Ballistic Gelatin by Oscar Santos MEEN 3344

Ballistic Gelatin Solution of gelatin powder in water Closely simulates density and viscosity of human and animal muscle tissue Used as a standardized medium for testing the terminal performance of firearms ammunition Careful control of the properties of this material allows consistent and reliable comparison of terminal ballistics

Composition Gelatin = 250A Bloom Gelatin or Pharmagel Most commonly used formula: "10% ballistic gelatin" Prepared by dissolving 1 part by mass of the 250A bloom gelatin into 9 parts of warm distilled water, mixing the solution while pouring in the powdered gelatin. Let it stand for 5 hrs or chilled to 4° C An older formula used by NATO among others specifies a 20% solution, chilled to 10° C, but that solution costs more to prepare as it uses twice the amount of gelatin.

Ballistics Test Preferred medium for comparing the terminal performance of different expanding ammunition - hollow point bullets - soft point bullets These bullets use the hydraulic pressure of the gelatin to expand in diameter, limiting penetration and increasing the tissue damage along their path. Bullets intended for hunting are also commonly tested in ballistic gelatin.

Other Uses Ballistics – Testing of Bullets - Comparing the depth of penetration in gelatin of a given bullet at different velocities for impact velocity determination - Muzzle distance of bullet to determine distance of travel before impact - Determine the distance of the shooter. Wound Recreation – Caused by firearms or explosives Lethality of objects at terminal velocity and highway speeds Electrocution – pharmagel provides a reasonable analogue to the conductance and resistance of human tissue

References http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bismuth-notox.com/redhzrdblt.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.bismuth-notox.com/redhzrd.html&h=138&w=132&sz=7&hl=en&start=30&tbnid=BlgrcjyMIJcyMM:&tbnh=93&tbnw=89&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dballistic%2Bgelatin%26start%3D18%26ndsp%3D18%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN http://www.myscienceproject.org/shotgun/gel_05.jpg http://www.m5industries.com/html/mythbusters17.htm http://rumkin.com/reference/firearms/ballistic_gel.php http://www.theoutdoorquest.com/perma-gel_ballistic_gelatin.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballistic_gelatin