How to retrieve an expanded bullet

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How to retrieve an expanded bullet

Post by roob » 13 Oct 2014, 11:07 am

I'd like to retrieve a couple of expanded bullets from my shooting for the collection and just to see.

I don't want to have to spend a fortune on ballistics gel etc. for a bit of fun though.

Any suggestions for a DIY/Home version to catch a few bullets?
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Re: How to retrieve an expanded bullet

Post by yoshie » 13 Oct 2014, 11:28 am

Phone books soaked for a few days in water. Strap a few together then soak them.
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Re: How to retrieve an expanded bullet

Post by Seconds » 13 Oct 2014, 2:23 pm

Whatever you're shooting at do it at the maximum distance you can do.

Wash off a bit of the energy before it hits for a more intact bullet.
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Re: How to retrieve an expanded bullet

Post by huccl » 13 Oct 2014, 2:24 pm

Line up a metre of water bottles?
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Re: How to retrieve and expanded bullet

Post by flap » 14 Oct 2014, 8:20 am

Not suggesting it will be anything to match real ballistics gel but you could always add regular old gelatine to water containers just to absorb more of the impact so you don't have to set up so many.
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Re: How to retrieve and expanded bullet

Post by Octane » 14 Oct 2014, 8:21 am

yoshie wrote:Phone books soaked for a few days in water. Strap a few together then soak them.


Interesting...

Any idea how many 'a few' would include for a .308?
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Re: How to retrieve an expanded bullet

Post by fuggle » 14 Oct 2014, 8:22 am

Old fish tank? Shot length ways.

Only gives you 1 shot though obviously.
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Re: How to retrieve an expanded bullet

Post by roob » 14 Oct 2014, 8:23 am

I thought about the water bottles but figured I'd end up wasting so many to get a decent bullet.

I'll give the phone books a go first :)
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Re: How to retrieve an expanded bullet

Post by Manimal » 14 Oct 2014, 8:41 am

It would make it easier for you too if you picked up a box of bonded bullets.

Should give you a better souvenir and less fragments ;)
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Re: How to retrieve an expanded bullet

Post by Hatter » 17 Oct 2014, 10:18 am

This might be all phone books are good for these days.

When was the last time you opened one instead of using the net?

Bad luck Yellow Pages.
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Re: How to retrieve an expanded bullet

Post by 1290 » 17 Oct 2014, 10:39 am

Although I've never worked with 'ballistic gelatin' as far as I'm aware the basic powder you start with isnt any more special than 'normal' beef gelatin...therefore a bulk source shouldnt be overly expensive....
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Re: How to retrieve an expanded bullet

Post by brett1868 » 17 Oct 2014, 11:53 am

Dug this one out of the dirt bank after it passed through a 1/2" steel plate & 2 railway sleepers before travelling another 30m and burying itself about 2 feet into the side of an earth dam. It started out as a 700gr Woodleigh VLD brass projectile and still weighed over 500gr when retrieved.

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Re: How to retrieve and expanded bullet

Post by yoshie » 17 Oct 2014, 12:20 pm

Octane wrote:Any idea how many 'a few' would include for a .308?


4 or 5, I don't know. Nick Harvey used to use phone books way back when to show why ballistic tips (of the day) were not suited for hunting large animals and bonded core bullets were better. He measured retained weight etc. I think from memory he soaked them for a few day after strapping them together.
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Re: How to retrieve an expanded bullet

Post by yoshie » 17 Oct 2014, 12:22 pm

Ballistic gel would be better to show wound channels, but if you just wanted a few expanded bullets, phone books would be way cheaper
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Re: How to retrieve an expanded bullet

Post by roob » 17 Oct 2014, 12:42 pm

I'm just out to get the bullet back.

I'm not doing an episode of Mythbusters :lol:
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