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 weapons tested with cylinder gap ammunition

cylinder gap
ammunition
Winchester
94AE carbine
16" barrel
Colt Python
6" barrel
Smith & Wesson 586
4" barrel
Bond Arms
3" barrel
Chiappa Rhino
2" barrel
Ruger LCR
1.875" barrel
Smith & Wesson 642
1.875" barrel
Magtech
.38 special
CBC short
125 gr. LRN
654 485 595 520 483 573 536
Ultramax
.38 special
125 gr. RNFP
935 694 727 684 664 653 639
Fiocchi
.38 special
125 gr. XTPHP
1019 670 837 712 719 718 692
Cor-Bon
.38 special
125 gr.
JHP +P
1332 1026 1070 931 925 951 920
Buffalo Bore
.38 special
125 gr.
JHC +P
1471 1111 1178 1036 1027 1035 1018
Cor-Bon
.357 magnum
125 gr. DPX
1722 1133 1259 1111 1074 n/a n/a
Speer LE
.38 special
135 gr.
GDHP +P
1257 890 994 892 875 909 884
Black Hills
.38 long Colt
158 gr. RNL
713 518 599 523 481 534 531
Black Hills
.357 magnum
158 gr. CNL
1009 751 814 707 685 n/a n/a
Buffalo Bore
.38 special
158 gr.
SWC-HC
1169 893 942 828 812 833 850
Buffalo Bore
.38 special
158 gr. +P
LSWHC-GC
1366 1125 1096 981 966 999 983
Federal Premium
.357 magnum
Hydra-Shok
158 gr. JHP
1671 1192 1272 1141 1106 n/a n/a
Magtech
.357 magnum
158 gr.
LSWC
1608 1139 1204 1063 1001 n/a n/a

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.