.17 HMR Ballistic Gel Test

Published on March 6, 2021
Duration: 11:36

This video tests .17 HMR ammunition from Hornady (17-grain ballistic tip) and CCI (20-grain soft point/hollow point) in ballistic gelatin at approximately 10 feet. The test reveals that the 20-grain CCI round exhibited better expansion and penetration compared to the 17-grain Hornady round at this close range, with the 17-grain round acting more like a frangible projectile.

Quick Summary

In a close-range ballistic gel test, the CCI 20gr .17 HMR soft point round penetrated over 7.25 inches and expanded to approximately 9mm, retaining its mass. The Hornady 17gr ballistic tip penetrated about 7 inches, showed minimal expansion, and acted frangibly, losing significant mass at this velocity.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction and Ammunition Selection
  2. 00:37Testing Hornady 17gr Ballistic Tip
  3. 00:42Testing CCI 20gr Soft Point
  4. 01:23Close Range Test Setup (10 feet)
  5. 02:32Firing the 20 Grain CCI Round
  6. 03:00Initial Gelatin Results and Cavities
  7. 03:54Measuring Penetration Depth
  8. 04:25Cutting Open the Gelatin Block
  9. 05:19Examining Bullet Damage
  10. 06:03Analyzing 17 Grain Damage
  11. 07:18Comparing Entry and Exit Points
  12. 08:04Deeper Gelatin Channel Analysis
  13. 09:29Extracting and Examining Bullets
  14. 10:24Bullet Integrity Comparison
  15. 11:00Final Expansion Results and Comparison
  16. 11:17Conclusion and Future Tests

Frequently Asked Questions

How did the Hornady 17gr and CCI 20gr .17 HMR rounds perform in ballistic gelatin at close range?

At approximately 10 feet, the Hornady 17gr ballistic tip penetrated about 7 inches and showed minimal expansion, acting frangibly. The CCI 20gr soft point penetrated slightly further (over 7.25 inches) and exhibited better expansion, retaining more of its mass.

What is the expected terminal ballistics difference between 17gr and 20gr .17 HMR rounds at longer distances?

The speaker suggests that at ranges beyond 100 yards, 17gr .17 HMR rounds may fail to expand due to reduced velocity. In contrast, 20gr rounds are expected to retain more energy and achieve better expansion at these longer distances.

What was the expanded diameter of the CCI 20gr .17 HMR bullet after penetrating ballistic gelatin?

After penetrating the ballistic gelatin at close range, the CCI 20gr .17 HMR bullet expanded to approximately 9mm in diameter. This made its expanded width comparable to that of a standard 9mm handgun bullet.

Why did the 17gr Hornady .17 HMR ballistic tip behave differently than the 20gr CCI .17 HMR soft point?

The 17gr Hornady ballistic tip is described as acting like a frangible round at close range due to high velocity, losing significant mass. The 20gr CCI soft point, however, maintained better structural integrity and expanded more effectively.

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