WOUND BALLISTICS TESTING

DESCRIPTION: 

We perform terminal wound ballistics testing and analysis for federal, state and local agencies as well as private security companies.   

Armor testing is accomplished with products from multiple manufacturers and different NIJ armor levels.  No reports are made public of our ammunition armor testing.

Round capture analysis is a detailed examination of rounds after passing thru different media.  Measuring weight retention, deformation,  fragmentation and wound channel analysis.  Used by manufacturers for engineering and product development, especially with new designs. This is particularly important with hollow points in trying to correct the high failure rate. 

COMPLETED TESTS:

We have published 51 reports as of November 2024.  

Tests and Reports available for Military and Law Enforcement (LE/Mil), contractor and ammunition manufacturer only. Contact us with your official agency information to receive your free copy of any of the following test reports or presentations. 

Currently,  our most complete and up to date report is the Special Pistol Ammunition Report  (listed as #41 below).  It contains information from all other reports. 

1. Six Federal Hollow Point Tests Compilation Report

2. Ballistic Ratio Presentation

3. Solid Copper Armor Test Composite Spreadsheet

4. 5.7mm Terminal Performance Test and Report

5. 2018 9mm FTM Test

6. 2019 5.7mm LE/Mil Wound Ballistics and Armor Test

7. 2019 Solid Copper Defensive Ammunition-Wound Ballistics Test

8. 2019 Solid Copper Defensive Ammunition-Wound Ballistics Test #2

9. US Secret Service Wound Ballistics Analysis for 2020 

10. 2020 Solid Copper-Hollow Point 9mm/40S&W Wound Ballistics Test

11. 2020 5.7mm Wound Ballistics and Armor Test

12. US Customs and Border Protection 2020 Wound Ballistics Test

13. Solid Copper 9mm-Veterans MFG Armor Test (Spreadsheet, March 2021)

14. 2021 Composite Wound Ballistics Test Data report (July 2021)

15. 2021 LE/Mil 5.7mm Terminal Wound Ballistics and Armor Test (November 2021) The largest 5.7mm test ever completed including 21 different rounds in 5 Terminal Wound Ballistics phases and armor testing in 13 different armor products from 5 different manufacturers  (version 2 updated April 2022)

16. Texas Department of Criminal Justice OIG 9mm Review (December 2021) 

17. 4.6x30mm Ammunition Review (January 2022)

18. Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) 9mm Review (January 2022)

19. Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition 9mm & .40 S&W Review (January 2022)

20. APC test and comparison (February 2022)

21. Monticello IN PD Duty Ammunition Review (March 2022)

22. Montana Department Of Justice, Executive Protection Detail 9mm Report (March 2022)

23. Helena MT PD Handgun Ammunition Report (March 2022)

24. 2022 FBI 9mm Ammunition Review

25. Lewis & Clark County Montana Sheriff’s Office Handgun Ammunition and Armor Report  (9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP)  A composite analysis containing data from terminal wound ballistics and armor testing (April 2022)

26. US Dept of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, Special Operations Group, Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) 9mm Ammunition Report.  aka.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) 9mm Ammunition Report.  Results from a series of comprehensive 6 phase tests and analysis of 30 9mm rounds to include complete Terminal Wound Ballistics, Heavy Barrier Performance and Armor capability.

27. National Sheriffs Association Handgun Ammunition Report (September 2022)

28. Harrah Oklahoma PD Handgun Ammunition Report (November 2022)

29. CCISD student backpack armor insert test data.  Lvl 3A soft and hard armor inserts (3 manufacturers) vs FMJ and hollow points in 9mm, .40S&W and .45ACP

30. 2023 Composite Terminal Wound Ballistics,  Handgun Ammunition Report and Presentation v 2.  Our third composite report in 12 years featuring 8 calibers tested in 6 phases, including armor.  A four section full report and presentation. (v2 updated August 2023)

31. APC  projectile multi-caliber analysis and velocity examination. (March 2023) (v5 updated July 2023), (updated June 2024)

32. Bullet Resistant Wall Board Test. 6 caliber, pistol and rifle test including FMJ, Hollow Point and AP rounds. (March 2023)

33. Multi caliber armor test results.  A six caliber (9mm,  .357SIG,  .40S&W,  .45ACP,  5.7mm x 28mm and 4.6mm x 30mm) test result report.  Armor products included Lvl 3A (pistol) soft and hard plate,  Lvl 3 ICW, Lvl 3 (rifle), Lvl 3+, Lvl 4 and armored wall board (Lvl 6) from Veterans MFG, Angel Armor,  Universal,  Safeco, ShotStop and RTS. All shots IAW FBI/DoD protocols using the NIJ .06 standards. 

34. Vanguard Outfitters LLC 9mm Armor Piercing Hollow Point Test and Report.  (June 2023. Ongoing, beta testing of two preproduction rounds)

35.  .380 ammunition tested report (July 2023)

36.  9mm Fluted Rounds comparison review

37.  Springdale SWAT Handgun Ammunition Review.   A direct comparison and contrast of two selected rounds.  (August 2023)

38.  5.56 x 45mm Armor Test.  A test including 4 rounds and 4 levels of armor products specifically for a CCISD school project. (November 2023)

39. National Sheriffs' Association Handgun Ammunition Report (v2 December 2023)  4 section report and presentation of 5 projectile types, 8 calibers tested in 6 phases, including armor.

40. USM Pistol Ammunition Report.  A custom,  condensed and updated version of our master report.  (February 2024)

41. Special Pistol Ammunition Report (SPAR).  A complete composite of all testing and previous reports.  Includes two presentations / summaries and total report and references.   Our forth composite report in 13 years featuring 142 rounds in 8 calibers tested in 6 phases, including armor.   (March 2024)

42.  DoD SOCOM seven round comparison.  Prepared for the US ARL APG test as required 3rd party independent research and analysis.  Concentrating on 4 wound ballistics characteristics, heavy barriers, armor performance and multiple barrel length comparisons.  (November 2024)

43. Special Pistol Ammunition Report II (SPAR 2).   An updated report (#41 above) with the following changes: (3rd Q 2025)

   A.  160 rounds vs 142

   B.  Updated Five Types of Handgun Projectiles chapters.  New additions from  

         outside experts.  Each of the five separately added to our Blog

   C.  Addition of measurements and data regarding Penetration Track Length.

   D.  Updates IAW National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Standard 0123.00 and the Basic      

         Resistance of Body Armor NIJ Standard 0101.07

   E.  Data from DoD SOCOM report (#42 above) concerning heavy barrier and armor  

        performance capabilities of selected rounds

   F.  Comparison of requirements for military rifle rounds and pistol rounds

   G. Summary of calibers by projectile types

   H. Test Results vs Real World Forensics

   I.  Summary and additional references

Tests and Reports available to the public. (Downloadable above)

1.  Terminal Wound Ballistics,  Basic Course (2023 v 3)

2.  Defensive Handgun Ammunition Characteristics and Bullet Types 2022 (request free copy)

3.  Wound Ballistics 1

Tactical Realities. Discussion of the 4 determinants involved in stopping a human target.  (free on our Blog)

4.  Wound Ballistics 2 

Mechanics of Projectile Wounding.  Discussion of what a projectile does. (free on our Blog)

5.  Wound Ballistics 3

The Human Target. Discussion of the interaction of a projectile with human tissue. (free on our Blog)

6.  Wound Ballistics 4

Over-penetration.  A comparison between bullet types in rifles and handguns,  and the differences between testing and forensic reports.  (free on our Blog)

7.  Wound Ballistics 5

Volume of Wound Index (VWI) (free on our Blog)

8.  2018 Dynamic Munitions 9mm Ballistics Test and Report

9.  2016/17 Joint Agency Ballistic Test For Defensive Handgun Ammunition 

The largest Federal Ballistics test ever performed.   It started in March of 2016 and finished in October 2017.  Coordinating multiple federal, state and local agencies, contractors, gun stores and weapons instructors. All phases and tests were conducted with at least 1 camera man, one chief tester and one assistant for quality control and multiple measurements. No averages were calculated unless at least 4 rounds were fired per phase. All failures were included in the data with no "flyers" being removed.  

Ballistic Test Protocols :                     

Phase 1: Chrono for velocity, Reliability and Consistency 

Phase 2: FBI calibrated ballistics gel with 4 layer denim barrier 

Phase 3: FBI gel with denim and FBI plywood barrier consisting of a single 3⁄4” thick AA Fir plywood panel 

Phase 4: Animal the Tissue with denim barrier 

Phase 5: Animal Tissue with denim and FBI plywood barrier consisting of a single 3⁄4” thick AA Fir plywood panel  

Phase 6: Heavy barriers (auto glass, solid wood and metal) and armor product testing.  This phase is not accomplished for every round.

Our grading criteria follows FBI / DoD standards: 

1. Penetration. Using Phase 2 data: 12 inches minimum, 15-21 inches desired.

2. Reliability and Consistency  

3. Barrier Performance 

4. Permanent Wound Cavity measured in cubic inches 

Gel media: IWBA calibrated ballistic gelatin. Two 16 inch blocks capable of measuring 32 inches of penetration.

Tissue media: 2 boneless briskets 7-8" thick, 35-38 pounds.  Average human male is 10" thick.     

FOR MORE INFORMATION:   

If you are interested in having a ballistic test  analyzed, conducted or more information on  our current tests,  or for a Terminal Wound Ballistics Course, please contact us  viperweaponstraining@gmail.com