What a bullet does to an animal when it hits

[Duffy]

This is a subject that will bring out a lot of diverse opinions and ideas.

Some people seem to think that a bullet makes a hole and causes bleeding that kills the animal from blood loss and thats all there is to it.

Some hunters put great importance on the "hydraulic shock" the bullet imparts to fluids in the animal and its effect on killing the animal.

There are some interesting terms like "energy dump" and such that add to the confusion.

Lets take off our blinders and instead of looking at one aspect that we may have held for some time, look at the whole picture.

 

[x0ra]

see http://www.youtube.com/user/tnoutdoors9

 

[Dogleg]

Bullets kill by letting light inside the animal. Bigger holes let in more light, killing faster.

 

[JamesM]

Like dogleg said, light kills. This is why smaller calibers should expand and exit for quicker kills by letting light in both sides. The light also travels through the bloodstream, thats why hitting the lungs and or heart kills faster then shooting the liver or paunch, the light reaches the brain quicker.

 

[ryan32]

bullets destroy tissue. the more energy and diameter of bullet the more tissue is damaged. the reaction of the animal is dependent on the tissues destroyed

 

[kyle700]

Bullets kill by letting light inside the animal. Bigger holes let in more light, killing faster.

hahaha that is awesome. never heard it put that way before!

 

[CV32]

Bullets kill by letting light inside the animal. Bigger holes let in more light, killing faster.

I always thought it was letting the 'smoke' out, rather than letting something in. Well, there ya go, learn something new everyday.

 

[glang1]

This is what a bullet does to ballistic gel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQx2eHpDVnE Maybe this is the "hydraulic shock" you refer too?

 

[souwest_ghillie]

Maybe a better perspective can be had by comparing how a broadhead kills to how a bullet kills.

 

[Brutus]

Almost twenty years of varmint & deer hunting in Alberta/Saskatchewan with rifle & bow.
I have no such questions to ask myself.

 

[Dogleg]

I always thought it was letting the 'smoke' out, rather than letting something in.

That's for electronics; once all the smoke escapes they never work again. Valid as it is, its probably best not to confuse the OP.

 

[Duffy]

This is what a bullet does to ballistic gel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQx2eHpDVnE Maybe this is the "hydraulic shock" you refer too?

First off that video stops too soon. I have heard people talk about "the temporary wound channel" and "the permanent wound channel" If the video had continued it would have shown both. Those who feel only the permanent wound channel is important would have seen what really happens with the temporary wound channel and how devastating it appears to be.

I believe that "hydraulic shock" is a little different. As I understand it fluid such as blood in nearby blood vessels is pushed away from the bullet energy down blood vessels and can have a big effect on organs (the brain?) quite a distance from the actual wound channel.

I recall seeing a picture of a deer that was shot in the neck at the time of the shot. You could see "swollen" arteries or veins in the neck away from the bullet wound.

 

[bearkilr]

Maybe a better perspective can be had by comparing how a broadhead kills to how a bullet kills.

Broadheads kill? I thought they were only good at wounding.

 

[Duffy]

Maybe a better perspective can be had by comparing how a broadhead kills to how a bullet kills.

I believe that the way a sharp broad head kills is usually much different from how a bullet kills.

And that is the scope of this thread.

An arrow does not have much energy. Enough to push a sharp head through and animal or at least through enough vital tissue to cause massive hemorrhaging.

Where as a bullet makes a hole that promotes haemorrhaging and maybe does more that that with its energy.

 

[Dogleg]

It's pretty simple really.

Use small, light, fast and soft bullets on small,light, fast and soft animals.

Big, heavy, slow and hard animals are usually served big, heavy, slow and hard bullets.

Beyond that, there really isn't much to know.

 

[altaberg]

The primary thing I worry about is bullet placement.

Softpoint hunting bullet into the vitals and the critter won't get far.

 

[sheephunter]

Bullets kill by letting light inside the animal. Bigger holes let in more light, killing faster.

Yup, pretty much all you need to know right there!

 

[Duffy]

It's pretty simple really.

Use small, light, fast and soft bullets on small,light, fast and soft animals.

Big, heavy, slow and hard animals are usually served big, heavy, slow and hard bullets.
Beyond that, there really isn't much to know.

You make a pretty important, yet simple observation. But have you ever wondered or thought about WHY? or HOW?

 

[facemans]

a bullet will put a hole in something, if that hole happens to pierce an artery or the is big enough it will cause the animal to bleed out, causing death, the other option is that this hole will go through a vital organ like the heart or lungs which will cause that organ to cease or severely decrease its function killing the animal, this is why you can technically use a .22 lr to kill a deer or pretty much anything else, but because of the first option a .22 will be a very slow painful death if you miss a vital organ hence the use of larger bullets, which put a bigger hole in the animal which will allow for a faster, more humane, bleed out if a vital organ is missed.

 

[Dogleg]

You make a pretty important, yet simple observation. But have you ever wondered or thought about WHY? or HOW?

After the first couple hundred I quit worrying about theories and just went with the results. Haveing said that, I'm on the verge of a big break-through with this light thing.