Velocity, Too Much of A good Thing?

SingleShotLover

I'm with Vince on this. A properly constructed bullet with enough mass to maintain inertia traveling at a modest velocity will penetrate more reliably and usually deeper and straighter than a light, high velocity bullet. There's a reason that cartridges such as the 6.5 Swede, 7mm Mauser, .30 WCF, .35 Remington, .35 Whelen, .350 Remington Magnum, .375 Holland & Holland, .300 Holland & Holland, 9.3X62mm Mauser and so many others have such good reputations...they work.

What makes each work so well even when compared to newer, faster, more powerful or more popular cartridges? They all propel long, relatively heavy-for-caliber bullets at moderate velocities from 2,200 to 2,800 fps. These velocities assure a reasonably flat trajectory over most true game shooting ranges while the bullet weights for each caliber are sufficient for deep, straight penetration and controlled expansion. Not for these is the ruined, shot up forequarter of a game animal. They punch clean holes that get to the vitals without resorting to “trick” bullets. As a matter of fact, the common cup and core bullets are right at home with any of these cartridges since velocity is insufficient to strip the jackets from the bullets and distort the softer lead cores. Place one of these in the right place and you have one very dead animal...very quickly.

gelandangan

I am shooting 300 whisper which sends projectile at subsonics.
More often than not, my projectile punches THROUGH the animal I shot at.
I have used a 308 WIN for similar shot and the projectile stays within the carcass.

The relatively lighter 308 Win projector mushrooms and create a bloody mess within the body,
where the much heavier 300 Whisper projectile looks like it could be re used.

I own a few rifles and pistols, so am I a gun-nut?
I would rather be a hunt-nut because for me it is the hunt that attracted me to this sport.
The gun is just a tool to throw something at the prey.
Shooting at long distances (when you could stalk closer) feels to be a tad un-sportive.

My 2c

Vince

Gelan Dangerous wrote:

I own a few rifles and pistols, so am I a gun-nut? I would rather be a hunt-nut...

Gelan....you are like me, and a couple of others here who will remain nameless....we are just plain, ordinary old, every day, run of the mill NUTS mate. Very Happy

Cheers, Vince

PaulS

HEY!
nobody here knows I am a nut....
Its all a rumor - nobody saw nothin'.
There is only two men alive that know I'm a nut - and they're both dead.

(never tell a crazy man with a gun that he is crazy - it gives him an aliby)

Bushmaster

I didn't say a word about your affliction, Paul. Honest....

TRBLSHTR

I am not a gun nut-I am a firearms affictionato,or is that firearms afflicted,affected,confused

Bushmaster

Back to subject. Just remembered that I reduced one of my hunting loads from 2700 fps to 2500 fps just for that reason. It is the 180 grain Sierra BTSP Game King. Much more accurate and is still capable of handling most game animals on the North American Continent...