Hunting & Fishing Terminal bullet performance

[chad cochran]

I prefer to shoot game with the terminal performance of the bullet expiring inside the game animal. Which do you prefer for big game hunting

1. Bullet pass through - terminal pefomance ending outside animal

2. Bullet penetrating through vitals- terminal performance ending inside animal

please include why

 

[SavageSlayer]

Re: Terminal bullet performance

I prefer the bullet to pass through because it leaves a better blood trail.

In my experience with whitetail deer this has been the case. With no exit there was no blood trail. With an exit there was ample blood trail. I'm basing my statements on my own hunting experiences, and those have all been broadside shots at about 100 yards and POA/POI was the very top of the crease in the leg, behind the shoulder, where heart and lungs intersect. I have observed that whether the bullet exits or not the deer do not make it more than 40 or 50 yards before expiring. In thick woods and brush a blood trail is important.

I think there is too much hype on energy and it's killing potential. Don't get me wrong, I know it is important to a certain extent, but shot placement and bullet construction are far more important. We have to remember that tissue destruction and damage is what kills, not energy. If energy was that important, archery hunting would be ineffective. Arrows and bolts (with broadheads) kill through massive tissue destruction not through massive energy transfer.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Terminal bullet performance

I have had good experiences both ways, sure it makes sense to pass through leaving a good blood trail, but the few animals Ive shot that didnt went right down anyways.

 

[Nortex]

Re: Terminal bullet performance

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: T-Money</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I prefer the bullet to pass through because it leaves a better blood trail.

In my experience with whitetail deer this has been the case. With no exit there was no blood trail. With an exit there was ample blood trail. I'm basing my statements on my own hunting experiences, and those have all been broadside shots at about 100 yards and POA/POI was the very top of the crease in the leg, behind the shoulder, where heart and lungs intersect. I have observed that whether the bullet exits or not the deer do not make it more than 40 or 50 yards before expiring. In thick woods and brush a blood trail is important.

I think there is too much hype on energy and it's killing potential. Don't get me wrong, I know it is important to a certain extent, but shot placement and bullet construction are far more important. We have to remember that tissue destruction and damage is what kills, not energy. If energy was that important, archery hunting would be ineffective. Arrows and bolts (with broadheads) kill through massive tissue destruction not through massive energy transfer. </div></div>

I agree completely, energy dump is a nice theory but nothing more.

 

[KHill3611]

Re: Terminal bullet performance

I would rather have a pass threw for blood trailing. I've killed deer where the bullet didn't pass threw trailing was tough. In my experience shot placement is vital.

 

[chad cochran]

Re: Terminal bullet performance

Wow, your answers took me by surprise. I have concentrated on seeing how the bullet performed by removing it from the animal. I have had alot of pass throughs and felt disapointed for not being able to see how the bullet performed. In both cases I was standing over a dead animal. I like your comments and appreciate your feedback.

thanks-

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Terminal bullet performance

You have to hit your mark before any of this becomes relevent.

Honestly, when I can do that, I put my trust the system and reapply as needed.

Either outcome is useful, I play no favorites.

Greg

 

[SilencercoJames]

Re: Terminal bullet performance

i have never shot an animal where the bullet didnt pass through. I was totally surprised when my 140 amax blew right through my cow at 500yds.
Cant wait to see what this year brings.

 

[Ledzep]

Re: Terminal bullet performance

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Impulse</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i have never shot an animal where the bullet didnt pass through. I was totally surprised when my 140 amax blew right through my cow at 500yds.
Cant wait to see what this year brings. </div></div>

I assume cow elk?

Not very sporty otherwise

I like pass-throughs FWIW. Blood trail and dual exit wounds through lungs is much worse. Less oxygen to the system etc.

 

[gknutson]

Re: Terminal bullet performance

Pass through seems best in my experience. Even if the animal makes it 100 yards the blood trail is usually easy to follow.

I shot one deer with my. 50 cal muzzle loaded. No exit. No blood trail. Not even any blood in my truck after loading him. Not good if he is thick timber.

 

[txgw]

Re: Terminal bullet performance

I don't like pass throughs because they are too hard on hides. I don't like to have to sew up hides before I sell them so one small hole going in is easier to sew up than a big one on the off side. However I shoot in open country and shoot until they are down so I don't worry as much about blood trails.

 

[Strykervet]

Re: Terminal bullet performance

Exit wounds are easier to track and are more lethal, faster killers. It doesn't matter if the round's energy expired in the body or not, the body had x amount of resistance to the bullet and a bullet that stayed in did not have enough force to overcome that resistance, whereas an exit wound indicates the bullet had more energy than the body could resist. The only real issue is that you want the bullet, ideally, to expand fast and release as much energy inside through deformation as it can BEFORE it exits.

There is actually a lot more to it, but that is it in a nutshell. They only reason I could think of ever NOT wanting an exit wound is if there is concern for what is behind the target.

 

[g3guns]

Re: Terminal bullet performance

I've had experience with both, personally I prefer the pass through shots on large game. Iv'e had not problems retrieving game from non pass through shots, but that was for the simple fact of shot placement and the animal dying quickly within sight. Blood trails are beneficial for tracking if the shot placemnent was off and a follow up shot is necessary.

 

[Fuzzy Bunny]

Re: Terminal bullet performance

I'm with everybody else, and prefer a pass through.

A heart/lung shot deer can easily run 50-75 yards, and no blood trail can make it extremly difficult to find them.