Perma-Gel Ballistic Gel Mix

The Perma-Gel Ballistic Gel is a substitute for the 10% ordnance gelatin commonly used by the FBI and ballisticians to evaluate bullet performance, yet incorporates convenient improvements that make using ballistic gel a viable option for regular sportsmen. Perma-Gel remains solid at room temperature, is reusable by melting it down and reshaping it, has superior clarity, is not affected by water and is not subject to bacteria growth. Results are very similar, but not identical, to ordnance gel.

Technical Information: Perma-Gel Ballistic Gel

Perma-Gel (from the manufacturer):
Perma-Gel is a synthetic, clear, non-toxic "soft tissue" medium for the testing and comparison of different types of projectiles and loads, which is conveniently recyclable by a simple melting process. In developing this product, Perma-Gel has kept two main objectives in mind:

1. To provide hunters, shooters, hand loaders and ballisticians with a room-temperature ballistic medium that closely simulates cold (4° C) 10% ordnance gelatin without its inherent decomposition problems.
2. To provide the user with the ability to re-melt/reuse the medium by simply using a 110-volt appliance (available as part of a kit).

Perma-Gel believes you will observe that Perma-Gel closely simulates chilled ballistic gelatin (for example, 2.95-3.74 inch penetration of a steel BB at 600 fps, the FBI standard), while being superior in clarity, unaffected by water, incapable of breeding bacteria and somewhat more elastic (allowing more shots per square inch).

In limited testing, Perma-Gel has found that trajectory, deformation and permanent wound cavities created by expanding, high-velocity (i.e., above about 1600 fps) bullets are very similar to those created in gelatin.

Using Perma-Gel to evaluate low-velocity (i.e., less than 1600 fps) bullets will show somewhat lesser degrees of bullet expansion than in gelatin, and studying non-expanding ("Full Metal Jacket") bullets will show greater penetration. lthough "temporary" cavities are not normally studied by individual shooters, the professional ballistician will find that high-speed photography will record remarkable views of temporary cavities, owing to the superior clarity of Perma-Gel.

Application Charts & Information

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