Every once in a while I get an idea that I just can’t get out of my head. Recently, I had the thought: “I’m really tired of this pool, it keeps getting punctures, and it’s end of season anyways”. It took about 10 milliseconds for me to connect the dots in my head- “Let’s shoot the pool”. I’ll admit, I kind of wanted to see the pool suffer. I had spent two seasons patching and maintaining the pool, and it was time for it to die! Oh, and perhaps I would do some non-scientific “ballistics research” in the process!

Test Process

I decided to test the following hypothesis: “My 300 Remington Ultra Magnum will be able to shoot all the way through my 12′ pool, and exit the other side”. I thought perhaps 300 RUM would have “just enough” energy to get the job done.

Here’s an overhead view of the test setup:

Shown above:

• Front camera: first-person view of the carnage
• Rear camera: will capture bullets exiting the back of the pool if that were to happen
• High-Speed camera: An Edgertronic SC2+ HD camera that shoots at 4,456 Frames/Sec
• Drone: Overhead view of the destruction (shown above)

While I was focused on 300 Remington Ultra Magnum (300 RUM) I thought this would also be a great opportunity to see how other cartridges and firearms would fare against the pool as well!

Edgertronic SC2+ High-Speed Camera

I recently purchased an Edgertronic SC2+ high-speed camera for use here on Ultimate Reloader, this is not a conventional camera, it doesn’t even have an on/off switch or viewfinder! You have to setup a network and use a computer to control the camera, but what it can do is amazing!

The Edgertronic SC2+ is a scientific laboratory type high-speed camera mostly used for industrial and sports applications (batting analysis for example). It also makes a GREAT shooting-sports camera! It can record 720p footage at 4,456 frames/second (max frame rate at HD resolution) and is referred to as the “Microscope for Time” by Edgertronic. You’ll be seeing a lot more high-speed here on Ultimate Reloader in the coming months and years!

Ruger 10/22 Firing 22 Long Rifle

22 Long Rifle Stats

• Bullet weight: 40 grains
• Bullet velocity: 1,200 fps
• Bullet energy: 131 ft-lb

22 Long Rifle Performance Summary

The 22 Long Rifle bullets penetrated the front skin of the pool, and came to rest about 12″ inside the pool. They left tiny holes in the side of the pool that dribbled out water. In summary: WEAK! You’ll notice above that these hollow point bullets did mushroom nicely however…

Glock 20 Shooting 10mm Auto

10mm Auto Stats

• Bullet weight: 200 grains (Hornady XTP)
• Bullet velocity: 1,200 fps
• Bullet energy: 700 ft-lb

10mm Auto Performance Summary

The 10mm Auto bullet penetrated the first wall of the pool, and came to rest approximately 2 feet into the pool:

What was notable about the 10mm bullet performance was its picture-perfect expansion:

This was a great testament to the reliable performance you get with Hornady XTP bullets, a great choice for hunting or defense.

Smith and Wesson 500 Revolver Shooting 500 S&W Magnum

When it’s time to “bring out the big guns” the 500 S&W Magnum is the handgun of choice! I LOVE this revolver!

500 S&W Magnum Stats

• Bullet weight: 350 grains
• Bullet velocity: 1,900 fps
• Bullet energy: 2,800 ft-lb

500 S&W Magnum Performance Summary

The 500 S&W Magnum bullet penetrated the front wall of the pool, and came to rest rear the back wall of the pool- it did not penetrate the back wall. Here’s a frame from the high-speed video showing the path of the bullet as it was slowing down:

Here’s what was interesting: the bullet was not damaged at all- just typical engraving of the rifling. Perhaps this isn’t surprising given the design of this blunt-nose plated bullet:

Remington 700 Long Range Shooting 300 Remington Ultra Magnum

The 300 Remington Ultra Mag is a BEAST! I love shooting this rifle, perhaps because it has a brake on it as you can clearly see here:

300 Remington Ultra Magnum Stats

• Bullet weight: 180 grains (Barnes TSX solid copper)
• Bullet velocity: 3,200 fps
• Bullet energy: 4,200 ft-lb

300 Remington Ultra Magnum Performance Summary

The 300 Remington Ultra Mag was perhaps the most surprising:

The 180 grain solid copper bullet slowed down and came to a rest on the pool floor about 1/2 way across the diameter of the pool (about 6′ into pool). The 300 Remington Ultra Mag was shot lower on the side of the pool (trajectory was deeper down into pool than others) and perhaps that helps to explain why it slowed down so quickly.

Another surprise: bullet deformation:

The front of the bullet was pushed back, but there wasn’t much mushrooming. In the video I left it at that- but after thinking about it more, I think I may know what happened. I did see copper fragments on the floor of the pool. Perhaps the tip of the bullet did peel back in “pedals” which were ripped off and left on the pool floor as separate fragments. Not totally sure!

Conclusion

This was a fun experiment and experience! I can’t say it was scientific, more of a fun time than anything else. None of the bullets went all the way through the pool which was a tad surprising… I do wonder what 50 BMG would be able to do- perhaps with a FMJ bullet that wouldn’t expand in water? I wonder if it would go all the way through? There’s only one way to know for sure!

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Thanks,
Gavin