Channel: @bananaballistics
This video tests the lethality and performance of a German .308 plastic training round. The instructor evaluates its accuracy at various distances, penetration through drywall, and effectiveness against pine boards and ballistic gel. Results indicate significantly reduced energy retention and inconsistent penetration compared to traditional ammunition, with projectile disintegration being a common outcome.
This video from Banana Ballistics explores the effectiveness of DIY shotgun slugs, specifically wax slugs and cut shells, compared to standard rifled slugs. The instructor, demonstrating significant expertise in ballistics and shotgun performance, conducts accuracy, penetration, and steel target tests. While the DIY options show promise in certain areas like reduced penetration, they exhibit inconsistency and generally fall short of traditional slugs for self-defense or hunting applications.
This video from Banana Ballistics tests the penetration capabilities of various 9mm self-defense rounds through interior drywall. It compares the performance of FMJ, frangible, and several hollow-point bullet designs, including Federal HST, Hornady XTP, Speer Gold Dot, and others, to determine which rounds offer the least wall penetration in a miss scenario and optimal expansion when hitting a target. The testing highlights the importance of bullet design for self-defense effectiveness.
This video compares the muzzle energy and penetration capabilities of a CVA Endura Pro muzzleloader, chambered for smokeless powder, against a .45-70 rifle. Both firearms fire .45 caliber projectiles, but the Endura Pro achieves significantly higher muzzle energy (over 4,000 ft-lbs) without requiring paperwork, unlike traditional rifles. The testing includes ballistic gel penetration, lumber, concrete pavers, and mild steel plates, demonstrating the impressive power and performance of the muzzleloader.
This video compares the barrier penetration capabilities of 5.56x45mm, 7.62x39mm, and 5.45x39mm ammunition. The testing involves various materials including lumber, concrete pavers, and steel plates. The 7.62x39mm and 5.45x39mm generally showed better performance against barriers than the 5.56x45mm, especially in steel penetration, though the 5.56x45mm demonstrated consistent tumbling and significant damage in ballistic gel.
This video from Banana Ballistics rigorously tests the penetration capabilities of various .308 and 7.62x51mm rounds, including the rare 308 SLAP, against AR500 steel plates of increasing thickness. The testing demonstrates the significant difference in armor penetration between standard military loads and specialized armor-piercing rounds. The 308 SLAP, in particular, shows exceptional performance, penetrating up to 1.5 inches of AR500 and even damaging 1.5 inches of mild steel, highlighting its advanced design and materials.
This video explores the longevity of ammunition by testing rounds from various decades, from the 2020s back to the 1880s. The presenter, acting as a firearms instructor, demonstrates the performance of old ammunition, noting velocities, brass condition, and whether rounds fire. The experiment highlights that properly stored ammunition can remain functional for extended periods, even over a century, though performance may degrade. Safety is implicitly emphasized through the use of a lead sled for older, potentially unpredictable rounds.
This video showcases the development and testing of a new wildcat cartridge, dubbed the '50 Alaskan Rim Job' or '50 Arch,' designed to fire 50 BMG bullets at subsonic velocities. The creator demonstrates its destructive potential against various barriers, comparing it to the 8.6 Blackout. The video highlights the cartridge's performance in penetration and impact, featuring extensive testing on lumber, steel, sand, and concrete, with a focus on its subsonic capabilities.
This video provides a detailed comparison of several 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition types used by the US Navy, focusing on their terminal ballistics and penetration capabilities. The Mark 255 Mod 1, featuring a compressed copper polymer core, is highlighted for its rapid fragmentation and potential for large wound channels, while the M855A1 is noted for its extreme penetration. The M855 Green Tip and Mark 262 Mod 1 are also tested for comparison.
This video compares the terminal ballistics of a powerful 72 caliber air rifle against a 12-gauge slug. Through a series of tests involving pine trees, sand, steel plates, and ballistic gel, the video demonstrates the significant momentum and penetration capabilities of heavyweight air rifle projectiles, highlighting their potential as a quieter alternative to firearms in certain scenarios.
This video provides an expert-level breakdown of the best ammunition cartridges for a SHTF (Shit Hits The Fan) scenario, prioritizing self-defense, food harvesting, and penetration capabilities. The instructor, with significant experience in ballistics testing, details recommendations from .22 LR for small game to .50 BMG for extreme threats, emphasizing availability, cost, and performance against various barriers. The content is geared towards individuals preparing for societal disruptions, offering practical advice on building a resilient ammunition stockpile.
This guide details a comprehensive testing methodology for specialized ammunition, specifically focusing on a detonator-loaded bullet. It outlines a step-by-step process for evaluating its performance against various targets, from soft tissue simulants to hard materials, using standard FMJ rounds as a baseline. The expert-level approach emphasizes meticulous documentation, velocity measurement, and analysis of impact effects to understand the unique destructive capabilities of such ammunition.
