Tests were conducted at the Linebaugh Seminar in Cody, Wy June 2002, 2003, 2004. Two bullets were fired, one into stacks of wet paper, and another into a 4" dia. beef knuckle joint bone backed by wet paper. Loads with n/a in the paper or paper & bone columns were not fired into that media.
I'd like to thank John Linebaugh for hosting the seminar and orgainizing the tests, and the record keepers who tracked all the loads.
2004 test results obtained from http://forums.sixgunner.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10571
2003 Test results obtained from http://forums.sixgunner.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5110
2002 test results obtained from http://www.sixgunner.com/linebaugh/penetration_test.htm
Click on the column headers to change the order the results are sorted by.
| Caliber | Bullet Type | Bullet Weight (gr) | Velocity | Paper (in) | Paper & Bone (in) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 Arnold | Speer GRAND SLAM | 180 | 3,175 | 16.0 | n/a | Year tested:2004 |
| 338 Lapua | FXB | 250 | 2,900 | 32.0 | n/a | Year tested:2004 |
| 9.3x62 | Nosler Ballistic Tip | 250 | 2,725 | 17.0 | n/a | Year tested:2004 |
| 500 Nitro Express | SP | 570 | 2,500 | 14.0 | n/a | Expanded to 1 5/8", removed the first 6" of paper, & had a 4" wound channel Year tested:2002 |
| 500 Nitro Express | A Square | 570 | 2,500 | 55.0 | n/a | Tumbled, hit the wood, and re-entered the paper Year tested:2002 |
| 505 Barnes S. | Barnes FMJ | 700 | 2,347 | 56.0 | n/a | Exited box Year tested:2004 |
| 600 Nitro Express | Barnes Orig FMJ | 900 | 2,316 | 56.0 | 56.0 | WENT THROUGH PAPER AND BONE AND OUT BOTTOM OF BOARD WRECKING EVERYTHING IN PROCESS Year tested:2004 |
| 30-06 | Cor Lokt | 220 | 2,315 | 17.5 | 10.0 | Year tested:2003 |
| 405 Winchester | Mt Baldy | 350 | 2,261 | 32.0 | 23.0 | Year tested:2003 |
| 458 Win Mag | FMJ | 500 | 2,260 | 47.0 | n/a | The bullet tumbled, hit the wood floor, and re-entered the paper Year tested:2002 |
| 45-70 | Saeco Hard Cast | 350 | 2,250 | 25.0 | n/a | Expanded and shed the mushroom Year tested:2002 |
| 405 Winchester | Mt Baldy | 300 | 2,242 | 31.0 | 13.0 | Year tested:2003 |
| 500 Nitro Express | SP | 570 | 2,150 | 25.0 | n/a | Mushroomed and straight Year tested:2002 |
| 500 Nitro Express | Solid | 570 | 2,150 | 48.0 | n/a | Tumbled and undamaged Year tested:2002 |
| 30-06 | Mt. Baldy RNGC | 220 | 2,145 | 18.0 | n/a | Year tested:2004 |
| 375 H&H | Mt. Baldy FNGC | 290 | 2,107 | 24.0 | n/a | Year tested:2004 |
| 50 AK | BMB | 458 | 2,033 | n/a | 66.0 | 4" bone + paper Year tested:2004 |
| 444 Marlin | LFNGC | 320 | 1,947 | n/a | 24.0 | 4" bone + paper Year tested:2004 |
| 50 Alaskan | LBT | 505 | 1,933 | 40.0 | 33.0 | Year tested:2003 |
| 45-70 | Garrett Hammer Head | 415 | 1,850 | 23.0 | n/a | Mushroomed and straight Year tested:2002 |
| 50 AK | LBT/LFN | 540 | 1,785 | 45.0 | n/a | Year tested:2004 |
| 50 AE | HP | 325 | 1,780 | 15.0 | n/a | Year tested:2004 |
| 45-70 | CPBC FNGC | 460 | 1,732 | 28.0 | 8.0 | (came apart on back side of bone) Year tested:2003 |
| 45-70 | Barnes Solid Round Nose | 450 | 1,713 | 47.0 | 37.5 | Year tested:2003 |
| 45-70 | Mt. Baldy Keith | 550 | 1,650 | n/a | 30.0 | 4" bone + paper Year tested:2004 |
| 454 Casull | Freedom Arms JFP | 300 | 1,625 | 34.0 | n/a | The bullet tipped at the end of its travel and was undamaged Year tested:2002 |
| 454 Casull | Punch Bullet | 315 | 1,600 | n/a | 49.0 | 4" bone + paper Year tested:2004 |
| 410 GNR | CPBC | 250 | 1,599 | 30.0 | 8.0 | Year tested:2003 |
| 45-70 | Garrett Hammer Head | 530 | 1,550 | 55.0 | n/a | Front swaged out and tipped Year tested:2002 |
| 44 Magnum | LBT | 300 | 1,520 | 30.0 | 35.0 | Year tested:2003 |
| 500 S&W | WFNGC | 440 | 1,500 | n/a | 35.0 | 4" bone + paper Year tested:2004 |
| 454 Casull | Corbon Penetrator | 360 | 1,500 | 45.0 | n/a | The bullet tipped at the end of its travel and was undamaged Year tested:2002 |
| 45-75 (yes, an old 1876 Winchester) | LBT | 350 | 1,490 | 52.0 | 14.0 | Year tested:2003 |
| 475 Linebaugh | LBT | 405 | 1,485 | 40.0 | n/a | The bullet traveled straight and was undamaged Year tested:2002 |
| 44 Magnum (from a levergun) | LBT | 300 | 1,471 | 34.0 | 16.0 | Year tested:2003 |
| 475 Maximum | LFN | 430 | 1,450 | 51.5 | 17.0 | Year tested:2003 |
| 500 S&W | WFN | 440 | 1,449 | 40.0 | 18.0 | Year tested:2003 |
| 500 S&W | WFN | 440 | 1,445 | 35.0 | n/a | Year tested:2004 |
| 500 MAX | LFN | 450 | 1,443 | n/a | 48.0 | 4" bone + paper Year tested:2004 |
| 45x2 7/8” Sharps | Lead | 543 | 1,412 | 26.0 | 16.0 | Year tested:2003 |
| 375 Huff Short Mag | LBT | 230 | 1,400 | 39.0 | n/a | The bullet traveled straight and was undamaged Year tested:2002 |
| 45 Colt | LBT | 350 | 1,400 | 43.0 | n/a | Penetrated the paper and stuck itself .25" in the wood backstop Year tested:2002 |
| 454 Casull | LBT | 300 | 1,364 | 38.5 | 16.0 | Year tested:2003 |
| 41 Mag | LFN | 260 | 1,354 | 41.0 | n/a | Year tested:2004 |
| 475 Linebaugh | LBT | 420 | 1,335 | 47.0 | n/a | The bullet traveled straight and was undamaged Year tested:2002 |
| 480 Ruger | XTP | 325 | 1,325 | 17.0 | n/a | Straight and Expanded Year tested:2002 |
| 44 Magnum | LFN | 340 | 1,320 | 32.0 | 42.0 | Turned sideways on paper test Year tested:2003 |
| 500 Linebaugh | Belt Mountain Brass Solid | 450 | 1,297 | 46.0 | 43.5 | Year tested:2003 |
| 45 Colt | LFN | 330 | 1,289 | 22.0 | n/a | Year tested:2004 |
| 500 Linebaugh | Sierra | 400 | 1,284 | 16.0 | n/a | Year tested:2004 |
| 475 Linebaugh | LFN | 430 | 1,272 | 64.0 | 20.0 | exited back on paper test Year tested:2003 |
| 500 Linebaugh | LBT | 435 | 1,270 | 38.0 | n/a | The bullet traveled straight and was undamaged Year tested:2002 |
| 500 Linebaugh | LBT | 495 | 1,270 | 52.0 | n/a | The bullet traveled straight and was undamaged Year tested:2002 |
| 41 Magnum | Unknown | 210 | 1,252 | 26.5 | 10.5 | Year tested:2003 |
| 45 Colt | Keith | 310 | 1,250 | 36.0 | n/a | The bullet tipped at the end of its travel and was undamaged Year tested:2002 |
| 25-20 | Unknown | n/a | 1,244 | 20.0 | n/a | Year tested:2003 |
| 500 Maximum | LFN | 590 | 1,202 | 49.5 | 25.0 | Year tested:2003 |
| 44 Magnum | Keith | 250 | 1,200 | 27.0 | n/a | The bullet traveled straight and was undamaged Our test standard Year tested:2002 |
| 500 Linebaugh | Keith | 480 | 1,200 | 41.0 | n/a | The bullet tipped at the end of its travel and was undamaged Year tested:2002 |
| 45 Colt | LBT | 350 | 1,187 | 42.0 | 8.0 | Year tested:2003 |
| 45 Colt | LBT | 300 | 1,180 | 38.0 | n/a | The bullet traveled straight and was undamaged Year tested:2002 |
| 45 Colt | CPBC LFN | 335 | 1,158 | 29.0 | 13.0 | Year tested:2003 |
| 480 Ruger | CPBC LFN | 390 | 1,147 | 31.0 | 4.0 | paper, came apart in middle of bone Year tested:2003 |
| 45 Colt | Unknown | 300 | 1,137 | 23.5 | 4.5 | Year tested:2003 |
| 500 Linebaugh | LFN | 500 | 1,086 | 57.0 | n/a | Year tested:2004 |
| 41 Mag | 220gr Mt. Baldy Keith | 220 | 1,079 | 17.0 | n/a | Year tested:2004 |
| 480 Ruger | LFN | 306 | 1,058 | 25.0 | 7.5 | (stopped 1/2” past the bone) Year tested:2003 |
| 475 Linebaugh | LBT | 420 | 1,050 | 40.0 | n/a | The bullet traveled straight and was undamaged Year tested:2002 |
| 25-20 | Unknown | n/a | 1,049 | 14.5 | n/a | Year tested:2003 |
| 44 Special | CPBC | 255 | 1,031 | 22.5 | 8.0 | Year tested:2003 |
| 45 Colt | LFN | 350 | 1,030 | 26.0 | n/a | Year tested:2004 |
| 500 Linebaugh | LBT | 435 | 1,000 | 30.0 | n/a | The bullet traveled straight and was undamaged Year tested:2002 |
| 500 Linebaugh | LBT | 435 | 1,000 | 34.0 | n/a | The bullet went low, dug a channel in the wood floor, and turned back into the paper Year tested:2002 |
| 41 Special | SWC | 230 | 955 | 26.0 | n/a | Year tested:2004 |
| 45 Colt | Factory LRN | 250 | 950 | 21.0 | n/a | Year tested:2004 |
| 45 Colt | Keith | 265 | 944 | 24.0 | n/a | Year tested:2004 |
| 45 Auto Rim | Keith | 240 | 860 | 20.0 | n/a | Year tested:2004 |
| 500 Linebaugh (8'' barrel) | LFN | 485 | 792 | 27.0 | n/a | Year tested:2004 |
| 45 Colt | Mt. Baldy Keith | 265 | 675 | 27.0 | n/a | Year tested:2004 |
| 38 Special | JHP | 125 | 620 | 8.0 | n/a | Year tested:2004 |
| 470 Nitro Express | Trophy Bonded Sledge | 500 | n/a | n/a | 41.0 | 4" bone + paper Year tested:2004 |
| 470 Nitro Express | Woodleigh Solid (300 g.) | 500 | n/a | n/a | 62.0 | 4" bone + paper Year tested:2004 |
| 470 Nitro Express | Woodleigh Solid (250 g.) | 500 | n/a | n/a | 51.0 | 4" bone + paper Year tested:2004 |
| 470 Nitro Express | Woodleigh Soft | 500 | n/a | n/a | 16.0 | 4" bone + paper Year tested:2004 |
| 257 Roberts | Barnes X | 100 | n/a | 20.0 | n/a | Year tested:2004 |
| 470 Nitro Express | Grizzly BMB | 458 | n/a | 32.0 | n/a | Year tested:2004 |