ATTENTION:  Effective Sept 1, 2020, the BBTI Project is in "Archive Status."  No further tests will be conducted, but we will maintain this site and data for the use of the firearms community.  Thank you.

10mm Results in fps

Click here for a Muzzle Energy graph for the tests in this caliber.

barrel length Cor Bon
135 gr.
Pow'R Ball
Cor Bon
135 gr.
JHP
Cor Bon
150 gr.
JHP
Cor Bon
165 gr.
JHP
Cor Bon
155 gr.
DPX
Federal
180 gr.
Hydra-Shok
Buffalo
Bore
180 gr.
JHC
Winchester
175 gr.
Silvertip
Hornady
200 gr.
XTP
18" 1640 1710 1567 1447 1319 1232 1573 1370 1260
17" 1626 1711 1559 1459 1352 1209 1564 1362 1243
16" 1643 1701 1570 1441 1349 1220 1573 1384 1257
15" 1620 1662 1574 1441 1339 1204 1555 1357 1267
14" 1639 1691 1569 1439 1355 1222 1583 1397 1280
13" 1634 1679 1547 1437 1354 1223 1586 1365 1269
12" 1615 1653 1519 1410 1307 1195 1562 1321 1267
11" 1600 1643 1521 1401 1329 1182 1543 1312 1225
10" 1580 1601 1494 1400 1333 1171 1509 1348 1234
9" 1568 1594 1489 1378 1306 1179 1508 1304 1206
8" 1533 1575 1466 1349 1294 1146 1482 1276 1190
7" 1508 1575 1446 1331 1268 1129 1453 1269 1184
6" 1432 1504 1426 1307 1254 1093 1428 1228 1174
5" 1418 1411 1382 1260 1244 1069 1399 1225 1133
4" 1328 1322 1301 1209 1183 1013 1338 1149 1077
3" 1248 1255 1218 1157 1116 927 1250 1089 1032
2" 1083 1071 1020 976 1014 841 1111 950 912

 

real
world
weapon
Cor Bon
135 gr.
Pow'R Ball
Cor Bon
135 gr.
JHP
Cor Bon
150 gr.
JHP
Cor Bon
165 gr.
JHP
Cor Bon
155 gr.
DPX
Federal
180 gr.
Hydra-Shok
Buffalo
Bore
180 gr.
JHC
Winchester
175 gr.
Silvertip
Hornady
200 gr.
XTP
Colt
Delta
Elite
5.03" barrel
1382 1404 1366 1273 1211 1071 1374 1209 1096

Other Resources

BBTI is not the end-all of ballistics testing, just one more component available for the common good.  In addition to extensive discussion about ballistics to be found at many gun forums, here are some other great resources pertaining to ballistics testing you should check out.  (And if you would like to recommend a site to list here, please send an email.)
  • BrassFetcher:  excellent resource, with an emphasis on bullet performance in ballistic gelatin
  • The Box O' Truth:  testing ammo penetration through various barriers
  • Terminal Ballistics Research:  Specializes in the research of cartridge & projectile performance, using hard data gathered from 20 years of hunting game.

Acknowledgements

We'd like to personally and specifically thank Pat Childs at Fin & Feather in Iowa City, as he not only helped get most of our ammunition and other supplies, he was the brilliant gunsmith who worked with us to make this insane project much more practical.  Without his help all of this would have been much more difficult and perhaps impossible.  Anyone who uses our data owes him a debt of gratitude.

And thanks to our spouses, who were not just tolerant but enthusiastically supportive of this rather nutty project.

Disclaimer

This project, and all of its results, is only our fault.  We (well, Jim K, mostly) paid for everything ourselves, and we did not receive any kind of sponsorship or remuneration from anyone.  We did all the work.  We used products we were either familiar with, or because they were what was available, and mentioning them by name does not constitute an endorsement of any kind.  Furthermore, the data is provided purely for entertainment purposes - to better facilitate arguments over what ammo or caliber or gun is "best."  How you use the data is entirely up to you.  And if you think you could do better, feel free to spend the money and do the work and publish your own results.  Or not.  Your choice.