Hunting Bullet Metrics

Apply Terminal Performance Truth

Table of Contents
  Table of Contents
  
    SectionPage

0Abstract2
0Report Warnings and Disclaimers2
0Introduction3
0Report Contents5
0Hunt Objectives6
0Background Information7
0The Defined Hunting Problem Used to Select Bullets with Attendant Chambering8
0Screening of 30-Caliber Candidate Bullets for Field Terminal Performance Evaluation10
1Bullet Nomenclature and Abbreviations10
2Gel Test Results and Their Primary Basis for Application10
3Desired Bullet Terminal Performance11
3.1Specified Terminal Performance Criteria11
3.2Criterion 1) Screening for All Candidate Bullets: EPGW Compliance12
3.3Criterion 2) Screening for the 200 WWC, 240 TSMK, & 220 SPH: Maximum Travel Distance Assessments14
3.4Criterion 3) Screening for the 200 WWC, 240 TSMK, & 220 SPH: Penetration Length Assessments19
3.5Criterion 4) Screening for the 200 WWC, 240 TSMK, & 220 SPH: BSM Assessments20
0Bullets Selected for Field Evaluations21
1General Discussion21
2220 WWC22
3240 TSMK22
4220 SPH24
0Field Procedures25
1Professional Hunter Qualifications25
2Hunting Methods25
3Skinning-Shed Autopsy Methods26
0General Terminal Performance Results27
1Overview of Shots on Game27
2Kill-Shot Distances and Corresponding Impact Velocities27
2.1All Bullets27
2.2200 WWC27
2.3240 TSMK28
2.4220 SPH28
3Kill-Shot Bullet Impact Energy28
4Bones Breached by All Bullets28
5Specific Bones Breached by Kill-Shot Bullets28
5.1All Bullets28
5.2200 WWC29
5.3240 TSMK29
5.4220 SPH29
6Bullet Aim Alignment Deviation29
6.1All Bullets29
6.2200 WWC30
6.3240 TSMK30
6.4220 SPH30
7Kill-Shot Bullet Tumbling30
7.1All Bullets30
7.2200 WWC30
7.3240 TSMK30
7.4220 SPH30
8Vital Organs Breached by Kill-Shot Bullets30
8.1All Bullets30
8.2200 WWC31
8.3240 TSMK31
8.4220 SPH31
9Direct Evidence of Bullet Shrapnel Wounding31
10Indirect Evidence of Bullet Shrapnel Wounding31
11Wound Cavity Volumes Determined from Bloodshot Tissue Surrounding the Bullet Hole (TBSTV)32
11.1Measurements Made32
11.2All Bullets32
11.3200 WWC32
11.4240 TSMK32
11.5220 SPH33
12Wound Cavity Volumes Determined from Bullet Holes (TBHV)33
12.1Measurements Made33
12.2All Bullets33
12.3200 WWC33
12.4240 TSMK33
12.5220 SPH33
13Animal Travel Distances After the Kill Shot34
14Animal “Amped” Just Before the Kill Shot34
14.1Basis for Assessment34
14.2All Bullets35
14.3200 WWC35
14.4240 TSMK29
14.5220 SPH35
15Retained Bullet and Bullet Remnant Data35
15.1All Bullets35
15.2200 WWC35
15.3240 TSMK35
15.4220 SPH36
16Bullet Terminal Penetration Lengths36
16.1All Bullets36
16.2200 WWC36
16.3240 TSMK36
16.4220 SPH36
17Quantity of Bloodshot Meat37
17.1Objective37
17.2All Bullets37
17.3200 WWC37
17.4240 TSMK37
17.5220 SPH37
18Shock38
18.1Definition and General Discussion38
18.2All Bullets41
18.3200 WWC41
18.4240 TSMK41
18.5220 SPH41
19Unusual Bleeding41
20Unusual Tissue Damage42
0Discussion of Terminal Performance Results44
1The Effect of Kill-Shot Bullet Impact Velocities on Field Performance Interpretations44
2The Effect of Bullet Aim-Alignment Deviation on Terminal Performance45
3The Effect of Kill-Shot Bullet Shot Angle, Bone Breaching, and Tumbling on Field Penetration Lengths Through the Thoracic Cavity45
4Comparison of 20% Synthetic Gel Total Penetration Lengths, L(T), to Field Penetration Lengths47
5Comparison of 20% Synthetic Gel Weight Retained and Expansion Ratio Data to Field Values50
6The Effect of Bullet Weight Loss on Field Penetration and Observed Wounding51
7Kill-Shot Bullet Tumbling and Its Effect on Wound Cavity Volume53
8Comparison of 20% Synthetic Gel Test V(ST) to TBSTV Determined from Skinning-Shed Autopsies53
9Comparison of 20% Synthetic Gel Test L(S) to Interpreted Field Values of L(S) Based on Skinning-Shed Wounding Observations55
10Comparison of 20% Synthetic Gel Test I(V) to Volume of Bloodshot Meat Determined from Skinning-Shed Autopsies57
11The Effect of Kill-Shot Bullet Wound Cavity Volume on Travel Distance59
12The Effect of an Animal Being Amped on Travel Distance60
13The Effect of Kill-Shot Bullet Impact Energy on Travel Distance61
14The Effect of Kill-Shot Bullet Impact Energy on Producing Hydrodynamic Shock62
15Terminal Performance Implications Suggested by Graphs 1 & 263
16Terminal Performance Implications Suggested by Graph 364
17The Effect of Kill-Shot Bullet Impact Velocity on Wound Cavity Volume65
18Gel Test Implications Suggested by Table 3, Table 4, Graph 1, and Graph 266
19Terminal Performance Implications Suggested by All Graphs67
20Hydrodynamic Shock Implications Related to Bullet Impact Energy67
21The Relevance of Using Bullet Expansion Ratio to Both Predict and Evaluate Field Wounding67
22The Potential for Blood Hammer to Degrade Edible Meat Quality69
0Summary Conclusions70
1Did Guppy metrics obtained from testing hunting bullets in 20% synthetic gel reasonably predict field terminal performance and skinning-shed observations of thin-skinned African plains game?70
2Was there an identifiable and logical relationship between wound cavity volumes determined from skinning-shed autopsies and travel distance after the kill shot?74
3Was there an identifiable and logical relationship between bullet impact velocity and wound cavity volumes determined from skinning-shed autopsies?74
4Was there any apparent and reasonable relationship between a bullet’s impact energy and travel distance after the kill shot, wound cavity volumes determined in the skinning shed, and what hunters typically call hydrostatic shock?75
5Did a bullet’s field weight loss adversely affect its penetration through vital organs?76
6Were bullet penetration lengths, weight retentions, and expansion ratios determined from testing in 20% synthetic gel representative of actual field values?77
7Did shrapnel produced by a bullet’s weight loss result in observable/beneficial wounding and tissue bleeding?78
8Does the Guppy model, combined with testing in 20% synthetic gel, need any modifications to better empirically predict field terminal performance based on field observations and data?79
9Can the Guppy model, combined with testing in 20% synthetic gel, be used to empirically evaluate any terminal performance objective based on a defined hunting problem using specific bullets from any specified chambering?79
10How did the selected 30-caliber bullets perform on thin-skinned African plains game?81

  

Section	Page
1.0Abstract	2
2.0Report Warnings and Disclaimers	2
3.0Introduction	3
4.0Report Contents	5
5.0Hunt Objectives	6
6.0Background Information	7
7.0The Defined Hunting Problem Used to Select Bullets with Attendant Chambering	8
8.0Screening of 30-Caliber Candidate Bullets for Field Terminal Performance Evaluation	10
8.1Bullet Nomenclature and Abbreviations	10
8.2Gel Test Results and Their Primary Basis for Application	10
8.3Desired Bullet Terminal Performance	11
8.3.1Specified Terminal Performance Criteria	11
8.3.2Criterion 1) Screening for All Candidate Bullets: EPGW Compliance	12
8.3.3Criterion 2) Screening for the 200 WWC, 240 TSMK, & 220 SPH: Maximum Travel Distance Assessments	14
8.3.4Criterion 3) Screening for the 200 WWC, 240 TSMK, & 220 SPH: Penetration Length Assessments	19
8.3.5Criterion 4) Screening for the 200 WWC, 240 TSMK, & 220 SPH: BSM Assessments	20
9.0Bullets Selected for Field Evaluations	21
9.1General Discussion	21
9.2220 WWC	22
9.3240 TSMK	22
9.4220 SPH	24
10.0Field Procedures	25
10.1Professional Hunter Qualifications	25
10.2Hunting Methods	25
10.3Skinning-Shed Autopsy Methods	26
11.0General Terminal Performance Results	27
11.1Overview of Shots on Game	27
11.2Kill-Shot Distances and Corresponding Impact Velocities	27
11.2.1All Bullets	27
11.2.2200 WWC	27
11.2.3240 TSMK	28
11.2.4220 SPH	28
11.3Kill-Shot Bullet Impact Energy	28
11.4Bones Breached by All Bullets	28
11.5Specific Bones Breached by Kill-Shot Bullets	28
11.5.1All Bullets	28
11.5.2200 WWC	29
11.5.3240 TSMK	29
11.5.4220 SPH	29
11.6Bullet Aim Alignment Deviation	29
11.6.1All Bullets	29
11.6.2200 WWC	30
11.6.3240 TSMK	30
11.6.4220 SPH	30
11.7Kill-Shot Bullet Tumbling	30
11.7.1All Bullets	30
11.7.2200 WWC	30
11.7.3240 TSMK	30
11.7.4220 SPH	30
11.8Vital Organs Breached by Kill-Shot Bullets	30
11.8.1All Bullets	30
11.8.2200 WWC	31
11.8.3240 TSMK	31
11.8.4220 SPH	31
11.9Direct Evidence of Bullet Shrapnel Wounding	31
11.10Indirect Evidence of Bullet Shrapnel Wounding	31
11.11Wound Cavity Volumes Determined from Bloodshot Tissue Surrounding the Bullet Hole (TBSTV)	32
11.11.1Measurements Made	32
11.11.2All Bullets	32
11.11.3200 WWC	32
11.11.4240 TSMK	32
11.11.5220 SPH	33
11.12Wound Cavity Volumes Determined from Bullet Holes (TBHV)	33
11.12.1Measurements Made	33
11.12.2All Bullets	33
11.12.3200 WWC	33
11.12.4240 TSMK	33
11.12.5220 SPH	33
11.13Animal Travel Distances After the Kill Shot	34
11.14Animal “Amped” Just Before the Kill Shot	34
11.14.1Basis for Assessment	34
11.14.2All Bullets	35
11.14.3200 WWC	35
11.14.4240 TSMK	29
11.14.5220 SPH	35
11.15Retained Bullet and Bullet Remnant Data	35
11.15.1All Bullets	35
11.15.2200 WWC	35
11.15.3240 TSMK	35
11.15.4220 SPH	36
11.16Bullet Terminal Penetration Lengths	36
11.16.1All Bullets	36
11.16.2200 WWC	36
11.16.3240 TSMK	36
11.16.4220 SPH	36
11.17Quantity of Bloodshot Meat	37
11.17.1Objective	37
11.17.2All Bullets	37
11.17.3200 WWC	37
11.17.4240 TSMK	37
11.17.5220 SPH	37
11.18Shock	38
11.18.1Definition and General Discussion	38
11.18.2All Bullets	41
11.18.3200 WWC	41
11.18.4240 TSMK	41
11.18.5220 SPH	41
11.19Unusual Bleeding	41
11.20Unusual Tissue Damage	42
12.0Discussion of Terminal Performance Results	44
12.1The Effect of Kill-Shot Bullet Impact Velocities on Field Performance Interpretations	44
12.2The Effect of Bullet Aim-Alignment Deviation on Terminal Performance	45
12.3The Effect of Kill-Shot Bullet Shot Angle, Bone Breaching, and Tumbling on Field Penetration Lengths Through the Thoracic Cavity	45
12.4Comparison of 20% Synthetic Gel Total Penetration Lengths, L(T), to Field Penetration Lengths	47
12.5Comparison of 20% Synthetic Gel Weight Retained and Expansion Ratio Data to Field Values	50
12.6The Effect of Bullet Weight Loss on Field Penetration and Observed Wounding	51
12.7Kill-Shot Bullet Tumbling and Its Effect on Wound Cavity Volume	53
12.8Comparison of 20% Synthetic Gel Test V(ST) to TBSTV Determined from Skinning-Shed Autopsies	53
12.9Comparison of 20% Synthetic Gel Test L(S) to Interpreted Field Values of L(S) Based on Skinning-Shed Wounding Observations	55
12.10Comparison of 20% Synthetic Gel Test I(V) to Volume of Bloodshot Meat Determined from Skinning-Shed Autopsies	57
12.11The Effect of Kill-Shot Bullet Wound Cavity Volume on Travel Distance	59
12.12The Effect of an Animal Being Amped on Travel Distance	60
12.13The Effect of Kill-Shot Bullet Impact Energy on Travel Distance	61
12.14The Effect of Kill-Shot Bullet Impact Energy on Producing Hydrodynamic Shock	62
12.15Terminal Performance Implications Suggested by Graphs 1 & 2	63
12.16Terminal Performance Implications Suggested by Graph 3	64
12.17The Effect of Kill-Shot Bullet Impact Velocity on Wound Cavity Volume	65
12.18Gel Test Implications Suggested by Table 3, Table 4, Graph 1, and Graph 2	66
12.19Terminal Performance Implications Suggested by All Graphs	67
12.20Hydrodynamic Shock Implications Related to Bullet Impact Energy	67
12.21The Relevance of Using Bullet Expansion Ratio to Both Predict and Evaluate Field Wounding	67
12.22The Potential for Blood Hammer to Degrade Edible Meat Quality	69
13.0Summary Conclusions	70
13.1Did Guppy metrics obtained from testing hunting bullets in 20% synthetic gel reasonably predict field terminal performance and skinning-shed observations of thin-skinned African plains game?	70
13.2Was there an identifiable and logical relationship between wound cavity volumes determined from skinning-shed autopsies and travel distance after the kill shot?	74
13.3Was there an identifiable and logical relationship between bullet impact velocity and wound cavity volumes determined from skinning-shed autopsies?	74
13.4Was there any apparent and reasonable relationship between a bullet’s impact energy and travel distance after the kill shot, wound cavity volumes determined in the skinning shed, and what hunters typically call hydrostatic shock?	75
13.5Did a bullet’s field weight loss adversely affect its penetration through vital organs?	76
13.6Were bullet penetration lengths, weight retentions, and expansion ratios determined from testing in 20% synthetic gel representative of actual field values?	77
13.7Did shrapnel produced by a bullet’s weight loss result in observable/beneficial wounding and tissue bleeding?	78
13.8Does the Guppy model, combined with testing in 20% synthetic gel, need any modifications to better empirically predict field terminal performance based on field observations and data?	79
13.9Can the Guppy model, combined with testing in 20% synthetic gel, be used to empirically evaluate any terminal performance objective based on a defined hunting problem using specific bullets from any specified chambering?	79
13.10How did the selected 30-caliber bullets perform on thin-skinned African plains game?	81