.357 Mag rounds vs. the “Mock Deer”
The first rounds I fired into the block (which I’m calling the mock deer for lack of a better label) were a selection of .357 magnum loads that performed well during my wax tube tests. My goal was to simulate a long range impact from my carbine, but I didn’t want to risk shooting the block from a distance only to jerk the trigger (which I do every now and again) and ruin the test material with a bad hit. Since I was shooting multiple loads, I would also have to re-zero the scope every time I tried a new one. I wanted to avoid this by shooting the block from a few feet away. I had two options for simulating a long range hit at close range:
To clarify, My 200 grain Lead Flat Point load left the muzzle of my carbine at 1500 f/s and left the muzzle of the GP-100 at 1160 f/s. That 1160 f/s of muzzle velocity should be approximately the same as the 130 yard velocity of the same load fired from a carbine.
Surprisingly, all tested loads performed similarly in the test material. All five rounds penetrated the 2″ block of rib bones, the 15″ gel block and came to rest ½” deep or less in the wax backer block. The photos below detail the results.
1. Reduce the powder charges until the desired velocity was achieved
2. Put the carbine aside and use my Ruger GP-100 to conduct the tests
I was eager to start testing and really didn’t want to spend a lot of time re-developing loads, so, I chronographed my .357 magnum carbine loads out of my 4″ BBL GP-100 to determine if the shorter barrel yielded low enough muzzle velocities to simulate a long range impact from my carbine. The Chart below summarizes my findings.
| Load | Carbine MV | Pistol MV | Simulated Distance | Expanded Dia. | Retained Mass |
| 200 gn LFP | 1500 f/s | 1160 f/s | Approx 130 yards | .358” | 195gn |
| 180 gn Rem | 1714 f/s | 1224 f/s | Approx 130 yards | .448” | 137 gn |
| 158 gn rem SJSP | 1900 f/s | 1350 f/s | Approx 120 yards | .389″ | 153 gn |
| 158 gn Speer GDHP | 1885 f/s | 1230 f/s | Approx 150+ Yards | .488” | 157 gn |
| 140 gn Barnes XPB | 1800 f/s | 1486 f/s | Approx 70 yards | .47” | 140 gn |
Surprisingly, all tested loads performed similarly in the test material. All five rounds penetrated the 2″ block of rib bones, the 15″ gel block and came to rest ½” deep or less in the wax backer block. The photos below detail the results.
The material after the first shot.
The face of the gel block after two shots. Note the bone fragments
The cavity left by the 200 grain cast flat point
Cavity left by the Rem 180 JHP. Entry and exit points are labeled.
Cavity left by the rem 158 grain JSP. Entry and exit points are labeled.
The 158 grain gold Dot impacted near the top of the block making for an instantly viewable damage cavity.
Cavity left by the 140 grain Barnes XPB. Entry point is at the left.
Dissecting the block revealed just how much pulverized bone was inside the cavity.
Recovered bullets from left to right: Cast performance 200 gn LFP; 180 gn Rem JHP; 158 gn Rem JSP; 158 gn Speer GDHP.
Recovered Barnes 140 gn XPB
