We Get Letters...

"Did you know that Box of Truth has been updated...?"

Yes. I was going to get to it, but first wanted to rid myself of the intial shock of learning that the man is dumber than ever. If that's even remotely possible.

The 2 new offerings are: rock salt in a shotgun, and carving one's own dum-dum's. We'll leave the rock salt for the time being and take a look at FORG (Fat Old Retired Guy) as he slices into FMJ's and lead bullets.

"Today's question: Does altering the nose of a bullet make it more effective against living targets?"

He then goes on to shoot them into jugs of water, and how this remotely answers his own question is beyond my ken. A simulacrum of a simulacrum of a simulacrum says nothing about a bullet's killing power. Balistic gelatin itself merely determines how said bullet penetrates and deforms in ballistic gelatin. Experts then have a go at interpreting the information, and every ammunition manufacturer I've ever spoken with tells me that gello testing tests the bullet, and not it's "stopping power". So shooting them into water is one step further down the line of what could be called "scientific", and it's because FORG and his ilk simply do not get-it. Gelatin results offer a look at what happens to a bullet when thusly stressed. They say NOTHING about what happens to a living target. Now, a nice fat mushroom is impressive as all hell, but we may only HOPE that it does the same in a living target, and along with many other variable, leads to rapid incapacitation.

Ammo makers spend countless hours with computer imaging and micro-analysis and a lot more to reach the point whereby they are ready to offer a new cartridge. FORG slices up some bullets then shoots them into his jugs.

Have military men done so with THEIR rounds? Has Law Enforcement?

Sure they have. For about a hundred years now. Give or take. Then they shot the rounds into PEOPLE. After a time, you get a good idea of what works and what does not. But you'll NEVER find out by capping a few water jugs.

NEVER.

If this total idiot were to simply shoot, then show some cool bullets, it'd be something else entirely, but he ALWAYS goes on to provide a definitive take on the matter.

The caveat remains. Do not try this at home. You'll only be laughed at by people who can spell IQ.