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I saw a recent video by shooter 1721 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYr5IvWn4Ns) showing penetration of FX Hybrid 0.30 slugs shot at a MV of 950 (100 yard velocity 775 fps. ) He was getting about 8-9 inches of penetration in 10% gel.
I did a similar test at a muzzle velocity of 1005 fps, gel at 78 yards. ( StrelokPro Pro says slug should be going at 876 fps at the gel, but I didn’t put the chronograph down there.) Out of five slugs, all expanded fully and average penetration was 5-6 inches. In comparison 0.35 81 gr pellets shot with muzzle velocity of 860 fps (they should have similar FPE to the 30 slugs at 78 yards according to Stelok Pro) penetrated 11-12 inches.
Im thinking that when shot at higher velocities, slugs expand so fast that penetration drops significantly. A lot of the energy is probably converted to heat in deformation of the lead.
Since Griffin sells slugs in which the hollow point is filled with a polymer ball to improve expansion, I thought it would be interesting to fill the hollow point of the FX slugs and see what effect it had. I used some methyl cellulose paste mixed with red dye that my wife had and let it dry in the hollow point. Muzzle velocity and POA did not change at all, but surprisingly, 4 out of 5 slugs didn’t penetrate at all, but bounced off and landed in front of the gel. (See photo.). The methyl cellulose did penetrate the gel about 3-4 inches, leaving a red streak. ( The fifth slug penetrated about 1 inch.)
My suspicion is that 1005 fps is too fast for optimal penetration with the FX hybrid 0.30. Yes, all the energy is absorbed, but the hole isn’t much bigger than with the 0.35. If I was shooting a deer, I’d much rather use a 0.35 pellet, which although it has the same FPE at 78 yards ( and makes a hole similar in size to the expanded hybrid) shows much better penetration.
Top photo: Methylcellulose dye streaks and hybrid 0.30 at 1005 FPS.
Middle: 81 gr 0.35 pellets at 860 FPS.
Bottom: 0.30 hybrid with hollowpoint filled with methyl cellulose paste, recovered from the ground in front of the gel.
Next: I’ll remelt the gel and compare penetration with Hybrid slugs at various velocities to see if lower velocities result in better penetration with similar final expansion.
I did a similar test at a muzzle velocity of 1005 fps, gel at 78 yards. ( StrelokPro Pro says slug should be going at 876 fps at the gel, but I didn’t put the chronograph down there.) Out of five slugs, all expanded fully and average penetration was 5-6 inches. In comparison 0.35 81 gr pellets shot with muzzle velocity of 860 fps (they should have similar FPE to the 30 slugs at 78 yards according to Stelok Pro) penetrated 11-12 inches.
Im thinking that when shot at higher velocities, slugs expand so fast that penetration drops significantly. A lot of the energy is probably converted to heat in deformation of the lead.
Since Griffin sells slugs in which the hollow point is filled with a polymer ball to improve expansion, I thought it would be interesting to fill the hollow point of the FX slugs and see what effect it had. I used some methyl cellulose paste mixed with red dye that my wife had and let it dry in the hollow point. Muzzle velocity and POA did not change at all, but surprisingly, 4 out of 5 slugs didn’t penetrate at all, but bounced off and landed in front of the gel. (See photo.). The methyl cellulose did penetrate the gel about 3-4 inches, leaving a red streak. ( The fifth slug penetrated about 1 inch.)
My suspicion is that 1005 fps is too fast for optimal penetration with the FX hybrid 0.30. Yes, all the energy is absorbed, but the hole isn’t much bigger than with the 0.35. If I was shooting a deer, I’d much rather use a 0.35 pellet, which although it has the same FPE at 78 yards ( and makes a hole similar in size to the expanded hybrid) shows much better penetration.
Top photo: Methylcellulose dye streaks and hybrid 0.30 at 1005 FPS.
Middle: 81 gr 0.35 pellets at 860 FPS.
Bottom: 0.30 hybrid with hollowpoint filled with methyl cellulose paste, recovered from the ground in front of the gel.
Next: I’ll remelt the gel and compare penetration with Hybrid slugs at various velocities to see if lower velocities result in better penetration with similar final expansion.
