I'd like to see the back of the .223 bowling pin. As those of us who have fired M-16's into er....well things other than bowling pins, they do a lot of damage coming out.

Wallace, I have no personal experience with the .223...does it have the penetration power to exit the back of a bowling pin?

I would also guess that the less dense composition of those, um, other things would allow for more tumbling action (along with the flattening of the bullet), which is why the exit is more, um, noticeable than the entrance.

You are correct, but with the high speed of the .223 round it would definetly penetrate the bowling pin. The .45 being slower, heavier and less aerodynamic transfers most of it's energy at the point of impact whereas the .223 has more penetrating power, thru semisolid objects anyway....like human organs. Thus the old adage about the "stopping power" of the .45.

I remember firing my old trusty .45 service weapon [circa 1911 by the way] on a sunny day and easily watching the round go down range.

Wallace ... you are right! The .223 does a pretty good job on the backside of the pin. The beauty (if you can call it that) of the .223 round in the jungles of Vietnam is that any little thing touched by the round in flight would cause it to tumble and really act like a can opener.

With the .45 ACP ammunition today, you don't get to see it stroll down the range. They've got some good stuff.

Thanks for browsing my site, Eric, and for the link.