.22 Cal. penetration test on fresh deer skull

Discussion in 'Firearms' started by Kingfish, Oct 29, 2011.


  1. Kingfish

    Kingfish Self Reliant

    Hi guys , Over at survival.com we have been having a .22 penetration test thread going on for some 6 months. Jugs of water, boards, ballistic gel and more.

    Today I did a test on a mature White Tail doe head. This deer was approx. 5.5 years old and had a dressed weight of 141 pounds. She was a huge Doe. I killed her this morning with my Crossbow and decided this was the right head to test the penetration of an average .22 Long rifle cartridge. I did the test at 30 yards because I feel that to be accurate shooting a deer with a .22 one should be close. However I feel with my Marlin 981T I can make this same shot all day at 50 to 75 yards. I did not use my Marlin but my wifes old Remington Nylon model 66 with a cheap Remington Thunderbolt 40 grain solid lead bullet. The results were astonishing. I think this thread will put to rest all the talk about .22 bullets bouncing off skulls and such. Now before I explain the pictures Ill explain why I am out to prove this point.

    There are morons on the Internet who have absolutely zero respect for the .22 Rim fire both as a hunting rifle and defense weapon. My .22 rifles are my go to guns for Hunting deer and smaller game IF (IF) the crap hits the fan and I need my .223 and 30-06 for defense. I am able to afford thousands of rounds of .22 BUT NOT NEAR AS MUCH OF THE BIGGER CENTERFIRE Stuff. Ill not waste good defensive rounds on a deer when I can drop one IN ITS TRACKS with a well placed CCI Velocitor or Mini Mag.

    I did this test with a cheap Thunderbolt in a cheap gun.

    Pictures 1 through 4 are the head from both sides close up and far away. This there to show any lurking law enforcement that I did not kill this animal with the .22. Let me be clear about that. She was taken legally with my Crossbow. She donated her head to science.

    Picture 5 shows the ruffed up spot where the bullet went in,#6 shows the entrance wound after I peeled back the skin exposing the skull. #7 shows the exit would after removing the skin over it. The bullet did not go all the way through the skin but as you can see it blew out the skull on the opposite side. #8 shows the hole after I inserted my finger and pulled out some brain and bone fragments. The entire inside was mush and shattered bone. I did not saw the head open as I saw no need to do any more. The exit hole was over 3/4 of an inch and all around it the bone was mush and shattered. The trauma was very impressive. The last pic is the bullet which was resting right under the skin behind her eye. Notice the expansion caused by the skull.

    My conclusion from this test on a still warm fresh skull is that the lowly .22 rim fire loaded with the right round can and will take down deer sized targets with one well placed HEAD SHOT. I did this test to silence all of the guys who no nothing about this round but yet constantly disrespect it.

    This test shows me beyond any reasonable doubt that I can sit in a bow hunting blind over bait and head shoot White tails with inexpensive .22 ROUNDS at 30 yards or less. I killed this deer with my cross bow at 10 yards this morning.

    Now before the Moral majority starts tearing down this test please remember this is survival forum. We talk about using bows made out saplings shooting sticks cut with a jacknife, spears, pit falls, snares and leg traps. A .22 rifle is better then any of those in a survival situation. The advantages are clear. Cheap, effective but most of all quiet. Ill not waste good 30-06 or .223 in a post apocalypse on deer when I can take one down in its tracks with one well placed .22 round. This is why I have always believed that a .22 is the best all around survival rifle in most situations. Of course they wont kill game larger then Deer but where I am in Lower Michigan unless I want to go north and kill an Elk I can take any game I need with my 981T .22 and a CCI Mini Mag.
    head1.JPG head2.JPG head3.JPG head4.JPG entrance1.JPG entrance2.JPG exit1.JPG exit2.JPG P1010037.JPG
     
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  2. Kingfish

    Kingfish Self Reliant

    Take this for what it is. A ballistics test. Realize that a .22 bullet of that type is traveling at about 1200 fps out of the barrel. Most likely 1150 at 30 yards and still near 1000 at 100 yards. W e determined in other penetration tests that the faster hyper rounds exploded inside the skull not exiting but really blowing the brain cavity up. Rounds like the Stinger and Velocitor penetrated better at longer distances as at hyper speed they disintegrate. However CCI Stingers are the chosen round of most poacher due to the speed at 100 yards. 1100 to 1200 fps so by losing some speed they regain penetration at longer distances. We determined that the Velocitor at 1400 fps muzzle mushroomed more and matched the Mini Mag for penetration and distances under 50 yards. I feel the Mini Mag or the Velocitor would both be great choices for close range taking of deer is you had to.

    I dont advocate using the .22 to shoot deer. Dont break the law and dont attempt this experiment on a live deer. Its not legal in any state and for good reason. This is simply a penetration test that proves beyond any doubt that the .22 will penetrate the skull of a mature whitetail deer. I wish we had some feral Hogs because I would bait them in and head shoot one and see how the porkers skull stands up to the same test. Kingfish
     
  3. dragonfly

    dragonfly Monkey+++

    The .22 is the mainstay of my weaponry...why? It's reasonably priced ( both weapons and ammo) reasonably quiet, and does the job!
    I do not advocate using it for any and all targets myself, but it can provide food! That's what I want! All in all "we" have 4 Marlins, 3 Rugers and a Savage. Plus that AR7-s, fold up thingy! Yup, I like the .22 cartridge and it has been working for me and putting food on the table since I was 11. That's a LONG time! I like the .22 in many cartridges, the CB, the BB, the short, long long rifle, and the newer hotter rounds. One round that is devastating to both game and "buffers" that is a favorite, is the Remington "Yellow Jacket". Too hot for my semi actions buffers and they aren't cheap to replace, so now we use them only in the single shot bolt action Savage! It is BEST used only for head shots, as it really does desroy meat! Those Remmy "thunderbolts" are nasty dirty things and I gave away 2 bricks...I got tired of the constant jams in the semi-autos! But when in Rome...You use what you have! Beats a sharp stick!
     
    arleigh likes this.
  4. Kingfish

    Kingfish Self Reliant

    Yes those Thunderbolts suck bad. Thats why I used one for the test. If a thunderbolt got it done I know the CCI rounds will do even better. But I have tons of the cheap stuff in storage for hunting . The CCI Mini Mag is much better round and would have blown right through completely and into the tree behind the head. I shoot them in my bolt action gun. We only shoot CCI in our Ruger 10-22. My bolt action Marlin is my tack driver. Ill not hesitate to any mid size game with that rifle (if I have to). Yup Im like 99% of the rest of the hunters out there. I use the right tool for the job. This test was done to prove something to myself and to the many critics of the lowly .22. Deer? People?, Medium size Hogs? small game. Brain them and drop like sacks of flour. The .22 really is in my area (western lower Michigan) the best all around survival gun there is. If could only have one rifle it would be a .22 hands down. I think a match grade barrel on a 10-22 with good optics would be the best all around .22 a guy could have if he just had one. I love my Ruger but it is no where near as accurate as my Marlin bolt action. KF
     
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  5. sasquatch91

    sasquatch91 Monkey+++

    if i have to bail out and just have one weapon, you can bet money its gonna be my 10/22. i can easily carry 1000 rounds like it isnt there.
     
  6. TXKajun

    TXKajun Monkey+++

    Thank you for an excellent post, Kingfish.

    Kajun
     
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  7. dragonfly

    dragonfly Monkey+++

    At one time there was some photos of tests done on a turkey ( store bought) with and wihout varied types of clothing placed over it, and they only used a .22 in long rifle, at ranges up to 100 yds. Impressive! It did considerable damage even after penetrating denim and heavy coats!
     
    Kingfish likes this.
  8. larryinalabama

    larryinalabama Monkey++

    The good thing is you can shoot 22s all day and not bruise your sholder. The problem with hunting large game is unless you hit the heart or in your case the head you might never find the animal. 22 cabilet generally will not break many bones or any that it does not directly contact.
    For safety survival and security 22s are a must, and its eaisy to stockpile alot of rounds.
    Also stock bird shot for your 22s, one day I get the time and nerve Im gonna try to shood a duck with the 22 with bird shot. Duck is delicious.
     
    Kingfish likes this.
  9. Kingfish

    Kingfish Self Reliant


    Yes , large game like deer have to be head shots and location is critical. The total brain lobe is not really that big. Its about 4 inches long and 4 inches wide. I shot it right where a side shot should be placed. A .22 would penetrate the skull at 100 yards but at that range any head movement could cause you to pull the shot. This Is why I would only use bow hunting type set ups at very close range. I killed that doe with a 10 dollar Bolt and a 13 dollar broad head. She broke both. That was 23 bucks out the window. I couldnt believe it a carbon 20 inch bolt snapped right in half and one of the blades from the Spitfire mechanical broad head broke off too. One .22 round is about 5 cents. In a shtf scenario my .22 will be bringing home the meat. Not my crossbow. KF
     
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  10. STANGF150

    STANGF150 Knowledge Seeker

    I don't need a great variety of .22 rifles. Cuz my old Marlin with its tube fulla fun is good enough. Though I'm lusting a lil after this plain jane Ruger 10/22 I seen at Walmart for $218. Can't help but think it plus an ArchAngel kit would make a Tacticool Gun fer Fun!!! :)
     
    Kingfish likes this.
  11. Kingfish

    Kingfish Self Reliant

    We have three .22 rifles. My wife's old nylon rem. mod. 66 , my ruger 10-22 and my new 981 T Marlin bolt action with the tube feed. I love the tube feed because I can shoot any type of ammo in that gun. I like the CCI CB LONG for squirrels and rabbits. It sounds like pellet gun its so quiet.

    My Ruger is an old one from the Clinton years. Its nice with all walnut stock and blued steel barrel. Its not as accurate as my Marlin but it has its purpose and that is for my third backup defense rifle. I have a Box full of 30 round Eagle mags for it and I keep those filled with CCI Velocitors. The gun is kept in a state of lite oil ready to use. My AR-15 is my main defense rifle followed by a couple of 7400 Remington 30-06 rifles but if I had to defend myself with my Ruger I would not feel under armed inside of 100 yards.

    My Marlin however is a tack driver inside of 50 yards.All of my hunting in a P.A.W. or S.H.T.F. scenario would be done with the Marlin. KF
     
  12. Alpha Dog

    Alpha Dog survival of the breed

    Good post Im glad to see it people don't respect the 22 I know a couple of years ago the 22 was the most found cal used in shooting's and I've had to work more than my share and 90% has been with a 22lr.

    As so the idea with the hog that all my dad has ever used to slaughter our hog's. He got this old 22 single action Ruger and I've never seen him have to shoot twice and I've help with the hogs from the time I was 8 til now and that's over 3o years. But now he is standing just a few feet from the hog's.
     
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  13. VisuTrac

    VisuTrac Ваша мать носит военные ботинки Site Supporter+++

    2 notes.
    1) 22 shot shells are basically itty bitty lead shot. Lead for Migratory Birds = Federal offense. So, if you are going to TRY it, It had better be a domestic duck.

    2) You had better have the muzzle nearly touching said domestic ducks head because there is not much energy in that shell at any range. pattern is freaking huge.

    Naughty Monkey.
     
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  14. goinpostal

    goinpostal Monkey+++

    I have only one issue with the.22LR cartridge.
    "It is not reloadable!!"
    If the world goes to $#!T,who's going to make the ammo??
    Yes,there are billions of rounds of.22RF out there,but in the long term,once it's gone,it's GONE!!
    The same could be said for centerfire cartridges,once the primers run out,but they can at least be reloaded for a while.
    Matt
     
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  15. Kingfish

    Kingfish Self Reliant

    That's a valid point and a fact. That is what I love about this site ,facts not fiction. I don't reload yet. I have 12,000 rounds of .22. The wonderful thing about .22 is you can buy cheap ones like federal bulk, Winchester Wildcats and these cheesy thunderbolts for under 20 bucks at places like Walmart for 500 round bricks. Kept in air tight ammo cans with desicants they will last for as long as you want them to. This the reason why they are the best bang for the buck. Buy them store them and forget them. You wont break the bank putting 10,000 of them in ammo cans . I cant even Imagine buying 5000 30-06. I have 500 30-06 and 2500 .223 and that is about all I can afford to keep. Im going to buy some dies for my father in law's reloader along with some extra powder and bullets,primers and I have been saving all my brass. But By proving to myself that all I need here is a .22 I dont have any real need to stock a lot of 30-06. Ill add to my .223 for my AR-15 and count on my 12,000 rounds of .22 to keep us in meat. Even If I used one round per day it would take 32 years to run out. Ill be 85 by then and most likely dead. We also have a pair of 9mm pistols and 500 rounds for them,an 870 rem 20 gauge with about 400 mixed buckshot and slugs, 500/ 30-06 and Im right at or near the 2500 mark on .223. We have 16 cross bow bolts(8.00 bucks each) and assorted broad heads. I feel pretty good about our stock of ammunition. This test was to prove one way or another if I could kill deer at will with my very accurate 981 Marlin .22. The answer to that question is absolutely and even with cheap bulk pack rounds that have 40 grain all lead bullets. Now Im even going to spare my good .22 ammo ( CCI Stingers, Velocitors and Mini Mags) for backup defense to my center fire rifles and shotguns. All of my game harvesting will be done with my 981T Marlin . But again this all based on the premise that the world as we know it ends. We are forced into a post apocalypse world where laws are gone, and we are on our own surviving off what we can harvest and hunt scavenge and grow. I am not convinced this scenario will ever happen but do believe it could. It is this reason that I am not willing to buy 12,000 30-06 cartridges or even that many .223.

    My mind could be changed in a heartbeat if the world really goes into the crapper but right now I feel pretty good about my choices for defense and game getting. Nothing here in Michigan I can not take clean with a .22. If I were in Alaska I would be using something totally different with a completely different mindset. Up there the animals can eat you. KF
     
  16. Seawolf1090

    Seawolf1090 Retired Curmudgeonly IT Monkey Founding Member

    That's why I am set up to reload .22 Hornet. It can be loaded light to do exactly what .22LR or .22WMR can do, or loaded hotter to a quite zippy level. Cast lead bullets at the lighter levels work well too. There is some overlap in bullet weights between the heavier Hornet loads and lighter .223Rem loads (which I also reload), making those bullets do 'double duty'. The Hornet bullets are comparitively cheap compared to larger calibers too. I stock a lot of them, along with primers and powder.
     
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  17. sixfifty

    sixfifty Monkey+

    This is an excellent thread! Thanks for posting, Kingfish, it is great to see actual results and not just the regular internet B.S. I have the bigger guns but I too feel that the .22 will be king in a post-SHTF environment. I've got 4 .22 rifles (10/22, Marlin 60 and 88, Remington 512) and two .22 handguns (Ruger Mark I and an old Astra 9 shot revolver) and always looking for more.

    As a hunting round- blinds and bait and head shots are going to be the norm, it won't be sport hunting it will be 'eat or go hungry' hunting.

    I think a real popular gun is/will be the Savage 24 models; single shot combo guns- .22 over a shotgun (everything from .410 to 12 ga.) allow you to carry a single long gun for a wide variety of game that you might encounter. They also have more rifle calibers available (I own a 24V; a .30-30 over a 20 ga.).

    Thanks again for a REAL analysis of the usefulness of the .22 as a survival round.
     
    Kingfish likes this.
  18. STANGF150

    STANGF150 Knowledge Seeker

    King, you might wanna look into getting a nice lil .22 Revolver. I have a Heritage Rough Rider w/ the extra .22mag cylinder but I mainly stick to the .22lr cylinder. Pretty accurate & the lil booger a hoot to shoot! An Cheap To Shoot Too!!! :D
     
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  19. sasquatch91

    sasquatch91 Monkey+++

    My dad use to work at the packing house, when they had a hog come in to big to kill there way he would take my. 22 marlin bolt. He saidit took 2 shots to tge head to kill a huge pig, I'm guessn around 600lbs. Kee in mind they are domesticated.
     
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  20. Tango3

    Tango3 Aimless wanderer

    That test with a "frozen"(!)turkey wrappedin 3 layers of clothing took place at 300yards! through and through penetration!

    Lethality of the 22LR- Results! - Sniper's Hide Forums

    I love the.22lr, just got back from trying out the new bipod on my alberts/bennett .920 barreled( hogueover moldstock) 10/22:

    Sheer Nirvanna...I like boltguns too; but my modded ruger outshoots my old hand me down glenfield25 ( by a "teensy" amount). I agree I am a civillian my rimfires are entirely adequate for what I need.[respect]And I can afford to shoot them!
     
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