FAQS
Q: What are Ballistic Dummy Lab products used for?
A: Ballistic Dummy Lab products are used in multiple industries and for various testing procedures. You can find our products used in Film and TV, as well as online by famous YouTubers. If you’ve ever watched Forged in Fire, A Curious Life and Death Of, or follow Kentucky Ballistics, Garand Thumb, 1SHOTTV, or Brandon Herrera online, chances are you’ve seen our products. Our products have been shot, stabbed, sliced, burned, blown up, and more. The blade world uses our products to test new knives, axes, lances, and more to confirm that the blade performs as it should. Before taking them into the field, the military has used our products to test explosives and other tools. The gun world uses our ballistic gelatin as a testing medium for ammunition performance, scientific tests on the performance of specific lethal and non-lethal items, and more. Our products are
also used in the medical world as training models, in the legal world as courtroom
demonstrations, and as replicas.
Q: What are the Ballistic Dummies not used for?
A: We do not recommend our dummies for martial arts or fighting use. They are made with gel and replica bones but not muscles or tendons. Once you “hit” or impact a dummy for martial arts or fighting, it will most likely fall over or tear, as nothing holds the dummy rigidly together.
Q: Does the ‘flesh’ act like real flesh during testing?
A: Ballistic Dummy Lab has a proprietary organic gel that no one else has on the market. Its verisimilitude of natural muscle tissue is from actual testing of human flesh and musculature.
Q: What kind of gel does BDL use?
A: Perma Gel, which is the original synthetic ballistic gel and an organic gel formula we created.
Q: What kind of testing have BDL gel blocks been used for?
A: Our gel blocks have been used in every type of ammunition testing you can think of. We have seen our blocks used to test full metal jacket ammo, hollow points, non-lethal airsoft rounds, air gun ammunition, and more. Our Perma Gel is what the FBI uses to perform its standard ammunition testing. We have also seen our gel blocks be used for shotgun pattern testing and penetration rate. Our gel blocks are also used for archery broadhead penetration depth to ensure the broadhead has a lethal amount of force and depth to be used for humane hunting.
Q: What are the “bones” of BDL products made out of?
A: The bones are made of a high-density resin closely replicating average human bone.
Q: Are BDL products made to order?
A: Yes, our organic gel products have a “production timeline” to be made along with a shelf life. Perma Gel products do not have a shelf life, so they last longer.
Q: How long does it take to receive my order from BDL?
A: Three to four weeks. We appreciate your order and want to ensure that each
purchase is fulfilled in the sequence in which it was received. You will be emailed a
confirmation of your order at the time of sale and a notification when it ships,
including a tracking number. Our typical production time for our products is 2-4 weeks. Shipping is anywhere from 1-5 days, depending on the carrier, holidays, etc.
Q: How long do BDL products last once they arrive?
A: The average shelf life is three to five weeks. After that time, the gel loses moisture and, as a result, it becomes denser and shrinks. Perma gel has no shelf life, so those products last longer.
Q: Can I reuse the ballistic gel blocks?
A: We don’t recommend reusing our organic blocks, but the synthetic blocks can be
remelted 2-5 times. Each remelting will cause the gel to lose integrity, so if you’re
performing specific testing, we recommend using a new block each time.
Q: What is the melting point of a ballistic gel product?
A: Ballistic Dummy Lab proprietary gel has a temperature rating of 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius).
Q: How accurate are the dummies to the human body?
A: Our ballistic gel dummies serve as a consistent testing medium. Based on an average human.
Q: How do I safely store my BDL products before I’m ready to use them?
A: Keep it stored at room temperature (or colder - our ballistic gel doesn't deal with freezing well, though), out of the box (mold can develop in the dark confines of the box), and lightly wrapped in clear plastic.
Q: What’s the best way to shoot a ballistic gel block for ammo testing?
A: This article helps explain the FBI ammo testing, which sets the standard for ammunition manufacturers when making sure their ammo performs up to “standard.” Federal Ammunition also created a video explaining using the FBI testing standards to ensure their ammo performs as it should. Hornady's video may also be helpful. 1SHOTTV (one YouTuber we work with a lot) shows the FBI Heavy Clothing” Ballistics Gel Test.
Q: What’s the best way to prop up a torso?
A: We make a Ballistic Dummy Lab torso stand that we recommend using to keep the torso upright, mainly after it’s been shot, stabbed, or cut a few times. Once the dummy has been impacted, it can be harder to keep upright, especially without a stand.
Q: Do you have a storefront?
A: No, but if you live near Woodstock, GA, we allow pick-ups instead of shipping your product to you.
Q: Why are the dummies so expensive?
A: Here’s some insight into what’s included in the price of our products:
- The research and development that lead to the current high quality (and exclusivity) of our items and which is ongoing to keep us up to date and maintain our status as the primary choice in our field
- Cost of materials used to make the product
- Labor: any time spent designing, making, and then marketing the product, whether it’s the business owner or an employee
- Packaging materials
- Overhead (all other business costs) - including but not limited to the cost of equipment, accounting, insurance, utilities, rent, etc.
Q: What is your Damaged Goods Policy?
A: We spend a great deal of time and energy on shipping all of our Ballistic Dummy Lab products, but sometimes, our products overheat or can get damaged during shipping. If you open your Ballistic Dummy Lab order and find it unsatisfactory, please document everything you see immediately. We ask customers to send us photos of the box, the inside of the box, and the damage to the item and email us these images. We can often claim with shipping carriers, so the more images we have, the better. Once we receive your email, we will immediately send you a return shipping label. You can repackage the damaged goods into the same box, or if a
new box is needed, we will work with you to get you what you need to return the items to us. We want to ensure every customer is happy and receiving the best product possible.