Turnin' Back The Clock!...Super Vel "Original" .38 Special Self-Defense AMMO Ballistic Gel Test!

Published on May 4, 2025
Duration: 12:46

This video details a ballistic gel test of vintage Super Vel "Original" .38 Special ammunition, evaluating its performance through a heavy clothing barrier. The test utilized firearms with 2-inch and 3-inch barrels, measuring muzzle velocity and analyzing projectile expansion and penetration. The results indicate that this older ammunition design performed surprisingly well, even outperforming some modern counterparts in certain aspects.

Quick Summary

Vintage Super Vel "Original" .38 Special 110-grain ammunition demonstrated impressive performance in ballistic gel tests, achieving good expansion and penetration through a heavy clothing barrier. From a 2-inch barrel, it averaged 986 ft/s, and from a 3-inch barrel, 1125 ft/s. The semi-jacketed HP design facilitated controlled expansion, making it a viable option even when compared to some modern loads.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did vintage Super Vel "Original" .38 Special 110-grain ammunition perform in ballistic gel tests?

The vintage Super Vel "Original" .38 Special 110-grain ammunition performed exceptionally well in ballistic gel tests. It demonstrated good projectile expansion and penetration, with the 2-inch barrel shot reaching 15.5 inches and the 3-inch barrel shot reaching 14.5 inches. The recovered projectiles showed adequate expansion and retained their weight.

What were the average velocities for Super Vel "Original" .38 Special from different barrel lengths?

From a 2-inch barrel, the five-round average velocity for the Super Vel "Original" .38 Special was 986 ft/s. From a 3-inch barrel, the average velocity increased to 1125 ft/s, indicating a significant velocity gain with the longer barrel.

Did the older Super Vel .38 Special ammunition expand effectively through a clothing barrier?

Yes, the Super Vel "Original" .38 Special 110-grain ammunition effectively expanded after passing through a heavy clothing barrier (denim, fleece, cotton t-shirts). The semi-jacketed HP design facilitated expansion, leading to good disruption within the ballistic gel.

How does the performance of vintage Super Vel .38 Special compare to modern ammunition?

The vintage Super Vel "Original" .38 Special 110-grain ammunition performed comparably to, and in some aspects better than, some modern standard pressure .38 Special ammunition tested. Its controlled expansion and penetration were noted as particularly impressive for its age and design.

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