Handgun hunters who use specialty pistols such as Thompson/Center's Encore and Contender often must use bullets designed for velocities outside the range of those generated by handguns of these types. Cartridges designed for revolvers produce higher velocities in the closed breeches and longer barrels of these specialty pistols, and bullets must be selected carefully to ensure that they do not come apart on impact at these higher velocities.

The author tested these Barnes TSX 6.8mm bullets in wet newspapers at various velocities to determine maximum effective range on deer-size game. The TSX is an excellent bullet at rifle velocities, but as it turned out it was not the best choice for the slower velocities of the 6.8mm SPC in a handgun.

By contrast, even the 14- and 15-inch barrels in use now with the T/C handguns produce considerably less velocities with rifle cartridges than the bullets may have been designed for, and care must be taken to ensure that the bullets will expand properly, especially at longer ranges.

While there is a plethora of information and terminal test data available on self-defense handgun loads, little is offered on handgun hunting loads. Some bullet manufacturers offer basic information on expansion characteristics and optimum velocities, but if you want to judge with some degree of certainty how a particular bullet will perform on game within a certain velocity range, the surest method is to test it yourself.

Low-Cost Bullet Testing
Ballistic gelatin is used by experts in both the private and government sectors to test and compare bullet expansion and penetration. Gelatin is fairly expensive, though, and it's time-consuming to use correctly. The handgun hunter can fare quite well with less expensive and easier methods.

We do not need to meet exact scientific standards. The goal of the handgun hunter is simply to compare various bullets and determine within a reasonable margin of error which best suits his needs. All we truly need to know is whether the bullet will expand at the impact velocities likely to occur and how well it will remain intact and penetrate at these velocities.

There are two simple and time-honored methods for testing bullets in your backyard or at the range. One is to test in water, using containers of some type lined up in a row of sufficient length to stop the bullet. I use one-gallon milk and water jugs that I save as they are emptied. The other method is to soak newspapers in water until they are thoroughly saturated. While neither method will always tell you exactly how a bullet will perform in flesh, both will allow you to compare one bullet to another and set some standards of performance that, with experience, will allow you to predict a bullet's performance on game with a fair degree of accuracy.

Test at impact velocities
Some backyard ballisticians only test at near muzzle velocity. This is a mistake. To accurately guesstimate how a bullet will perform downrange it must be tested at downrange velocities. This can be done by setting up the tests downrange and firing at various distances--easy enough if you have a couple-hundred-yard range in your backyard, but it can be a hassle at a public range.

I prefer to down-load ammo to match downrange velocities. I set up a chronograph in front of the test medium and record velocities and document recovered bullet samples as I reduce the load in increments until I have tested from muzzle velocity to an impact velocity matching the longest distance I am likely to shoot. Any ballistic software program can be used to calculate downrange velocities. (A note of caution: When reducing loads drastically, be sure a suitable powder is used that is safe for reduced loads.)