Velocity, energy minimums for a clean kill.

[Buckshot85]

Just picked up a 6.5cm for my wife.
We have an antelope hunt in our future.

I have a box of Barnes LRX 127gr coming to try.
I’m curious what is more important on antelope and deer sized game. Velocity or energy?
Barnes’ description says Unrivaled on-game effectiveness at every range. Ok, sounds great. But, the energy really drops off fast.
On the game mentioned above is the energy transfer not really critical but more importantly the expansion of the projectile?

 

[Northpark]

I focus on velocity to ensure expansion. In my opinion energy is less important. My reasoning is that I’ve shot deer with .223rem with a 64gr mono bullet and I’ve shot deer with my .300 Win mag with mono bullets. The deer died just as quick from both. I think if you have sufficient velocity to ensure expansion with your chosen projectile you’ll have plenty of wound channel to kill quickly. If this wasn’t the case why would that .223 hitting with like 900ft lbs kill just as quick as that .300 hitting with 3,000ft lbs? I’ll also add that mass (momentum) plays a role in keeping that velocity going as well as BC and stability, etc.

 

[Deywalker]

There are many more qualified than I to speak on it, but the energy figure is mostly irrelevant. You want to make sure your bullet has an impact velocity high enough to perform well.

 

[Dadandjames]

With Barnes bullets velocity is important, the folks at Barnes are quite helpful. Email them and they will tell you the minimum velocity needed for expansion on any given bullet. If memory serves they claim reliable expansion down to something like 1800fps. Don’t quote me on that though. But with any bullet shot placement is key. The 30-30 has killed many deer bear and moose with well placed shots.

 

[huntnful]

Velocity, especially with a mono metal bullet. 2000+FPS at impact makes them perform great. I haven't looked at "energy" figures in quite a damn while. Just impact velocities to estimate the max yardage of a bullet/cartridge.

 

[z987k]

With my monos, despite any claims to 1700 or 1800fps, I make sure my impacts are 2000fps and energy is all but irrelevant. It's going to pass through anyways, it's not lot you're dumping all that energy into the animal.

 

[Buckshot85]

Thanks, Guys.