Thank you for the excellent answers I read them all carefully. I won’t tag anyone but I’ll summarize the main points I took away from this.
1. While it is passed around a lot online, the notion that there’s a certain velocity (2000fps) where hydrostatic shock causes damage is too simplistic. The construction of the bullet greatly affects the amount of work/energy delivered when passing through tissue so it cannot be ignored. Instead of worrying about this I should just consider what the bullet was designed to do well at what velocity and make sure I am confident I can hit the vitals.
Now that I think of it I have seen a deer hit by a 12ga slug and the damage was not a clean‘pinhole’ that cheap slug ripped a giant hole in it and it had to have been going around 1500fps.
2. I was reading too much into competitive shooters who really have a perfect setup when contemplating my max range. Most shooters are going to want to take ethical shots 300yds on in. I’m hunting with an AR-10 so my goal is to shoot .75-1in groups at 100yds, and about 3in groups at 300yds. I can’t see wanting to take game at much further than that. I’ll see. Most of my shots are 200yds on in and I’m shooting good groups at those ranges.
Thanks again guys I have been dormant a bit but I appreciate you all sharing your knowledge.
1. While it is passed around a lot online, the notion that there’s a certain velocity (2000fps) where hydrostatic shock causes damage is too simplistic. The construction of the bullet greatly affects the amount of work/energy delivered when passing through tissue so it cannot be ignored. Instead of worrying about this I should just consider what the bullet was designed to do well at what velocity and make sure I am confident I can hit the vitals.
Now that I think of it I have seen a deer hit by a 12ga slug and the damage was not a clean‘pinhole’ that cheap slug ripped a giant hole in it and it had to have been going around 1500fps.
2. I was reading too much into competitive shooters who really have a perfect setup when contemplating my max range. Most shooters are going to want to take ethical shots 300yds on in. I’m hunting with an AR-10 so my goal is to shoot .75-1in groups at 100yds, and about 3in groups at 300yds. I can’t see wanting to take game at much further than that. I’ll see. Most of my shots are 200yds on in and I’m shooting good groups at those ranges.
Thanks again guys I have been dormant a bit but I appreciate you all sharing your knowledge.
