The last 8 or so years I’ve been a fan of using rapid expanding bullets over more traditional hunting type bullets. This is due to the rapid of transfer of energy from bullet to animal resulting in quick kill. Mostly using 6.5 mm and 6mm cartridges. Until reading this thread and my experiences this fall I thought or assumed ft lbs of energy played a bigger role then it does and not even paying attention to the velocity thresholds for proper bullet performance.
Late last summer I bought a 300 PRC, because why not. We shot 7 deer with it this fall and I thought I’d share a few of the results to maybe dispel the thought of needing a certain amount of energy.
I’m shooting a 205 gr Berger elite hunter bullet leaving the barrel at 3003 fps. What I expected form this round was pass through shots with massive trauma. By massive trauma I’m talking large exit holes and lots of blood loss. What we experienced was not large exit holes with trauma not much different from what is pictured in this thread with a caliber on the opposite end of the spectrum.
This deer was unexpectedly close, 25-30 yards. Deer ran about 80 yards and died. No blood until he fell over. Basically zero meat loss.
Impact velocity : 2959 fps
Foot pounds of energy : 3987 ft lbs
Entrance Hole
Exit Hole
Bullet recovered under hide on exit side. Yes almost 4000 lbs of energy and no pass through.
This deer was about 125 yards. CNS shot. Quartering away entrance through left shoulder (no pic of that.) Dropped in tracks. Zero external bleeding. Basically zero meat loss again.
Impact speed about 2825 fps
Energy about 3630 ft lbs
Exit Hole.
Bullet again recovered just under hide. Again lots of energy and no exit.
Again posting this for those who think mega foot pounds of energy is the golden ticket, which for a long time I also thought was the key.
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