How to Make Ballistics Gel
Ballistics gel is used by law enforcement as a way to measure how bullets enter the human body. The gel is a close approximation of how a human body, specifically human flesh, would be affected upon bullet impact.
Making ballistics gel in your own home, however, is definitely not making the real thing. Keep in mind that making the real kind of ballistics gel takes a very specific science and procedures in making them. The ballistics gel that you will make using the steps in this article is made from ordinary household items. It is for recreational uses, not law enforcement purposes, so use it accordingly.
Materials
Plain Knox gelatin
Water
Double boilers
Mold
Refrigerator
Spoon with a long handle
Silicone spray
Candy thermometer
Procedure
Use a ratio of one pound gelatin to a gallon of water. You can mix the gelatin in the water in smaller batches, using a ratio of eight ounces of powder per two quarts of water.
Measure the water first before slowly adding in the gelatin powder.
Stir in the gel carefully, making small circular motions. The powder granules should get wet without having too much air bubbles getting mixed in the solution.
The mixture, when completely mixed, should have the consistency of thick grits.
Make sure that your refrigerator has space for the mixture. Let it refrigerate, NOT frozen, for two hours.
Prepare the molds where the gelatin will be set. Professionals typically use 6″ x 6″ x 16″ molds, but for recreational uses such as this one, normal 32 oz. plastic ware would do. Use silicone spray or non-stick cooking spray on the inside of the mold so the gelatin won’t stick later on.
Take out the mixture from the refrigerator and put on the stove. Set it over a pan of water (in other words, a double boiler) and heat it until it melts.
Take the candy thermometer to monitor the mixture. It shouldn’t get hotter than 130 degrees Celsius.
Use a long-handled spoon to carefully stir and to prevent air bubbles from getting trapped in the mixture.
Pour the mixture into the prepared molds, and refrigerate (not freeze) for 36 hours.
Once they’re ready, carry the gel in insulated containers (such as Coleman picnic insulators) to the testing or shooting site.
Remove the gel from their molds carefully. Cut the blocks into smaller sections if you should choose, at the minimum of 7.5 cm x 12 cm x 13.5 cm per block.
Recycle the ballistics gel if you can by melting the gel and remolding them, provided they do not have too much dirt in them.