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swatsurgeon · 05-20-2006, 19:36

Dr. Roberts,
If you are reading this thread, I have posed an observation that waits for a reply.

"This is only one example of hundreds that I have that bullet performance in the human body was not validated by gel testing of that particular round."

Why is it that I have bullets in my office, in the coroners lab, in the Commonwealth Attorney's office that did not perform as predicted in ballistic gel. Un-expanded/partially-expanded, different levels of penetration, jacket separations are all facts in evidence in many of the cases I see. How is this possible if gel represents the terminal ballistics so accurately? Please note that we can discuss injury severity at the same time: comparisons of SXT's or Gold Dots in the thoracic or abdominal cavity vs the actual or predicted injury severity in a block of gel.
My only wish is that I am able to reach the appropriate people that have narrowed their mindset on the necessary properties of bullet wound formation: bullets are meant to kill; an injured patient or opponent is a mission failure.
Why is the human body a disconnect for you with respect to gel testing? This is all said with respect for you as an expert in terminal ballistics....living tissue is the realm of real world wound ballistics, is it not? If you have published or commented on the direct correlation of gel to tissue, I am happy to be educated.

05-20-2006, 19:36	#49
swatsurgeon Guerrilla Chief Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 880	Dr. Roberts, If you are reading this thread, I have posed an observation that waits for a reply. "This is only one example of hundreds that I have that bullet performance in the human body was not validated by gel testing of that particular round." Why is it that I have bullets in my office, in the coroners lab, in the Commonwealth Attorney's office that did not perform as predicted in ballistic gel. Un-expanded/partially-expanded, different levels of penetration, jacket separations are all facts in evidence in many of the cases I see. How is this possible if gel represents the terminal ballistics so accurately? Please note that we can discuss injury severity at the same time: comparisons of SXT's or Gold Dots in the thoracic or abdominal cavity vs the actual or predicted injury severity in a block of gel. My only wish is that I am able to reach the appropriate people that have narrowed their mindset on the necessary properties of bullet wound formation: bullets are meant to kill; an injured patient or opponent is a mission failure. Why is the human body a disconnect for you with respect to gel testing? This is all said with respect for you as an expert in terminal ballistics....living tissue is the realm of real world wound ballistics, is it not? If you have published or commented on the direct correlation of gel to tissue, I am happy to be educated. __________________ 'Revel in action, translate perceptions into instant judgements, and these into actions that are irrevocable, monumentous and dreadful - all this with lightning speed, in conditions of great stress and in an environment of high tension:what is expected of "us" is the impossible, yet we deliver just that. (adapted from: Sherwin B. Nuland, MD, surgeon and author: The Wisdom of the Body, 1997 ) Education is the anti-ignorance we all need to better treat our patients. ss, 2008. The blade is so sharp that the incision is perfect. They don't realize they've been cut until they're out of the fight: A Surgeon Warrior. I use a knife to defend life and to save it. ss (aka traumadoc)
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