 100yd comparison of all the ammo I have that shoots accurately at 50yds. I will have to mess around with regulating the pressures via my tether with each bullet/pellet as well to give them a fair chance at different velocities.

 

[kayaker]

Gaberossi First I would like to say thanks for posting your testing. I realize there's alot of time and effort in doing so, this shows just how devastating these bullets can be and the energy they produce. It opens ones eye on what to expect when you hit a animal with a good placement shot and the size of game to use them on. I started with a bee bee gun went to 177 now 22 soon tobe 25 and with all the talk here on this forum of the larger cals.well you know where that's going. Just one more thing-I have to admit- I put that Bulldog in JoeWayne Rheas (Ugliest air gun contest) hehehehehe, it just proves you can't judge a book by its cover or a gun by it's looks.Keep up the good work Darell 

 

[Gaberossi]

No problem dude, It was a lot of work but I enjoyed doing it and I will continue to do it. The Bulldog is not the greatest looking gun out there haha! But it sure does turn heads at the local range. To me it looks like the gun out of the movie Starship Troopers, just add a m16 style carry handle or something similar and longer. I got it because I love my Marauder and want another Benjamin product, but my next target rifle will be an FX or Daystate.

 

[Glem.Chally]

That's awesome thanks for sharing, that's some SERIOUS energy!

 

[Gaberossi]

Updated for Nielsen .357 142gn Boat Tails and JSB Exact .35 81.02 

 

[Scrufhunter]

That's some serious damage/energy. I wish more states would allow deer hunting

 

[Gaberossi]

Scrufhunter: Definitely impressed me with the damage, one day in the near future I'll go hunt and be able to let you guys know how they performed when we harvest. I will continue with this test as more projectiles come in. I will have some Aeromagnum ammo results soon!

 

[Deadeye2017]

Nice job, I have Bulldog and have tried Aeromagnums and Nielsen slugs. They work great, also I cast my own bullets and I ffind that 125GR bullets are sweet spot weight for Bulldog. Thanks for your information !!

 

[Cayin]

Try removing the tip on the Polymag’s, it would be interesting to see if the bullet expands like it did in my .25 (looked like a lead doughnut)

 

[Gaberossi]

**Updated for H&N Grizzly 82gn**

 

[Gaberossi]

Will be adding some new ammo and higher power levels soon!

 

[Americanpatriot10]

This Makes Me want a Bulldog so Bad !!! I wounder what hunting deer and hog with it would be like  

 

[Gaberossi]

This Makes Me want a Bulldog so Bad !!! I wounder what hunting deer and hog with it would be like

Would be a blast!

 

[heavy-impact]

Could we get the velocity for each weight?

 

[Brian.in.MI]

Very nice! Thanks for taking the time to do this. In your next installment, can we see some 50 or 75 yard groups? All of those bullets expanded beautifully, so range results would be a nice tie breaker. I know, so demanding! Haha. Thanks again.

Brian

@airgunner.usa

 

[Gaberossi]

Next time I head to the range I will pack up the bulldog and and get some groups. I can tell you right now 3in or less at 100yd, 1in groups at 50 with polymags, I will get some groups with the other slugs I found accurate for hunting. Unfortunately slugs like the Hunters supply or grizzlies were giving me 6in groups at 25yds at best. 

 

[Kinetic45]

Try the 142 gr NSA and you will like your results in a Bulldog.

Another good weight is the NSA 110gr.



Honestly, the Air Venturi bullets don't shoot well in any of my air rifles and the Hunters supply are just soso in .457 and .357 too. If you weigh them there is a LOT of weight variation and that does effect accuracy.



I also cast and found both the Lee SWC 105 and 140 SWC are very accurate. The molds are cheap and last thousands of rounds so pay for themselves.