The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - why not heavy grains for SD ammo or for whatever?

MLeake · September 28, 2010, 07:12 AM

Two separate issues, sorry for the confusion.

125gr vs 158gr at similar velocities was the first issue; we were talking hot loaded 158, not mellow loads. Given similar velocities, the heavier bullet should expand as well as the lighter, and penetrate further (which may be good, if penetrating an arm or barrier, or bad, if penetrating a BG and traveling through the neighborhood).

The hunting comment had more to do with rifle velocities, and was kind of a sidebar. A .45-70 will make a big permanent wound channel, but tends to create less bloodshot meat around the wound channel than does a .270 or .30-06 (smaller bullet traveling around 1000fps faster).

At handgun velocities, most ballistics experts don't seem to anticipate similar hydrostatic effects.

September 28, 2010, 07:12 AM	#30
MLeake Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2007 Location: Outside KC, MO Posts: 10,128	therealdeal Two separate issues, sorry for the confusion. 125gr vs 158gr at similar velocities was the first issue; we were talking hot loaded 158, not mellow loads. Given similar velocities, the heavier bullet should expand as well as the lighter, and penetrate further (which may be good, if penetrating an arm or barrier, or bad, if penetrating a BG and traveling through the neighborhood). The hunting comment had more to do with rifle velocities, and was kind of a sidebar. A .45-70 will make a big permanent wound channel, but tends to create less bloodshot meat around the wound channel than does a .270 or .30-06 (smaller bullet traveling around 1000fps faster). At handgun velocities, most ballistics experts don't seem to anticipate similar hydrostatic effects.