How Penetration and Sectional Density Affect Terminal Performance

[Lennie]

Penetration is a critical aspect of terminal performance. As the great African professional hunter and gunwriter Finn Aagaard once wrote, "Killing power is a matter of biology, not math and physics, and is influenced almost totally by shot placement, accompanied by sufficient penetration."

An Official Journal Of The NRA | How Penetration and Sectional Density Affect Terminal Performance

Penetration is a critical aspect of terminal performance. As the great African professional hunter and gunwriter Finn Aagaard once wrote, “Killing power is a matter of biology, not math and physics, and is influenced almost totally by shot placement, accompanied by sufficient penetration.”

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[Labradorian]

Sectional density is a good read.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Sectional density is a good read.

Probably almost as good as Touched By An Angle.

 

[Nutty4Guns]

Don't read the title of this thread too fast!

 

[Nosferatu]

Probably almost as good as Touched By An Angle.

Only acute angles are allowed to touch me, obtuse ones can straighten right out and save me the reflex.

 

[03A3Sporter]

Aagard was partially right , hemorrhaging is what ultimately kills from a gun shot . However a bullet with good terminal performance makes things hemorrhage much faster . Note that good terminal performance doesn't necessarily mean great penetration .

 

[JohnnyMac]

You said penetration...

 

[The Heretic]

I have often said sectional density is an important factor with regards to penetration of any material (although wood would not be my first choice for testing) - but especially for hard matter, like bones and cartilage.

Bullet diameter doesn't matter much IMO - the difference between a .44 (.43 actually) and a .22 being less than a quarter inch - and if the .22 penetrates far enough to get to the brain, heart or spine, and the .44 does not, then which is better?

 

[Certaindeaf]

I have often said sectional density is an important factor with regards to penetration of any material (although wood would not be my first choice for testing) - but especially for hard matter, like bones and cartilage.

Bullet diameter doesn't matter much IMO - the difference between a .44 (.43 actually) and a .22 being less than a quarter inch - and if the .22 penetrates far enough to get to the brain, heart or spine, and the .44 does not, then which is better?

The .44 WILL get to the brain, heart or spine.






Lol, I hear what you're saying though.

 

[The Heretic]

The .44 WILL get to the brain, heart or spine.

Standard 240 gr JHPs have been known to bounce off the skull of a brown bear.