And the next Contestant on "Who's Head is Gonna Spin" C'mon Down

[Jon Bischof]

Fascinating topic. There's a whole area of science dedicated to the study of this called "terminal ballistics"; that is, everything that happens from the point of impact to the exit and all in between inside the animal.

Density of the animal is a factor, bone is a factor. But a bullet that hits soft tissue (whether very dense or closer to liquid density) always does the following:

1. Immediate compression and expansion of the temporary wound cavity. Never mind "shock going through blood vessels" nice theory, but don't really know anything about that.

2. Tissue damage takes place not only in the permanent wound cavity (after bullet has passed through) but also in the temporary wound cavity.

3. The reason why higher velocity bullets do kill better than the same bullet at lower velocities is because it makes a larger temporary wound cavity, thus damaging more tissue/organs before exiting the animal. Force of exit blowing more out of the exit hole is also greater with velocity.

A mostly liquid medium can only be compressed so much before it transfers that energy outward. Hydraulic machinery works on a similar principle except that the force is contained in a piston that is directed to a task.

Tissue compression from a fast bullet just expands in the direction of the bullet travel and spreads out in all directions around it. Enough of that on the Central Nervous System and you have animal that goes down immediately even if death isn't immediate.

 

[Philward]

I think the only real DRT is a head shot, aside from a prairie dog hit with an explosive hyper velocity projectile or grouse or rabbit hit in body with deer rifle (multiple pieces sprayed about). Typical DRT is nervous system damage that paralyzes the animal and they expire before the hunter recovers the animal.

 

[jessej]

"I'm running the 101 in the 300RUM@ 4482fps, It kicks like a good 30-06, It's no problem to shoot"

and that's why I love RUM

 

[jessej]

 

[Orange Dust]

I think the only real DRT is a head shot, aside from a prairie dog hit with an explosive hyper velocity projectile or grouse or rabbit hit in body with deer rifle (multiple pieces sprayed about). Typical DRT is nervous system damage that paralyzes the animal and they expire before the hunter recovers the animal.

Obviously you don't have much experience with big magnums shooting big bullets very fast.

 

[Philward]

Obviously you don't have much experience with big magnums shooting big bullets very fast.

Apparently.

 

[338weatherby]

Drop?

Sarcasm on how the other guy hits the mat

 

[RogerPA]

That's why I always say don't worry about energy numbers, Concentrate on impact velocity

Mr Bean: I have a "if you were me" question: I just received a box of 124 gr. HH, and a box of 152 gr. HH, with the intent of trying both in a .300 PRC. Early test results indicate I can get an "easy" 3600 FPS out of the 124's, and an "easy" 3400 FPS out of the 152's. At 200 yards they all seem to land right on top of each other, even with the MagnetoSpeed attached, and the coolest thing is, the 212's the gun was built around hit in the same place, but on a 100 yards target. I've never run into anything like that before! My question: Would you then favor the 124's over the 152's? I can see my 500 yard impacts with either, which I've never been able to do with the 212's. Thank you in advance for your input.

 

[Jcook02]

What a plethora of information here. This is exactly why I'm trying different powders with my RUM and push the 230 Berger as fast as I can to try to get the best of both worlds. Obviously not 3800 FPS, but speed kills, but so do Mack Trucks.

 

[ButterBean]

Mr Bean: I have a "if you were me" question: I just received a box of 124 gr. HH, and a box of 152 gr. HH, with the intent of trying both in a .300 PRC. Early test results indicate I can get an "easy" 3600 FPS out of the 124's, and an "easy" 3400 FPS out of the 152's. At 200 yards they all seem to land right on top of each other, even with the MagnetoSpeed attached, and the coolest thing is, the 212's the gun was built around hit in the same place, but on a 100 yards target. I've never run into anything like that before! My question: Would you then favor the 124's over the 152's? I can see my 500 yard impacts with either, which I've never been able to do with the 212's. Thank you in advance for your input.

If it were me I'd run the 124's out to 500' just verify that you have 1800fps there

 

[RogerPA]

If it were me I'd run the 124's out to 500' just verify that you have 1800fps there

Thank You again!

 

[ButterBean]

Thank You again!

Anytime

 

[RogerPA]

Anytime

To follow up: calculated remaining velocity at 600 yards: 124's @ 1965 FPS (3600 FPS @ muzzle)
152's @ 2080 FPS (3400 FPS @ muzzle)
(My back-yard range limits me to 600 yards, so that's my personal limit on game as well.). I'll finish my load development and then verify.
Fun Stuff!!!

 

[jbs2014]

Fascinating topic. There's a whole area of science dedicated to the study of this called "terminal ballistics"; that is, everything that happens from the point of impact to the exit and all in between inside the animal.

Density of the animal is a factor, bone is a factor. But a bullet that hits soft tissue (whether very dense or closer to liquid density) always does the following:

1. Immediate compression and expansion of the temporary wound cavity. Never mind "shock going through blood vessels" nice theory, but don't really know anything about that.

2. Tissue damage takes place not only in the permanent wound cavity (after bullet has passed through) but also in the temporary wound cavity.

3. The reason why higher velocity bullets do kill better than the same bullet at lower velocities is because it makes a larger temporary wound cavity, thus damaging more tissue/organs before exiting the animal. Force of exit blowing more out of the exit hole is also greater with velocity.

A mostly liquid medium can only be compressed so much before it transfers that energy outward. Hydraulic machinery works on a similar principle except that the force is contained in a piston that is directed to a task.

Tissue compression from a fast bullet just expands in the direction of the bullet travel and spreads out in all directions around it. Enough of that on the Central Nervous System and you have animal that goes down immediately even if death isn't immediate.

I wonder how fragmentation factors into what you mentioned and as a factor in incapacitation?