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3.  Revolvers and Pistols used in the Experiments.

BALLISTICAL DATA

Make Model Caliber Shots in Powder Charge Bullet Velocity in feet per second at Muzzle Enegry Samples Remarks
      Mag. or Cyl. Weight Grs. Kind Weight Grs. Kind Shape of Point Muzzle 37½ yds. 75 yds. in foot-pounds    
Luger Automatic Medium Barrel .3012 [7.65mm] 8 6.2 Smokeless 92.6 Jacketed Truncated cone 1420 1258 1133 415 1 High charge.
Luger Automatic Short Barrel .3543 [9mm] 8 5.2 Smokeless 123.5 Jacketed Truncated cone 1048 985 930 301 2 Normal charge.
Colt’s Revolver Army, 1903 .38 6 3.3 Bulls eye 148 Lead Sph. Seg. 763 727 690 191 3 Service bullet.
Colt’s Automatic Military 1902 .38 8 6.6 Smokeless 130 Jacketed Sph. Seg. 1107 1022 953 354 4 U.M.C. Co’s make.
Colt’s Automatic Military 1902 .38 8 6.5 Smokeless 120 Soft nose Sph. Seg. 1048 980 920 293 3 Also known as the metal patched bullet.
Colt’s Revolver New Service .45 6 4.8 Bulls eye 250 Lead Blunt 720 692 668 288 6 U.M.C. Co’s make.
Colt’s Revolver New Service .45 6 4.8 Bulls eye 220 Lead Hole in point 700 691 683 239 7 U.M.C. Co’s make.
Colt’s Revolver New Service .455 6 6.4 Cordite 218.5 Soft Lead Cupped 801 704 616 288 8 S.A. Ball, Pistol Webley Cordite, Mark III, known as the “Man-stopper.”
Colt’s Revolver New Service .476 6 18.0 Black 288.1 Lead Sph.Seg. 729 686 646 340 9 Government Mark III, solid brass, central fire, Eley Bros. Ltd., Manufacturers, London, England
A consideration of this table shows as to:

    1st:   Caliber.  The largest (0.476) and the smallest (0.3012) calibers used in military pistols and revolvers, so far as known to the Board, were selected.
    2nd:  Material.  Lead, jacketed and metal patched (soft nose) bullets were used.  The points of some of the jacketed bullets were filed so as to expose the lead.  An explosive bullet was also tried.
    3rd:   Form of Bullet Point.  These variations included the truncated cone, the ordinary spherical segment, the blunt-point, the cupped point and a hole in the point filled with a copper shell, primed and charged.
    4th:   Bullet Weights.  These varied from 92.6 grains to 288.1 grains.
    5th:   Initial velocities.  These varied from 700 f.s. to 1420 f.s.
    6th:   Muzzle Energies.  These varied from 191 ft. lbs. to 415 ft. lbs.
    7th:   Combinations of Elements.  A light weight, jacketed, small caliber bullet with high velocity, a heavy weight, large caliber, lead bullet with comparatively low velocity, a jacketed bullet of intermediate weight, caliber and velocity, and a lead bullet with intermediate weight and caliber, but with low velocity, were tried.

    The revolvers and pistols used were selected on account of their giving the extensive range of ballistical elements mentioned above and not with a view of testing their mechanisms.

    Revolvers and pistols being essentially short range weapons, 75 yards were fixed as the extreme range, 37-1/2 yards as the medium range and near the muzzle as close range, in all experiments.

    Two samples of each bullet, Exhibits A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and I are forwarded herewith.

    The charges for long and medium range were reduced so as to give the required velocity at three feet from muzzle, in order to insure hitting proper point with bullet.

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