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Icky as it is, some of the best data on bullet damage comes from experience treating people wounded in war. All other factors equal, a big fat bullet does more tissue damage. A small fast bullet causes tissue just outside the wound channel to stretch elastically, from which it recovers better than being crushed by a fat, heavy, blunt bullet. | |||
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| <SlimL> |
I don't know about not having it both ways. I have a 240 gr SWC going 1425 out of a 7 1/2 barrelled SRH. I know it's not a real heavy weight but it ain't a light weight either. But yes a big fat slower bullet is better than a light faster bullets. Within reason of course. A 700 fps 320 gr bullet will not work as well as a 1400 fps 240 gr bullet. SlimL | ||
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| <PaulS> |
Depending on caliber the heavier the bullet the more extensive the permanent damage. The limiting factor is that you must maintain enough TERMINAL velocity to penetrate through the vitals for a good chance at killing cleanly with a single shot. There is no magic number for what this velocity should be but there is a formula that Ed Matunas came up with that tells you the approximate weight for an animal that you should be able to kill cleanly with CONTROLLED expansion bullets. He calls it the OGW formula (Optimal Game Weight) but you don't have to calculate anything - just get a copy of the "Lyman's 47th Edition Reloading Handbook" and turn to the article and look for the tables. Now I want to add that I have no gain from either the book or Ed's article. I worked some math years ago trying to find a way to correlate the results that I observed in animals and through the use of my "Fackler Box" when testing loads. I came up with a bit different approach that comes very close to Ed's results - VERY CLOSE. I can't say that I have shot, written, or am as accepted as Mr. Matunas but it is gratifying to see that someone of his reputation has similar calculations to find a way to approximate the single shot lethality of hunting ammunition. PaulS ------------------ | ||
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| <Paul Dustin> |
Neil If you have a 44 Mag you can have it both ways. 240gr XTP N110 22.5gr FED. 150 primer | ||
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| <Neil> |
quote: Thanks for all the useful information to you paul and sliml.. over the pass week I've worked up a load for my Ruger Blackhawk 45 Long Colt with a 7 1/2" barrel it goes like this..300GR JSP Sierra bullet with 6%antimony case pushed by 12.3gr of Unique with a 350 CCI primer.... its a real handful..someday I'll probably wise up and buy a 44 mag and use off the shelf ammo but for now when I'm camping in grizzly country the old colt feels pretty good hanging under my arm...Thanks again for all the good advice...you all stay safe Neil [This message has been edited by Neil (edited 08-29-2001).] | ||
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Moderator |
A good question, but IMHO, you cannot properly choose a load combo if you ignore the game you are hunting. Personally, I think a handgun load should be capable of exiting, so choose a bullet heavy enough to exit the game you are going to hunt, and push it as fast as you want. Now that I'm smitten with the 480, I've settled on moderate velocities, as that is where mine shoots best with cast bullets. I push 310's 1250, 390's 1170, and 435's 1100. I don't think there would be a decernible difference between the 390's and 435's on large game, and I'd take the much milder recoil from the 310's for whitetails. | |||
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| <Neil> |
quote: Paul [This message has been edited by Neil (edited 09-05-2001).] [This message has been edited by Neil (edited 09-05-2001).] | ||
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