In the end its the wound left by the bullet that counts and there are a lot of veriables to get there.

But the longest and widest wound is the most deadly. And that means penitration, which means momentum. Momentum isvelocity Xmass andmass belongs to the bullet. So for two bullets of equal momentum the bullet with the most weight wins. Because more of its momentum isexpressin mass and it maintains more of its momentum while the lighter faster bullet sheds is momentum. KE is stored energy expressed in foot pounds which is a two dimentional measured which has no value by its self and nothing to do with momentum.

Now its back to prespective. Forgame less than 200 lbs most sporting rifles can (but not always) drop them right there with velocies over say 2600fps. But so will the same calbullet at 2000fps? Next as the game gets bigger inflated energy numbers by high velocity don't mean squawt.Unless thats a 50 cal BMG round at +2800fps and than its ganna matter even to an elk. Because its from a bigger bullet, Make that a 3600fps 25cal not so much.

So do I think a 200lb deer hit with a 180gr 308 cal bullet that propery expanded at 2500fps would die faster if it were hit by a 180gr 308 cal bullet that properly expanded at 3100fps. NOits dead. That why high velocity magnums don't make a differance untill your shooting past say 300 yards, where there flater trojectories and suitable energys at those extended ranges work. Work the same as standard cartridges do at less than 300yards.

Back to the wound. Arrows just like bullets can kill by massive and instintaniousdrop in blood pressure called shock, its not the shock of the bullet. Arrows have no energy or velocity to speak of but I have dropped bear and deer that were on the ground in 2-3 seconds never kicked past 10 seconds. Just read were two 250lbs football players hitting at 15 mph produce like energy levels as most high powered rifles do yet the live. The differance is what was done with that energy. It all goes back to producing a better wound. And I still see the bullets that retain 60%-70% of their weight as the more lethal ones than the 100% er's for this reason. And why how much energy the bullet has left after exiting the animal has little to no bering on the wound it left.

I should point out that more burusing around a bullet hole dose not mean it was more lethal. What counts is how fast the blood pressure dropped and that is usualy faster with less tramaor brusingthan with more. The most DRT shots I have made were with slower velocity rounds that don't damage as much meat for table fare but the eat right to the hole.Thesewounds did cause extream internal and external bleeding. Thats why sharp broadheadswork better than dull ones do.