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.

Real World Guns

Here is an alphabetical list of all the "real world" guns we have used in our tests, noting make, model, caliber/cartridge, and barrel length.  If you click on a given gun, it will take you to the results page for that particular caliber/cartridge so you can see how that particular firearm performed with the same ammunition we used for the 'chop tests'.  Keep in mind that there are always variations in performance from one gun to another, even among identical makes & models, let alone between models made years apart.  Take the data provided as indicative, not definitive -- you should test your own firearm if you want to know exactly how it will perform in comparison to our results.

Previously we tried to maintain links to images and manufacturers sites wherever possible.  That proved to be problematic, given how often websites change.  Now you will see "review" listed after a number of the guns, which will take you to a review over at Guns.com of that particular gun (or a closely related model) written by Jim Downey of the BBTI team (who is also a writer for Guns.com).  No other connection to Guns.com is intended or implied, and these review links were not sponsored by Guns.com.  Feel free to do a Google search to find further information about any firearm we have listed.

Got a question?  Check the FAQ.

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.