When I saw the gel heads from Ballistics Dummy Labs go on sale a few weeks back, I knew it was my chance to play with one.

The ballistic gel head has been around for a while, used in testing labs around the world to set safety standard for helmets and hard hats. Now available to the public, these heads, torsos and limbs appear online as shooters compare the terminal ballistics of several modern cartridges as they shoot into or through this approximation of a head.

As a longtime fan of backyard science experiments, I thought it would be fun to see what a large caliber muzzleloader would do to one of these gel and plastic heads. I ordered the head and began setting up my slow motion equipment to capture the results.

To have the largest ‘impact’ I could, I chose to use my .69 caliber 1777 Charleville Musket. This musket is a Pedersoli recreation of the iconic French military arm used my the US Continental Army during our war for independence. I wanted to test a historically accurate charge and projectile so I studied Mike Believeau’s video on making paper cartridges for the Charleville and decided to use a .67 caliber round ball, 80 grains of 2Fg GOEX blackpowder wrapped in a paper cartridge.

Military charges of the late 18th century were much larger, some documents saying in excess of 150 grains of powder. Another test with that kind of charge could be conducted, but I feel 80 grains is more than enough to move this projectile quickly.

Check out the video above to see the results in slow motion.

These targets are from "Kenockee Trading Post" in Michigan

The video I used to make these paper cartridges is by Mike Beliveau on the Duelist1954 channel

Learn more about the 1777 Charleville with these resources

“American Martial Flintlocks” by Robert M Riley

The Flintlock Musket: Brown Bess and Charleville 1715–1865

Basics of the Charleville Musket

How France’s legendary military long arm shaped history

Premade paper cartridges are available from Grimcrack & Bunkum

More information on paper cartridges and military arms history can be found at PaperCartridges.com

The Head is from BallisticDummyLabs.com, I purchased the target, it was not sponsored or sent to me.