4 Ways To Make Ballistics Gel - WikiHow

Home » How To Make Ballistic Gel » 4 Ways To Make Ballistics Gel - WikiHow

Maybe your like

Skip to ContentQuizzes
  • Home
  • Random
  • Browse Articles
  • Quizzes & Games
  • All QuizzesHot
  • Love Quizzes
  • Personality Quizzes
  • Fun Games
  • Dating Simulator
  • Learn Something New
  • Forums
  • Courses
  • Happiness Hub
  • Explore More
  • Support wikiHow
  • About wikiHow
  • Log in / Sign up
Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Make Ballistics Gel PDF download Download Article Explore this Article methods 1 Preparing the Materials 2 Preparing the Mold 3 Making the Gel 4 Making a Small Block for Pellet Rifles, BB Guns, & Airsoft + Show 1 more... - Show less... Other Sections Questions & Answers Video Tips and Warnings Things You'll Need Related Articles References Article Summary Author Info

Last Updated: February 19, 2026 Fact Checked

PDF download Download Article X

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 40 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 814,409 times. Learn more...

Ballistics gel is used by professional forensics teams to simulate the effects of bullet impact on flesh. Professional grade ballistics gel is expensive and difficult to obtain. By following this guide, you can create your own ballistics gel at home to take to the firing range yourself. You can also create small blocks of gel to use with BB guns and pellet rifles.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 4:

Preparing the Materials

PDF download Download Article
  1. Step 1 Understand the recipe. 1 Understand the recipe. This recipe will produced two blocks of ballistics gel that will work for pistol and rifle testing. This will simulate the effects of the bullet on soft tissue.[1]
  2. Step 2 Get the gelatin. 2 Get the gelatin. The key to good ballistics gel is the gelatin that you use. While you can order specialized gelatin, the cost can be very prohibitive. Knox brand Gelatine works very similar to the specialty gelatin, and can be found at most major grocery retailers.[2] Advertisement
  3. Step 3 Make sure you have access to enough water. 3 Make sure you have access to enough water. To make the gel, you will need a gallon of water for every 13 ounces of gelatin. This will give you about a 10% mix by weight, which will make for the best ballistics gel.
    • This recipe will be using 9 gallons (34.1 L) of water and 117 ounces of gelatin.
  4. Step 4 Measure your refrigerator.... 4 Measure your refrigerator. For this recipe, you will have to cool the gel down to about 36 °F (2 °C). Make sure that your refrigerator can fit the container, or that you have a cool place such as a garage to set the gelatin.
    • It will need to set for at least 8 hours in a cold location, so be sure that you can afford to make that much room in your refrigerator for that long.
    5. Advertisement
Method 2 Method 2 of 4:

Preparing the Mold

PDF download Download Article
  1. Step 1 Obtain a large plastic storage container. 1 Obtain a large plastic storage container. Find a container that is 12 (h) x 12 (w) x 20 (l) inches in size. Avoid containers with patterns on the sides or bottom, as it will make removing the gel more difficult.[3]
  2. Step 2 Measure and mark the mold. 2 Measure and mark the mold. Measure the inside wall 6 inches (15.2 cm) from the bottom of the container and mark it with a permanent marker. This will be the line that you fill the water to.
  3. Step 3 Spray the container with non-stick cooking spray. 3 Spray the container with non-stick cooking spray. Coat the entire inside with spray to help release the gel when it is finished. Wipe any excess spray out to avoid cloudiness in the finished gel.
    4. Advertisement
Method 3 Method 3 of 4:

Making the Gel

PDF download Download Article
  1. Step 1 Fill the container with warm water. 1 Fill the container with warm water. Fill the mold to the line drawn earlier using warm tap water. Ideally, the temperature should be around 105 °F (41 °C). Use a thermometer to maintain a good average temperature.[4]
    • Making gelatin takes longer with warm water as opposed to hot, but results in a clearer final product.
  2. Step 2 Get ready to mix. 2 Get ready to mix. The mixing process will take a significant amount of time, so make sure that you can comfortably mix for about twenty minutes. You’ll want to mix with a large spoon, wooden or metal.[5]
  3. Step 3 Add the gelatin. 3 Add the gelatin. Use a 1-cup measuring cup to slowly add gelatin to the water. You need to be stirring constantly to avoid clumping. Add all of the gelatin over the course of about 10 minutes, sprinkling one cup at a time.
    • This step is much easier with two people. One person stirs, while the other slowly adds the gelatin. After the gelatin has been added, you can swap stirring duties to give your arm a break.
    • To improve the clarity, you can add cinnamon oil to the gelatin. You will need about 9 drops; 1 drop per gallon of water. Add the cinnamon oil about halfway through the stirring process.
  4. Step 4 Scoop off foam and bubbles. 4 Scoop off foam and bubbles. After the stirring is complete, there will be a little bit of foam on the top of the mixture. Gently scoops this out and discard. There should be no visible foam or clumps of undissolved gelatin in the final mix.
  5. Step 5 Cool the gelatin. 5 Cool the gelatin. You want to cool the mixture to about 36 °F (2 °C). Avoid freezing it, or else the blocks will become too cloudy. If you don’t get it cool enough, the gel will not get as dense as it needs to.[6] Cool the gel for at least 8 hours, preferably overnight.
  6. Step 6 Extract the gel. 6 Extract the gel. Once the gel has fully cooled, gently turn the container over onto a clean flat surface such as a kitchen counter. Slowly guide the gel out of the container with your hands to help avoid cracking the block.
  7. Step 7 Cut the gel. 7 Cut the gel. Use a large kitchen knife to cut the block into two halves. Cut the long way so that you are left with two narrow blocks with the dimensions 6 x 6 x 20. Gently wrap each block completely in plastic wrap. This will prevent evaporation, which will affect the density and integrity of the block.
    • After wrapping the block, place a stiff piece of cardboard on each block and wrap it again. The cardboard will make transporting the block much easier.
    • Store the blocks at 40 °F (4 °C) or cooler until you are ready to shoot them. Transport the blocks in a cooler to help keep them at optimum density.
  8. Step 8 Shoot the block. 8 Shoot the block. Place the blocks on a stable flat surface. A piece of plywood on sawhorses will work. Adjust the blocks so that you shoot into a 6 x 6 square end. If you are firing a high-powered gun, place a cement block behind the ballistics gel to keep the force from knocking the block off of the platform.
    • Always follow proper safety procedures when handling fierarms.
    • Be careful unwrapping the gel, you don’t want it to crack just before you shoot it.
    • Ballistics gel is typically shot from about 10 feet (3.0 m) out.
    • There are three standard tests: Naked – nothing covering the block. Lightly clothed – two t-shirts covering the block. Heavily clothed – two t-shirts and two pairs of jeans covering the block.
  9. Step 9 Take photos. 9 Take photos. If you want to take photos of the results, paint the plywood that you placed the blocks on white. This will highlight the bullet fragments. You will be able to see the results best in bright sunlight.
    10. Advertisement
Method 4 Method 4 of 4:

Making a Small Block for Pellet Rifles, BB Guns, & Airsoft

PDF download Download Article
  1. Step 1 Assemble your materials. 1 Assemble your materials. You will need two plastic containers (16 oz), two packets of Knox Gelatine, a measuring cup, cooking spray, and water.
  2. Step 2 Pour the gelatin into one of the containers. 2 Pour the gelatin into one of the containers. Add both packets to one container. Measure 3/4 cup of water into the measuring cup.
  3. Step 3 Slowly add the water to the gelatin. 3 Slowly add the water to the gelatin. Stir the mixture with a spoon slowly to keep air bubbles from forming.[7] Place the stirred mixture into a refrigerator for 3-4 hours.
  4. Step 4 Fill a sink with hot water. 4 Fill a sink with hot water. Place the chilled container into the hot water for about 15 minutes to melt the set gelatin back into a liquid.
    • If the water is not hot enough, the gelatin will not melt back down to liquid form. Heat water on a stove if necessary.
  5. Step 5 Spray the other container. 5 Spray the other container. While the gel is melting, spray the second container with the cooking spray. If you don’t have access to cooking spray, any non-stick oil will work.
  6. Step 6 Pour the melted gel into the second container. 6 Pour the melted gel into the second container. Slowly pour the melted gel to keep air bubbles from forming under the surface. Place the gel back in fridge and let it cool for 12 hours.
  7. Step 7 Knock the gel out of the container. 7 Knock the gel out of the container. Once the gel has set, you can knock it out of the container. It should easily fall out in one piece, thanks to the cooking spray.
  8. Step 8 Shoot the gel. 8 Shoot the gel. Place the gel on a flat stable surface and shoot it with the airsoft or pellet gun. Shoot from about 10 feet (3.0 m) away.
    • Always follow proper safety procedures when handling fierarms.
    9. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search Add New Question
  • Question Will the gel melt back into a liquid state after several hours, or will it stay gelled forever? Community Answer Community Answer After several hours out of the fridge, the gel will melt back into liquid form. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 5 Helpful 44
  • Question Once the gelatin has melted, can it be re-used if I remove any bullet fragments? Community Answer Community Answer Yes, you can use it over and over again. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 7 Helpful 28
  • Question Can the gel be remelted and used again? Community Answer Community Answer Yes, it can. Remove all the bullet fragments from it first before you melt it. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 17
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement

Video

Tips

  • When stirring the gel, stir it slowly to reduce the air bubbles.[8] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Try to keep the mixture flat in the refrigerator, so when it gels over, it will be a flat surface. Thanks Helpful 62 Not Helpful 21
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

  • The above steps are for recreational creation of ballistics gel and not for scientific use. Thanks Helpful 38 Not Helpful 20
  • Never fire a weapon unless you are trained to do so and you're in an environment appropriate for weapons use. Thanks Helpful 40 Not Helpful 59
Advertisement

Things You'll Need

  • Gel powder
  • Water
  • Silicone or non-stick spray
  • Molds
  • Refrigerator with adequate space
  • Spoon long enough to stir and reach the bottom of pot. Also strong enough to stir gel without bending or breaking.

You Might Also Like

Make GelatinHow toMake Gelatin Make Jello ShotsHow toMake Jello Shots Make BioplasticHow toMake Bioplastic Make Gelatin Ice CubesHow toMake Gelatin Ice Cubes Make a Gel CandleHow toMake a Gel Candle Make JelloHow toMake Jello Make a Smoke GrenadeHow toMake a Smoke Grenade Make a Silicone MoldHow toMake a Silicone Mold Make a Jello MoldHow toMake a Jello Mold How toSuspend an Object in Jello Make Fake CutsHow toMake Fake Cuts Create AgarHow toCreate Agar Make an Ice BlockHow toMake an Ice Block Make Water GelHow toMake Water Gel Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ https://www.askaprepper.com/make-ballistic-gel/
  2. ↑ http://rumkin.com/reference/firearms/alt_gelatin.php
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbHjTb5Pbrc
  4. ↑ https://www.frfrogspad.com/gelatin.htm
  5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbHjTb5Pbrc
  6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbHjTb5Pbrc
  7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbHjTb5Pbrc
  8. ↑ https://www.thearmorylife.com/diy-ballistic-gelatin/

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 40 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 814,409 times. 136 votes - 92% Co-authors: 40 Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 814,409 Categories: Spying Article SummaryX

To make ballistics gel, use a large plastic container as a mold and mark the fill line with a permanent marker. Next, add warm water up to the fill line and pour in the gelatin 1 cup at a time, stirring thoroughly. Scoop off the foam and bubbles from the top, then cool the gel for 8 hours. Once it's cool, turn the container over, slide the gel out, and cut the block half. Wrap each block in plastic wrap and store them at 40 °F. For tips on making smaller gel blocks, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

In other languages Spanish German Portuguese French Russian Chinese Italian Indonesian Dutch Czech Japanese
  • Print
  • Send fan mail to authors
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 814,409 times.

Reader Success Stories

  • LewisDaMonkey

    LewisDaMonkey

    May 12, 2021

    "Okay, so I have not made my gel yet but I will soon. I have to have my mom get the materials for me and I have my..." more Rated this article:
More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story

Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy.

About This Article

Co-authors: 40 Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 814,409 92% of readers found this article helpful. 136 votes - 92% Click a star to add your vote LewisDaMonkey

LewisDaMonkey

May 12, 2021

"Okay, so I have not made my gel yet but I will soon. I have to have my mom get the materials for me and I have my..." more Rated this article: Aaron

Aaron

May 25, 2017

"Nice and clear, will be making some for my rifle soon." Thaddious Press

Thaddious Press

Oct 16, 2017

"Used for a physics project, worked pretty well." Anonymous

Anonymous

Mar 26, 2018

"I had fun making ballistic gel." Anonymous

Anonymous

Jul 24, 2016

"Keep it up, proud of you." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

Quizzes & Games

Pizza CalculatorPizza CalculatorWhat Makeup Should I Wear QuizWhat Makeup Should I Wear QuizTake QuizSquid Game Sim: Season 1Squid Game Sim: Season 1PlayWould I Be a Good Super Spy QuizWould I Be a Good Super Spy QuizTake QuizAm I Smart QuizAm I Smart QuizTake QuizHow Tall Will I Be QuizHow Tall Will I Be QuizTake Quiz

You Might Also Like

Make GelatinHow toMake GelatinMake Jello ShotsHow toMake Jello ShotsMake BioplasticHow toMake BioplasticMake Gelatin Ice CubesHow toMake Gelatin Ice Cubes

Featured Articles

Make a Paper AirplaneHow toMake a Paper AirplaneLearn Morse CodeHow toLearn Morse CodeFold an Origami Star (Shuriken)How toFold an Origami Star (Shuriken) Fold and Use a Paper Fortune TellerHow to Fold and Use a Paper Fortune Teller

Trending Articles

Do I Have Main Character Energy?Do I Have Main Character Energy?What Emojis Mean Sex?What Emojis Mean Sex?What Pokémon Am I QuizWhat Pokémon Am I QuizDo I Have Brainrot QuizDo I Have Brainrot QuizSigns a Woman is Sexually Attracted to YouSigns a Woman is Sexually Attracted to YouFinish the Lyrics QuizFinish the Lyrics Quiz

Featured Articles

What Animal Am I QuizWhat Animal Am I QuizAm I Gay QuizAm I Gay QuizHow Well Do I Know My Best Friend QuizHow Well Do I Know My Best Friend QuizAm I an Alpha, Beta, or Omega QuizAm I an Alpha, Beta, or Omega Quiz

Featured Articles

160+ Good Roasts to Burn Your Friends & Family Members160+ Good Roasts to Burn Your Friends & Family Members Play the Snaps Guessing GameHow to Play the Snaps Guessing Game140+ Wavelength Game Categories & Questions to Extend Your Play140+ Wavelength Game Categories & Questions to Extend Your PlayThe Ultimate Collection of Funny, Cheesy, & Romantic Rizz LinesThe Ultimate Collection of Funny, Cheesy, & Romantic Rizz LinesVirtual Truth or Dare Questions to Keep Things InterestingVirtual Truth or Dare Questions to Keep Things Interesting180 Good Comebacks & Savage Roasts to Win Any Argument180 Good Comebacks & Savage Roasts to Win Any Argument

Watch Articles

Eat GuavaHow toEat Guava Get Yellow Stains Out of White ShoesHow to Get Yellow Stains Out of White ShoesLeft Eye Twitching for Females: What Astrology Says About Eye TwitchingLeft Eye Twitching for Females: What Astrology Says About Eye Twitching50 First Date Conversation Starters to Spark a Connection50 First Date Conversation Starters to Spark a Connection Make a Mask Out of Paper (for Kids or Adults)How to Make a Mask Out of Paper (for Kids or Adults) Put Jibbitz on CrocsHow to Put Jibbitz on Crocs

Trending Articles

Do You Agree with These "Hear Me Out" Character Hot Takes?Do You Agree with These "Hear Me Out" Character Hot Takes? Read Face Moles: Lucky and Unlucky PlacementsHow to Read Face Moles: Lucky and Unlucky PlacementsWhat Female Body Shape Are You? How to Identify YoursWhat Female Body Shape Are You? How to Identify YoursThe Ultimate Guide to Fingerprint Patterns & How to Analyze ThemThe Ultimate Guide to Fingerprint Patterns & How to Analyze ThemDo I Belong In Camp Half-Blood or Camp Jupiter?Do I Belong In Camp Half-Blood or Camp Jupiter?Can Your Finger Length Tell Your Personality?Can Your Finger Length Tell Your Personality?

Quizzes & Games

Ice Cream Personality TestIce Cream Personality TestTake QuizHow Many Brain Cells Do I Have QuizHow Many Brain Cells Do I Have QuizTake QuizWhat Wild wikiHow Article Am I QuizWhat Wild wikiHow Article Am I QuizTake QuizWould I Survive a Horror Movie QuizWould I Survive a Horror Movie QuizTake QuizHow Good Are My Survival Instincts QuizHow Good Are My Survival Instincts QuizTake QuizAm I Funny QuizAm I Funny QuizTake Quiz wikiHow
  • Categories
  • Hobbies and Crafts
  • Games
  • Spying
wikiHow Newsletter You're all set! Helpful how-tos delivered toyour inbox every week! Sign me up! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy.
  • Home
  • About wikiHow
  • Experts
  • Jobs
  • Contact Us
  • Site Map
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Info
  • Not Selling Info
  • Contribute

Follow Us

×

Get all the best how-tos!

Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter

Subscribe You're all set! X --788

Tag » How To Make Ballistic Gel