Would an AR15 bullet BLOW OFF an ear?

Published on July 20, 2024
Duration: 6:11

This guide details a practical experiment to debunk the myth that an AR-15 round would 'blow off' an ear. The Humble Marksman demonstrates through testing with pig ears that common rifle rounds, and even heavier calibers, create clean holes rather than explosive damage on thin tissue. The expert's analysis highlights the difference between tissue interaction and ballistics gel cavitation.

Quick Summary

Practical tests with pig ears demonstrate that AR-15 rounds, including .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO, do not 'blow off' an ear. The thin tissue allows the bullet to pass through cleanly, creating a small hole rather than the explosive cavitation seen in ballistics gel. Heavier calibers also produced similar results on the ear.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction & Internet Experts
  2. 01:54Test Setup
  3. 02:42Ammunition Selection
  4. 03:48Heavy Caliber Comparison
  5. 04:18Results & Analysis
  6. 04:59Final Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an AR-15 bullet blow off an ear?

No, an AR-15 bullet typically does not blow off an ear. Practical tests using pig ears show that rounds like .223 Remington or 5.56 NATO create small, clean holes due to the thinness of the tissue, rather than causing explosive damage.

Why don't AR-15 rounds cause massive damage to thin tissue like ears?

Rifle rounds act like hole punchers on thin tissue. Unlike ballistics gel, which shows significant cavitation from energy transfer over longer distances, an ear is too thin for the bullet to dump enough energy to cause catastrophic destruction.

What calibers were tested against the pig ears?

The test included common AR-15 rounds like Winchester and Hornady .223 Remington/5.56 NATO (55gr and 75gr), as well as heavier calibers for comparison: 45-70 Government (325gr) and 8.6 Blackout (300gr subsonic).

What is the difference between ballistics gel and tissue damage?

Ballistics gel simulates tissue by showing temporary wound cavities and energy transfer over distance. However, thin tissues like ears are too thin for this extensive energy transfer, resulting in cleaner holes rather than the dramatic cavitation seen in gel.

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