ORIGINAL: wyomingtrapper
I still think we are talking about basically the same thing. A bullet with more mass absorbs more of the initial energy from the powder burn. Velocity is a measure of energy. I expect, and it would likely take a physicist to determine the exact point, that there is a point where a larger, heavier, slower bullet; and a faster, smaller, lighter bullet, would provide the same amount of energy at impact.Both weight and velocity (as well as how the bullet mushrooms and holds together on impact) affect the amount of tissue damage done. That is one reason why the heavier arrow vs. faster arrow--which penetrates best--is always debatable. At the same speedof impact the heavier arrow will penetrate better (all other things being equal). Some people get good penetration with light arrows and I expect they have fast bows. Others shoot slow bows, but get great penetration with heavy arrows.
When you say"the bigger and faster, the more tissue damage", are you saying because of a deeper larger wound channel? I propose that the damage goes well beyond the wound channel. I've field dressed deer that had been double lung shot in which the lungs where basically destroyed beyond fragments. I've also seen deer with the same shot placement with a smaller caliber in which the lungs remained relatively intact.
Yes,I think.
A heavier slower bullet will penetrate more than a smaller faster one, but likeI said a deer doesnt require a 45-70 to get penetration. However higher velocity's do create more tissue damage. Take any given projectile and the faster you push it the more the bullet will mushroom AND cause more tissue damage, not only from the diameter but the shock wave of the velocity.
A 150gr bullet ,say from a 30-06 wil have less damage than say 150 gr from a .300 mag, because of the slower velocity.
Like I said were talking whitetails here, were not getting into penetration. both will pass through a deer but the wake of the higher velocity ( not energy) leaves more tissue damage. You can have a slowerbigger bullet,with more energy and more penetration but a smaller bullet at higher speeds can leave more disruption of tissue, than the heavier bullet, but at the cost of less penetration. I believe in matching calibers to the size of animal your shooting. I belive a 30-06 offers no more on whiteails than a .243. But does offer more on say, a moose. ( penetration )
I use a .243 exclusively and have for 25 years, it liquifies lungs on deer, some drop some run, no more than 40 yds, ever.
I thinkbiiger sometimespierces rather than disrupts, now you can use a lot softer bullet insay the30-06 to get it to blow up, and thats exactly whatI think is needed if you were to use a 30-06 on whitetails, balistic tips would be my choice. Not nosler partitions, that would be for big game. Smaller calibers are perfect for whitails. a 30-06 is a big game gun in my book, 270 on down are deer rifles and have been for a long time, untill recently, when people want the biggest baddest. Which really offer no more on whitetails. Maybe extended ranges is all.
A slow heavy bullet will have more energy than a smaller faster bullet, but will offer less tissue disruption but more penetration.