How to make homemade Ballistic Wax

I made this video for the guys in the 10 Ring at GlockTalk.com (10mm RULES!!!), as we were looking for a cheap way to replicate the Bullet Test Tube. I have not yet tested it, but should tomorrow, 4/27/11. I'll post a comment and video as to the results. I have about $15 total in the whole thing, and that includes a third box of wax/jar of Vaseline that was not in the video.

This is a recipe to make Ballistic Wax. It is for testing bullets. You fire the bullet longitudinally into the wax cylinder, and it will catch the bullet. It is ideal because it retains the wound channel and most of the "temporary wound cavity" produced by a bullet. You can cut it open later to see the wound channel. Also, it is soft enough to allow hollow point bullets to expand reliably, unlike in some harder media. You will see less penetration than in water, gelatin, or tissue, but you can multiply your penetration depth by about 2-3 to get penetration analogous to tissue.

Ingredients: Paraffin wax, petroleum jelly (Vaseline), and some sort of coloring agent is optional. I used a Crayon based on internet recipes, but it didn't work since it's "washable" and water-soluble. A shipping tube would be better than my redneck tube.

Tips: Keep the temp low, a candy thermometer would help. Buy a shipping tube, they're cheap. Take your time, don't rush it. Cooling the wax in the fridge in between layers helps cut down on waiting. DEFINITELY pour this stuff in little layers. Pour a layer (maybe 1" thick), allow it to cool/harden, then pour the next layer. If you don't do this (which I didn't with the second half), it will cause a 1-2" cavity to form at the top from the wax taking too long to harden in the center.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Ballistic Wax
• ballistic gel
• bullet testing

[MrsCrazedFan]

can u put this in ur mouth?

[alphazuluz]

@MrsCrazedFan I don't see why you couldn't. I also don't see why you'd want to. It's just paraffin wax and vaseline, so it's not toxic.

[RainManOfQuebec]

@alphazuluz Vaseline not toxic ??? ...

PETROLEUM jelly NOT toxic ??? ... hahaha go it some sir !! .. i want to see that !! ;)

[alphazuluz]

@RainManOfQuebec Actually, yes. Petroleum jelly is NON-TOXIC! Petrolatum is toxic, but USP petroleum jelly is not. Google is your friend. 

[alphazuluz]

Anyone looking to do this, here are some tips: 1. Don't use Crayons, they don't dissolve, go to a hobby store, and get candle dye. 2. Pour the thing in shallow layers, if you pour too much, a deep hole forms as it cools. 3. After melting, lower the heat as much as possible, as cooler wax takes less time to harden. 4. Use fridge to help cool layers. 5. A tube diameter of 4" is about perfect. A larger tube will take tons of wax, and hours to harden. Any smaller and it will blow apart when shot.

[MrRyanesmyth]

the reason is if it gets to hot and smokes it will ruin it ...however when it starts to smoke it can burst into flames very easily