Terminal velocity

mt terry d

WKR
Shoot2HuntU
Joined
Jul 18, 2023
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From what I gather 1800 FPS is the minimum velocity recommended for proper bullet performance
on game.

Seems that's an "industry standard".

So are bullets that are "not recommended for hunting", such as the 223 77 TMK.
made to different specs as "hunting" bullets, focusing only on flight performance?
Are they tested for different qualities?

I'm suspicious of this "one size fits all" hunting bullet performance standard;
doubtful that every bullet is only highly reliable above 1800 fps.

How is minimal terminal velocity actually tested; what % of acceptable performance is, well, acceptable?
If it's not tested, why the arbitrary number?

Looking to learn.
If this is covered elsewhere point me in that direction; I have looked without success.







If this has been covered elsewhere please point me in that direction
 
That’s what a lot of manufacturers will say for a minimum velocity, but a lot of them are lying. As form has noted somewhere, their idea of expansion (sometimes) at 1800 is a nose deformity that doesn’t make the projectile any wider than caliber-sized.

Other than that, you see 1800 FPS on Rokslide a lot because most of us are shooting tipped match bullets that are legitimately good to 1800 FPS. A Barnes TSX, for example, at 1800 or even 2000 will barely do anything and may end up looking like a FMJ while a TMK or an ELD-M will still upset reliably make a nasty wound.

Minimum upset velocity is 100% projectile dependent. To know what your specific projectile will do at a given impact velocity you would need to consult legitimate ordinance gel testing, or necropsy photos on here or elsewhere to have an idea about how likely a given effect at a given velocity is.

Hornady is nice because if you look hard enough on their website you can find a lot of their testing at different impact velocities in legitimate tissue simulant (ordinance gel) for a number of different projectiles.
 
Never apply blanket rules to broad subjects.

I like to take coyotes at longer ranges to figure out what my bullet is doing. I've posted a pic of a bull that I shot at somewhere close to 1800fps and it broke both scapula and pancaked him.

I'm 100% confident that 1700 would have been fine.
 
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