Hydrostatic shock does not help kill animals

[Wheels]

I have seen a number of 300# or smaller animals (hartebeest/topi on down) with neat holes punched by a 300g .375 through the thorax with most of the tissue outside of the wound channel intact.

I have also seen a number of animals in the same size range shot by a 60g 220 Swift. I can’t recall a single time when the thorax wasn’t massively jelled.

Regardless of what Barnes says, there is something to hydrostatic shock. Speed kills.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I have seen a number of 300# or smaller animals (hartebeest/topi on down) with neat holes punched by a 300g .375 through the thorax with most of the tissue outside of the wound channel intact.

I have also seen a number of animals in the same size range shot by a 60g 220 Swift. I can’t recall a single time when the thorax wasn’t massively jelled.

Regardless of what Barnes says, there is something to hydrostatic shock. Speed kills.

Now we can all hear it again, "Bullet weight and velocity don't matter, the only thing that counts is shot placement."

So, as I've said before, no one has said that bullet placement isn't the most important thing. It is. It's just not the only thing.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Both shock and penetration contribute to the wound/trauma.

I shot a small whitetail spike slightly quartering away at 100 yards with a 300 WM and a 150gr corelok, running 3300fps at the kuzzle. There was no exit wound and massive trauma. Ribs were cracked off right at the vertibraw, DRT.

I point blanked a 5x5 white tail straight on in the chest with a 280 AI 162 eldx running 2850 fps. Tipped over backwards and died within a few minutes so DRT, but bullet barely made it into the vitals.

I switched to bonded or copper bullets after these experiences as i dont think shots would have worked on elk. I prioritize penetration over shock now a days. Both are important but have trade offs

Well said.

 

[Journey]

Well said.

To emphasize my mindset and trade offs. I went to AK to hunt mtn goats last year. I loaded 150gr acubond long range as they are softer than regular accubond. To me anchoring a goat before he can run off a cliff was super important, so in that circumstance I prioritized shock a bit more. Trade offs are trade offs

 

[Gomer]

I shot this deer at 18 yards with an arrow/broadhead. Complete penetration w/exit and placement was halfway between brisket and backline, so maybe a little higher than I wanted, but easy double lung. He ran 162 yards.

I have never DRTed an animal with a lung shot with an arrow. I have, plenty of times, with a rifle.