I wanted to compare the .223 against the .308 through wood to simulate the difference in calibers through cover.

The wood was maple and has been dried for a season (didn't want to cut a tree down just for this) so it might give a little more resistance than if it was green. The thickness of the wood was approx 8.5 inches.

There was a 4 inch space and behind that was a 2500 page phone book which I soaked in water. Dry the thickness of the phone book was 3 inches and wet was 6.5 inches. My first set of pictures didn't turn out so I had to redo this and the phone book started to fall apart so they don't look as nice.

The range for both weapons was 50 yds.

The first weapon was a Bushmaster 16" carbine firing military M193 FMJ ball. The second weapon was a DSA FN FAL with a 21" barrel shooting military M80 NATO Spec FMJ ball.

I know there is a difference in velocity between a 16" and 21" barrel but if I'm gonna grab a .223 rifle it's gonna be a 16" lightweight carbine. If I wanted to carry a heavy 20" AR15 HBAR I would carry a .308 instead.

I tried the AR15 and not one penetrated the wood at 50yds so I moved to 25yds and still none went all the way through. Maybe I'm using to thick a piece of wood to start with but if I'm gonna hide behind a tree it's not gonna be a sapling. Your enemy also will try and put as much between himself and your bullets too. I will try with a thinner piece of wood and the .223 again sometime.

Anyways, on to the .308.

This first pic shows the thickness of the wood which was 8.5" and the direction of travel of the bullets.


The below pic shows the entry holes the .223 and the second .308 made. As expected both made holes the diameter of their bullets.


This pic shows the thickness of the wet phone book. This is after quite a few times of being turned over and it's starting to come apart. It was about 5.5 inches wet to begin with.


Here are the entry holes the .308 made after passing through the wood. Hole number one hit the wood on the side. The entrance is normal .308. The second .308 I put through the center of the wood and I think that caused it to tumble as soon as it exited the wood.


The size of the entrance hole for number 2 was approx 1 1/4 inches by almost 3/4 inch and was big enough and deep enough to fit a mini-mag flashlight to page 737 (over 3 inches).



The bullet from number one started to tumble at page 400 and by page 538 the phone book ripped open from the side inwards 1 3/4 inches. The last page the exit hole was from the side 2 inches in x 1 1/4 inches.


Bullet number 2 which put a lot of it's energy into the wood and tumbled quicker left a hole 1 inch x just under 3/4 inch.



Even after passing through the wood, turning over in the phone book and through a piece of paneling both .308 rounds still tore into my backdrop.

Here is a pic of the book being shot without the tree in front. As you can see entrance for both is the size of the caliber.




Here is the first exit. The .308 is still plowing through the phone book like it isn't there while the .223 has put an exit whole the size of a canteen cap into the back. I could fit my index and middle finger into the hole up to my second knuckle.