A bullet like a Barnes X retains most of it's mass when it enters and travels through an animal, and most offen leaves the body; it is able to do this because it retains most of it's mass. A bullet that retains most of it's mass has more momentum and retains more energy to push through the animal's body.

If you have a frangible bullet like a Hornady V-Max it will not compleately penetrate game because it was made to fragment, so it does not retain mass like a Barnes X. The Hornady V-Max bullet is made for varmint hunting.

A bullet's mass that stays together is very important if one wants optimum penetration. Sometimes one does not want total penetration. It all depends on what the situation calls for that's why bullets are constructed to stay together and some are not.

If you get a chance take a look at sectional density (SD), but remember a bullet can have the greatest (SD) possible, but if the bullet does not stay together and retain it's mass (SD) will do nothing for you. I hope I did not confuse you too much. Good luck.

Edited by - handloader1 on 01/02/2003 23:26:35