Ballistic Gel

How do you accurately test the affect that ballistics have on a flesh like substance?

One answer to the problem is to create ballistic gel, which mimics human flesh. Another solution is to use a dead pig as their bodies are similar to humans for testing purposes. Ballistic gel is the more practical solution.

Process for original ballistics gel came from: http://www.myscienceproject.org/gelatin.html
We then altered as we saw fit and used our finished product in our own way.

Step 1 Ingredients & Setup

Start making ballistics gel by getting some knox gelatin mix as shown in the first image. You will need an 8 oz. of water per 1 oz. of powder. For any kind of practical purposes and a good starting batch I would recommend mixing 8 oz. of powder with 2 quarts of water (64 oz.). The second image shows the powder in plastic bowl. I recommend that you put the water in the container of your choice before the powder. If you do not put the water in first you will get many more lumps of powder in it.

Comments

[tiaka]

Nice job with ballistic gel. I found a crystal clear pre-made ballistic gel block from ballistekgel.com. The stuff is great, I shot it multiple times and I could still have kept shooting it if I wanted. Didn't fall apart like the knox gelatine. It was a little more but I didn't have my wife made at me for making a mess in the kitchen. Just thought I would pass it on.

[walgrimph]

can you use flavord jello

[walgrimph]

pleez answer

[Hitman227]

Nice job, looks exactly like the one I made!

[JR.Mythbuster]

how long should i put it in the frige for?

[neodymium]

put it in the fridge for about 4-5 hours. sorry for being late.

[Wally_Z]

So, is this technically edible? Maybe not the best tasting, but is it edible? Would it be possible to remelt it after you use it and re-mold it into something else? Or like people have said the bacteria will get to it eventually.

[javajunkie1976]

I always figured that Ballistic Gel was some kind of specially formulated thing that was only available to forensic labs or the police departments...

[corey11]

well, ballistics gel is actually a specially formulated substance that mimics the human skin extremely well. but this is a cheaper alternative that works just as well. the only downside, is this can spoil, ballistic gel (that you see on mythbusters) cannot

[_Scratch_]

Add red food coloring to get the flesh color! lol

[splazem]

Wow, this is awesome! I see this on Mythbusters all the time, but I always assumed it would be a lot harder to make. Thanks for sharing!

[kaitheninja]

Woah kinda freaky i have to melt mine down at the exact same time as the picture two years later!

[Batryn]

Why melt it down?

[iminthebathroom]

I worked at the Justice Institute of British Columbia, Canada. We used to park batches in the cafeteria coolers over night, they hated that.... :)

[msmart1999]

how long

[project dude]

what i mean is "Great Lakes Gelatin Strips." Will that work?

[project dude]

can i use a different brand of unflavored gelatin?

[thinbrain]

very fun, easy to do, I'm thinking about making a fake cupcake out of it and just putting frosting on it. Tasty

[Ni toy Fe]

that would be a nice prank if you add something that tastes disgusting and give it to some1 you dont like. or you could ad somethin sweet.....if any adding is even possible

[Ni toy Fe]

can u use somethin layex for a mould? just curious

[lburkee]

Awsome I have wondered how that stuf was made for a long time. thank you

[tigerbomb8]

does it go off...

[dudejetfighter]

 what? its made for ballistic testing, you know like shooting at it.

[tigerbomb8]

 I MEAN LIKE HOW LONG DOES IT LAST IF YOU LEAVE IT OUTSIDE 

[beehard44]

yeah, depends where you live and where you place it.

[mm3jia]

like i have 8 of those little packets from that type of geliton how many oz is in 1 packeT?

[jakeonian]

Thers about 1 oz per packet, i think, and 8oz of water is one cup (if your in america or somewhere elses that uses that type of measurment

[game219]

can i use another type of unflavored gelatin?

[KnexFreek]

this is not that type of gelatin 

[JamesTB13]

YES IT IS

[Pyrotechnic-Robot]

I made some ot this stuff and it started to mold after 3 months. This dosent tast the best but this is some amazing stuff!

[davison112]

You tasted it? wow...

[Pyrotechnic-Robot]

 Well all it is is gelatin.

[KnexFreek]

this is not that type of gelatin lol...

[JamesTB13]

yes it is, just used for a different purpose

[davison112]

The ballistic part would make it sound less appealing in flavor to me so...

[Saturn V]

Maybe he thought it would have explosive flavor.

[beehard44]

lol

[Orro]

I'm gonna use a rubber glove as a mould. Then I can shoot a hand!!!! Orro

[undead_chinchilla]

i shot a hand. check out my video at http://www.youtube.com/UndeadChinchilla#p/a/u/0/D_8wVZREsy8 it isnt ballistics gel but molding clay and spaghetti sauce. not quite as good as gel but still it was cool