Bullet Types and Impact Velocities

Huntin_GI

WKR
Joined
Apr 14, 2016
Messages
369
Location
N. Colorado
I struggling to find information on the recommended velocities based on bullet construction. I know alot of guys simply say X speed for X caliber. Here's the thing, you could be shooting a partition, copper monolithic, or led soft point and each of those bullets require a different velocity to perform as designed.

Anyone know of any resources?

P.S. I will be shooting factory .308 ammo and the goal is use a quality round the works well a lower velocities.
 

QuackAttack

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jan 3, 2022
Messages
226
If you find a cutaway of your preferred bullet, it becomes obvious. Thin copper jacket and lead means easy expansion. Thick and tapered to thicker means slow.
 

Sundodger

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
May 7, 2013
Messages
156
Location
Washington
Google image search "Barnes bullet expansion velocity" , "GMX bullet expansion velocity", etc. and you will find some stuff.

As a guy that has gone 100% to copper bullets, I have thought about this a fair amount in regard to what sort of range I am willing to take a first shot at.



Think of the bullet manufacture minimum velocity recommendations (2000 ft/sec is commonly printed for copper monoliths) as a rough rule of thumb.



While impact velocity is directionally correct to predicting bullet expansion, impulse (integral of force with respect to time) is a better model.



Think about it this way a copper bullet hitting an infinitely soft and deep target at 3,300 ft/sec will not expand, but the same bullet hitting an very thick plate of high strength steel at 500 ft/sec will expand more than you want.



So your two variables in hunting for a given load is where you hit on the animals (sail though the rib cage without touching a bone or going though both shoulders) and impact velocity (range). Both will change how much the bullet expands.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impulse_(physics)
 
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