Water Test 123 grain Nosler Custom Competition

[VASCAR2]

Water Test on 123 grain Nosler Custom Competition


There has been discussion in the hunting section as to whether the Hornady 123 grain BTHP ammo sold under the American Gunner label could be used for hunting. The bullet loaded in the Hornady AG ammo looks very similar to the 123 grain Nosler Custom Competition bullet. I have tested numerous cartridges/bullets in one gallon water filled jugs. The water filled jug test gives fairly consistent results and is an inexpensive test.

I set up several jugs in three rows in an effort to capture the expended bullets. I shot the 123 grain Nosler Custom Competition bullet in a hand load using Lapua brass, CCI 450 primer and 31.0 grains of CFE223 powder. I have chronographed this load out of my 16” J&T Dist. 6.5 Grendel and got an average velocity 2449 FPS with a Magneto Speed Chronograph. I shot the jugs at 50 yards.

I was very impressed with results from the Nosler CC bullet in water. The bullet penetrated into the third jug and travelled roughly 18” in water. The first attempt the bullet hit a little low of dead center and traversed down. A large slug of lead was captured in the base of the third jug.

This picture shows the piece of lead imbedded into the base of the third jug. The piece of lead was stuck pretty good inside the plastic. The total weight of the fragments was 104.7 grains.


52C89929-CA46-40ED-B776-51B47E4895D3


Here is a picture of the fragments not including the piece from the base of the jug.

6F46B821-D6A8-4CE0-B6FC-C4211845CD60


I still had a few jugs left so I decided to test the 123 grain Nosler Custom Competition again. This time I aimed a little higher. I hit this jug dead center and the results were very impressive. The hydrostatic shock completely ripped and dismembered the first jug. Two jugs beside the center row were knocked over where the caps were knocked off and water was spilling out. The second jug was ripped completely open and the two jugs on the other side of the center row received extensive damage. The hydrostatic shock ruptured one jug blowing the cap off and the next jug was crushed by the shock but did not loose any water.


Here is a picture of the jug which was ripped open from the exploding jug from the center row. You can see the cap is blown off. The jug behind this jug with no cap has been crushed. The jug sitting by it self received a hairline crack in the base and had a very slow water leak. The crack was caused by compression from the impact and not a projectile. The jugs were filled to the bottom of the neck which is more water than how there are sold in the store.

AC141B70-B04F-46B5-8385-9A04A68A1D65

I recovered several pieces of bullet lead fragments and jacket with a total weight of 75.3 grains. I have shot a lot of water filled jugs over the years testing ballistics using 458 Winchester Magnum, 338, 223/5.56, 240 Weatherby, 12 gauge shotgun and 50 BMG plus many other rifle and pistol cartridges both centerfire and rimfire.

The results of this bullet is very encouraging as the bullet behavior performance mimics a 55 grain FMJ at 3200 FPS on steroids. The fragmentation and hydrostatic shock from an intermediate cartridge was impressive. If you’ve seen gel test hi speed photography of a 77 grain or 69 grain SMK the results are even greater with the 123 grain Nosler CC bullet. This might not be the best hunting bullet on larger game but it would be an impressive bullet on soft targets.

[VASCAR2]

Nosler 123 CC Page 2

Here is a picture of the crushed jug which was in the back next to the wooden target backer. This jug was crushed by the hydrostatic shock from the row in the center which were impacted by the 123 grain Nosler CC.

62F2C770-648E-4E49-8D24-73C99CF174F4

Here is a picture of the recovered bullet from the second water test. Again the fragments were recovered from the second and third jug and weighed 75.3 grains.

0BA114DE-CC19-409E-A2BD-18BCC5E3E64F


Here is a picture of the three jugs that took the impact of the second 123 grain Nosler competition. Pretty impressive for an intermediate cartridge at 2450 FPS muzzle velocity. The long for it’s weight bullet causes a lot of hydrostatic shock plus the fragments do a lot of damage.


C3DAC470-4E89-493E-9697-7041A0BC4126

I used my 16” J&T Distributing 6.5 Grendel in the test of the 123 grain Nosler Custom Competition. I don’t have any American Gunner ammo to test as Sportsman’s Warehouse will not ship ammo to Illinois. I suspect the results from the 123 grain BTHP Hornady AG ammo would be very similar.

[Joseph5]

Looks like it would kill a critter.

[Sticks]

If I still had some, I would pull down and ship the bullets to you...or is that illegal too?

[BluntForceTrauma]

Excellent data. Thanks for taking the time to test and report!

[grayfox]

Vascar, I could pull and send you a few. what do you think...

that is, if it's legal for Illinois.

[VASCAR2]

Many retailers will mail order ammo to Illinois as long as you don’t live in Crook/Cook County or Chiraq/Chicago. Sportsman’s Wharehouse just chooses not to sell in Illinios which is fine. The nearest SW store to me is probably Lexington Ky is 216 miles from my house, a little to far to make an ammo run.

If I really needed or wanted the ammo I could probably buy the ammo and ship it to my Brother’s house in Indiana. I figured I’d test the 123 grain Nosler Custom Competition as it appears to be a very similar design. I’ve got some 123 grain Sierra Match King bullets I’m going to test. I think the results will be very similar.

What I found interesting is how the 123 grain CC bullet fragmented whereas the 100 grain Branual Bimetal FMJ or 110 grain PPU FMJ did not fragment. Both FMJ bullets bent and flattened but didn’t create near as much damage or Hydrostatic shock.

I wouldn’t use the 123 grain Nosler CC for deer hunting as it would damage a lot of meat. For hogs I think the 123 grain Nosler CC would produce similar results as DNS gets with the 90 grain TNT. The 123 grain Nosler CC looses more mass than a hunting bullet like the 123 grain SST.


When water testing 85 grain Sierra Varmint, 90 grain TNT, 100 grain Sierra Varmint, 100 grain Nosler BT and 120 grain Pro Hunter the bullets were stopped in the third gallon jug of water. So in essense the 123 grain Nosler CC should have adequate penetration in some hunting situations. I don’t think the 123 grain Nosler Custom CC would be fur friendly on varmints.

So far the 123 grain Nosler CC bullet is accurate in my 6.5 Grendels and is the bullet some of my rifles are zeroed. Good to know how this bullet might perform if needed.


We regularly use distilled water at my house so I keep the empty plastic jugs. Having well water is cheap and available for testing. I just enjoy experimenting especially if it involves shooting.