Clear Ballistics Gel®: High Speed Retarding Force Analysis of Paraffin-Based Alternative to Gelatin-based Testing of Lead-Free Pistol Bullets

This paper presents high speed video analysis of 11 service caliber lead-free pistol bullets impacting Clear Ballistics Gel® with the dual purpose of assessing the equivalence of Clear Ballistics Gel® and calibrated 10% ballistic gelatin as test media and providing an initial assessment of wounding and incapacitation potential of these 11 service caliber loads. The present study suggests that Clear Ballistics Gel® results in lower retarding forces, erratic expansion, greater variations in penetration depth, and larger average penetration depths than calibrated 10% gelatin. Taken together with other results, testing in Clear Ballistics Gel® should only be used to identify candidates for further testing in calibrated 10% ballistic gelatin; it should not be used for the selection of duty ammunition without further performance testing in calibrated 10% ballistic gelatin. Depending on the wound profile and penetration desired for a given application, several loads analyzed here may warrant additional study. The Liberty Civil Defense 60 grain lead-free hollow point had the largest peak retarding force, temporary cavity, and permanent cavity while meeting the oft-cited minimum penetration requirement of30 cm.