Can Bullets Go Too Fast to Expand?

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Who is Ron Spomer
For 44 years I’ve had the good fortune to photograph and write about my passion - the outdoor life. Wild creatures and wild places have always stirred me - from the first flushing pheasant that frightened me out of my socks in grandpa’s cornfield to the last whitetail that dismissed me with a wag of its tail. In my attempts to connect with this natural wonder, to become an integral part of our ecosystem and capture a bit of its mystery, I’ve photographed, hiked, hunted, birded, and fished across much of this planet. I've seen the beauty that everyone should see, survived adventures that everyone should experience. I may not have climbed the highest mountains, canoed the wildest rivers, caught the largest fish or shot the biggest bucks, but I’ve tried. Perhaps you have, too. And that’s the essential thing. Being out there, an active participant in our outdoor world.
All loading, handloading, gunsmithing, shooting and associated activities and demonstrations depicted in our videos are conducted by trained, certified, professional gun handlers, instructors, and shooters for instructional and entertainment purposes only with emphasis on safety and responsible gun handling. Always check at least 3 industry handloading manuals for handloading data, 2 or 3 online ballistic calculators for ballistic data. Do not attempt to duplicate, mimic, or replicate anything you see in our videos. Firearms, ammunition, and constituent parts can be extremely dangerous if not used safely.
Produced by: @red11media
Disclaimer
All loading, handloading, gunsmithing, shooting and associated activities and demonstrations depicted in our videos are conducted by trained, certified, professional gun handlers, instructors, and shooters for instructional and entertainment purposes only with emphasis on safety and responsible gun handling. Always check at least 3 industry handloading manuals for handloading data, 2 or 3 online ballistic calculators for ballistic data. Do not modify any cartridge or firearm beyond what the manufacturer recommends. Do not attempt to duplicate, mimic, or replicate anything you see in our videos. Firearms, ammunition, and constituent parts can be extremely dangerous if not used safely.

[@TommyboyGTP]

Some people just don't understand the laws of physics. Thanks for another great video

[@MrJonrocker]

You are correct. Laws of physics? Heck, a lot of people cant understand the laws of drinking and driving. Have a great day there!

[@TommyboyGTP]

@@MrJonrocker You got that right

[@chevyon37s]

This is one reason I like Nosler bullets, they have a very simple chart with pictures on their boxes of how much the bullet expands per the velocity.

[@DaveL9170]

Exactly

[@DaveL9170]

The Accubond is amazing!!!!

[@kirkmartin2223]

@@DaveL9170 the partition is one of my favorites as well

[@stevesmith2171]

I love the partition. I got a smoking deal on some 130gr Remington Core locks and loaded them up to the same velocity as the 130gr partitions I'd been hunting with. I took a quartered to me shot on a mule deer with one at 150 yards,it went in it's chest to the left of one shoulder and exited behind the other. It didn't expand. The exit wound was the same size as the entrance wound. I tracked that deer for a long way before I put it down. I went back to the partitions. I'm not knocking the core locks,they just don't give the wound channel of the partitions and are better suited to thicker skinned game.

[@kirkmartin2223]

@@stevesmith2171 See I have shot the same box of 30 year old 170gr coreloks in a 30-30 and they are an absolute game hammer! Out of 14 whitetails harvested I think the furthest one ran, after the shot was 20yds, with 10 out of 14 dropping in their tracks. Some bullets just work in some rifle/cartridge combinations and not in others. I'm sure if I loaded the exact same lot of bullets in a 3006 the results would be very different. In my opinion you have to choose a bullet off of 4 things.... Weight Sectional density Speed Intended target

[@duckcomando7188]

It always comes down to shot placement, that it, period! That's why you can take an large game animal with an arrow. Shot placement.

[@TexanUSMC8089]

Shot placement, and the correct tool for the job. Use the right type of bullet for what you're shooting at. Great elk bullets may not be great deer bullets.

[@jayrobertson232]

It is dependent upon many variables, but all else being equal, bullet design & composition reign supreme.

[@thomashoward9806]

That's why a 243 loaded with 87 gr. fur saver fragments internally. IMR 4350 load. Some deer I have shot tears up everything inside. Usually no blood trail, drop in their tracks. Loading since mid 70s. Outstanding performance matey.

[@grumpygrumpgrump136]

The dog always make the vide better. They just steal the show.

[@practical1372]

Stellar job! The cartridge doesn't fly through the air the bullet does.

[@codyj7532]

Hey Ron, late to the conversation here. I have a relevant story. I made a 300 yard shot on a whitetail with a deer rated 223 round by federal. The bullet passed through the deer with zero expansion. Pencil hole in, pencil hole out. Very luckily it was a heart shot. The bullet was going so slow it just passed clean through. The autopsy was incredible.

[@philp411]

I enjoy your myth busting videos! Once again, you're right on!

[@luvtahandload7692]

Thanks for posting this, Ron. It's always good to see Covey again. When I was very young, I loaded varmint bullets that were intended for 22-250 velocities down to 22 Hornet levels (either in an actual Hornet or 22-250 reduced loads) and they produced nearly perfect mushrooms that did not damage pelts. Later, I loaded highly frangible bullets in a 22-250 Ackley Improved and they didn't damage pelts either because nothing exited the far side. Thanks again, Ron. Looking forward to the next one.

[@JamesTaylor-gz8le]

Yes only with a fast bullet

[@charlesdang2557]

Ron, this is one of the best and clearest explanation of ballistics. You covered differences in bullet weights, bullet construction, and impact energies and speeds. Love it, thanks!

[@jacobackley502]

I believe in P. O. Ackley's "Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders" he wrote about a 220 swift loaded with 43 gr solids loaded at some 4000+ fps. It was shot at mule with a GI steel pot strapped to its head. Even that solid transferred extreme energy leaving about a dozen holes in the steel helmet from bone fragments. Enough speed can make anything an expanding bullet.

[@ernestbrown6030]

Shot a whitetail deer at 564 yards with a 150gr Sierras and just knock the lead off the end of the bullet,what works at 300yards doesn't work at 500 and doesn't work for the longer ranges. Every thing has it's limits. Good video Ron enjoy all of them,instead of just talking about it you show how and why

[@noahhorinek]

Excellent video, Ron. It always bugs me when people talk down on the 7mm rem mag like that and then proceed to use cartridges like the 6.5-300 WBY. It's all just recirculated nonsense they hear at the Co-op in the morning

[@Idahoguy10157]

The 7mm Remington Mag is a good cartridge. We can debate how good compared to other cartridges. But only an idiot would call it no good

[@nmelkhunter1]

@@Idahoguy10157 Well said.

[@nmelkhunter1]

Very well said.

[@Idahoguy10157]

@@nmelkhunter1 …. I’ve never used a 7mm RM. i just hate people making ill-informed declarations about things they’ve based on someone else’s opinions. Especially when they’ve never used the cartridge

[@nmelkhunter1]

@@Idahoguy10157 There does to be a lot of emotions involved in defending hunting cartridges. Mainly by people with very little experience and a lot of preconceived ideas. Take care.

[@oncall21]

Great video Ron. My final take on this excellent topic you've covered is that after all the variables that you've covered the final most important one is bullet placement. The right bullet at the right speed in the wrong place nearly always ends in lost game. Thanks for sharing!

[@claw1952]

Thanks for covering bullet expansion. Most people don't believe in using a good bullet. Varmint bullets are for just that, varmints. Ballistic bullets are just that, ballistic. If you want expansion get a great bullet like a Nosler partition, Serria game king, Barnes TTSX, or a good Hornady bullet, then you get sufficient hemorrhage effect.

[@RT-gv6us]

Ron, this is one of the more (or even most) important videos you have made. Understanding the physics of velocity and terminal performance is VERY important to the hunter who wants good terminal performance of his ammo.

[@bobgordon1754]

Roy Weatherby figured this out prior to WW 2. Everything he made was designed to get the maximum velocity/energy.

[@ralfhtg1056]

Alone that your dog snuk in is worth an extra thumbs up.

[@gizmocarr3093]

Barstool Professors never fail to amaze me with their theories. 😂

[@exelis]

Paul Harrell has a great video on fake "experts". We seem to have too many in the gun community.

[@gabeelkins9059]

@@exelis that's an excellent video made by an excellent creator.

[@wesbarcus3761]

Let's hear your explanation professor

[@chriscosby1561]

Keyboard professionals and badasses never fail to amaze me either there gizmo

[@axeslinger013]

@@chriscosby1561 ditto...

[@drjhunter]

Nice video and this is a real thing . Shot an elk at 500 yds with a 375 cheytac and the copper hunting bullet with hollow tip went through both lungs and out front shoulder with minimal deformation . Killed the elk but now shooting the hornaday A-tip. I just bought a 6.5/300 weatherby for the same ballistic benefits and using weatherbys ammo

[@ericwiitala5407]

Great video Ron. My .270 absolutely loved the Winchester XP3 150 gr. I wasn't happy when they stopped making it. I now have the Winchester Accubonds hoping for similar results.

[@mastafaforga]

Finally someone said it. Ive said for years that theres no such thing as too much velocity for expansion. The bigger the relative speed difference, the more efficient the transfer of force between 2 objects. ie the harder the bullet hits a deer, the harder the deer hits the bullet. Seen a 28 nosler push a 7mm 150gr Barnes solid copper TTSX 3,300fps, and it fully expanded at under 100 yards.

[@404nitro]

Excellent video Ron. Everyone needs to remember that the easiest time for a bullet to deform is when it is going its fastest when it hits. I'd bet a lot that the idea that a bullet needs to slow down in order for it to expand as it passes through game, came from some nimrod that simply chose the wrong bullet for the job at hand and after one or two failures , they came up with what seemed reasonable in their mind as to why.

[@bobgordon1754]

This is one of those cases where somebody says something. Then it ends up being repeated and the next thing you know it's considered the gospel. Breaking in a new barrel falls into this same category. Some knucklehead said it. Someone else put it in print and the next thing you know people are wearing out new barrels with a cleaning rod.

[@robertschreiber2211]

Excellent video @ronspomer this is exactly why I load my 7mm REM Mag with the Barns TTSX going 3,000 FPS. That bullet holds together perfectly and expands violently!

[@darrengarcia4937]

Yes! Velocity really is king for these things. My .270 shoots 130gr at 3200fps and i have seen it blow a deers shoulder out of its socket. Looked like it had been hit with a point blank 45-70.

[@lz3572]

Bullet construction is a key factor with velocity and mass

[@raleighthomas3079]

LOVE THIS! That theory gets thrown around all the hunting social media constantly! The whole concept of heavier bullet construction for bigger game rests on a lighter bullet going too fast at short range ‘blowing up’ and not penetrating to the vitals, so a heavier construction holding together would make it. Velocity=energy, so the faster it hits the faster it opens.

[@bobgordon1754]

There have been many, many cases of cheep bullets that failed to penetrate at close range. Those same bullets would do fine at 300 yds. Bullet construction is the key. There have been an equal number of bullets that did well at close to medium range but failed to expand at 300 or400 yds.

[@magnumcipher4971]

Thanks Ron! I’ve posed this very argument in the comments of a recent video! I think you got the nail on the head with this one. (Hammer reference…). Bullet selection for the game application is the key. I made very poor choices in that arena as a youngster with my 7mm Remington Magnum and the results followed suit. Thanks again for sharing your encyclopedic knowledge with us mortals in a respectful way.

[@drdes9609]

Ron you nailed it.

[@craigschaefer8764]

Thirty years ago, I heard the complaint about bullets going too fast for expansion. I also heard the retort that velocity promotes expansion, which was the side I chose to believe. Thanks for the clarification.

[@Parents_of_Twins]

Those meteorites certainly do expand and make some pretty impressive wound channels as well :) Supposedly there's one of the coast of India that created a 500 kilometer wide crater that hit pretty close to the same time as the one in the Yucatan. Pretty amazing when you think about the energy released in those events, millions of megatons of TNT. One of those rifles that kills, butchers, and cooks the animal all in one shot.

[@georgefloydspaceshuttlepro1839]

Nothing compares to the crater created after Rosie O'donnell trips

[@j.r.6271]

We all love the dog.

[@bcpioneer59]

So glad to see this explained, I have argued with people until blue in the face. Some people just do not get it or understand and there is no way to make them understand. Thanks again Ron

[@thomasdaum1927]

Thanks for applying common sense to bullet performance. There are a lot of wild ideas about bullets out there especially from news shooters and reloaders . The facts don’t lie ! Thanks for all your hard work .

[@markhansen8078]

Every bullet is designed to perform best within a specified velocity range. I would like to see the velocity range included on the bullet box. It would sure make bullet choices and reloading choices so much better and compatible for optimum performance.

[@Lucas12v]

Good video. I'm my experience, bullets can get so fast that they break up too much for some situations but never that they fail to expand.

[@rogerramjet7567]

In my lifetime, the very best bullet in any caliber, at most any speed, is the nosier partition. They never fail, they kill exceedingly well. Always.

[@stevesmith2171]

Yep

[@Me2Lancer]

Thank you Ron, for your clear, concise explanation in answering the question. I resisted opening the video because the answer seemed obvious but felt compelled to see what you had to say.

[@RonSpomerOutdoors]

You are very welcome

[@chriscosby1561]

I think it's relative on composition and quality of the round itself. I've had sabots come out of a .50 caliber muzzleloader with 80 grains of powder that lodged in a deer without mushrooming at all. I've also had .50 caliber sabots that blew apart into shrapnel and barely even penetrated the shoulder. Agree with you completely Ron

[@anthonymartinez3084]

What rifle do you use i personally love the cva optima.

[@chriscosby1561]

@@anthonymartinez3084 yes sir been using the optima pro for years and years but it just got old started having problems after about 10 years and recently bought the CVA Wolf no problems with it whatsoever and it's lighter but I think even today's optima is lighter than the old school. I still pull the old Thompson center hawken off the wall as well shit hundred grains of powder 385 grain buffalo bullet talk about laying the smack down 😂

[@hillbillyscholar8126]

This is a great follow up to the "22 Centerfires for Deer Hunting" video. Well done and thanks Ron.

[@russellkeeling4387]

Wow, I never had that problem with the 7mm mag. I always had trouble with shallow wounds and not enough penetration before the bullet disassembled itself.

[@boostjunkie08]

Favorite deer load is a 257wby with 101gr barnes lrx @ 3700 fps. Expands everytime

[@sigvald11]

Besides accuracy bullet selection is the single most important thing. Great video.

[@bubbacole1657]

Great Video Ron.. I've shot many animals with the 7mm Mag, most have run off, but there dead running and I've had a few drop in there tracks. I agree it's all about the bullet. I shoot 175 gr. Nosler Partitions and only one of many have dropped. I shot a Hornaday interlock, similar to the partition and it dropped a deer where it stood. So truly, bullet is everything..

[@Primer595]

Hi Ron, nice video. Basically energy can also be expressed as Pressure X Wound Volume. An expanding bullet actually hits initially with very high pressure but when it expands to a bigger surface area the pressure drops and the force increases! If energy is Force X Penetration then the high force lowers the penetration. Equally the pressure inversion from high pressure to low pressure causes a bigger volume wound channel. A solid bullet maintains its high pressure and lower force because it does not expand this lower force means that it can penetrate deeper but with a much lower wound volume over the penetration depth. I like the wax medium you used it gives a very clear photograph too. Thanks. Rod.

[@jeffreyfish7666]

Excellent video Ron.

[@paintballthieupwns]

Amazing video - The bullet cavity changing so much from 3500 to 2200 blew my mind! I know about the threshold to get bullet expansion/mushroom but all the examples I have seen was at much lower velocities. Learned a bit today!

[@TexanUSMC8089]

There is a max effective range for every bullet in a specific cartridge. Just because you can hit an animal at 700 yards doesn't mean the bullet will expand. The best bullet for 700 yards might explode at 150 yards.

[@paintballthieupwns]

@@TexanUSMC8089 - For sure - very aware of that. It was the change in behavior at such a high velocity that is surprising. Most bullets will expand if they hit above supersonic but the explosive behavior going away at 2200 was surprising

[@dthunter2506rem]

Thank you Ron for putting this video together! There are sooooo many "wives tales" shall we say, in the hunting/shooting world. These are typically voiced by individuals with limited resources or understanding of physics based data. There tends to be allot of pride on the line for them and often debates like this get heated. We all need to keep an open mind to knowledge and differing perspectives. Many hunters can learn from this video. It is amazing what we can accomplish with sound, clear, correct information! With increased velocity of a bullet, comes increased resistance to all molecules along the bullets trajectory, and target materials. Heck, even the air poses a significant physical barrier to a bullets ability to traverse forward. The increased forces of increased velocity basically increases the relative density (compression) of the atmosphere AND target material proportional to the velocity increase. Cause and effect. For example, I once had a conversation with a fellow well known in the shooting world, Bryan Litz of Berger Bullets. He explained to me how the atmosphere density is actually reduced when the air becomes more humid (at comparable temps). I would have argued that point venomously in years past, but his education, understanding, and back ground is of much higher merit than my own. The air "FEELS" heavier, but actually not so much so. So I took his comments and considered them, and added them to my memory bank for potential future reference. A little while later I was out shooting at 1000 yards with my 308Win. I was vectored in on my target and was shooting a few groups. Suddenly a large mass of dark clouds with a light steady rain moved in from the targets direction and it rained for about 15-20 minutes all around me and the target line. The clouds eventually moved on, and I commenced to shooting again. The ONLY change that occurred in my observations was the moisture content of the air along the target line, and a very small temp fluctuation. The wind was again measured and deemed to be in the same range/direction as before (as best as I could determine with a kestrel at my position) . I casually wondered if the added moisture would slow my bullet more due to the heavier air, and impact lower on the target. NOPE! I had it TOTALLY backwards! The air was "LESS" dense, and my impacts were averaging close to 1MOA higher at the 1000 yard target! Giving me basic real world proof of what Bryan Litz had told me was correct! If I understood it correctly, he explained the physical space that an H2O molecule occupies is vastly larger than the space occupied by the majority of the denser molecules in the gases in the atmosphere. Thus "REDUCING" the relative density of the air. Simply by displacement. Cool eh?! I leaned something first hand that day! Thanks again Ron! Keep the videos coming!

[@IamONaLIST]

I used to say a bullet was going to fast but it really does comes down to bullet construction. I was testing some Hornady Custom 300blk 135gr FTX. At 100yds it hit a 5 gal jug of water and lodged into a box of wet books behind it. Perfect example of lead expansion and only lost one pedal of the copper jacket. Pretty much retained its entire mass.. I did this again at 10 yards. Only the base was left intact. The upper portion of the jacket was completely peeled back against the base or broke off. All the lead was in just little tiny pieces. It has shed over half its mass. I had heard from others here in Louisiana that have been using 6.5 Creedmoor at 100 to 200 yards that they didn't get expansion but straight pass through. I think it's a matter of bullet construction. When it hits, dumping it's energy and coming apart, with only the base passing through, possibly missing vital organs with little to no wound track.

[@andrewlyon4692]

You are so correct sir. Even the controversial caliber 243 being enough for large sized game is all about bullet choice. You can shoot ( very accurately and long range) infrangibles of the same weight of a ballistic tip round and have two totally different scenarios. I anchored two deer where they stood this year with my 243 just using store bought ammunition in 95 grain. Fast is good and bullet placement is the key to getting desired end results.

[@kubotamaniac]

Ron, thanks for your superb video! And your dog is really a star of your videos!!!

[@wdaniel9]

Yes. My 7 Rem Mag went right through an antelope. Still a great cartridge.

[@Mark-uq9km]

I always look forward to your newest posts. You ask the questions I was always afraid to ask. Love it, and thank you. By the way, I was impressed with the penetration of the .30-06 compared to the penetration and expansion of the .300 WSM. I shot my moose from around 200 yards with a .30-06 Remington Core Lokt Green Box, 180 grainer. It didn't take long for him to go down. The bullet never exited so I know all the energy was absorbed by the animal. Muzzle energy is around 2900 ft/lbs so it's not the hardest hitting round a hunter could use. During field dressing we could not find the bullet. All I knew was I cleanly took down a big animal. I'd rather have a lot of velocity as opposed to not enough.

[@Saa45MIV]

You are absolutely right.. I think where people get into trouble with the high velocity magnums is they end up with bullet failures at close range because the bullet they are using are not designed to hold up at those velocity’s.. I have seen this more than once with the hornady interlok bullets in particular.

[@kwamesha3477]

Great info, thanks for sharing. And no worries, your dog's cameo appearance was fine.

[@benoitbrosseau6580]

That must be the best video, whit the best example I seen on the subjet. Thank Ron 👍

[@TLM4590]

10:21 Ron gave advice for men in the two most important aspects of life.

[@missey316]

Ron you are awesome. Always coming up with great material. Thank you for everything you do

[@madmh6421]

I argued d this point decades ago! Wish I had your video then.

[@grantroberts5152]

Keep up the good work Ron! Your videos are fascinating and you explain things so well. Can’t wait for the next one.

[@henrysara7716]

Great Video Ron.

[@craiglacount89]

Spot on! Put the 270 into the discussion as well. In most instances it has a faster velocity than the 7MM rem mag. Mostly because you’re using lighter bullets in the 270 but if it’s too high of velocity you’re knocking then you must knock the 270 as well.

[@justinlowe8038]

Awesome video Ron ! Matching the proper bullet to the game to be hunted and keeping effective shooting distance matched to energy is the key to recovering animals. Bullet technology has come a long way with solid copper bullets.

[@mikecarey207]

Simple explanation 👍

[@brucehiggs8189]

I can't remember who wrote the article many years ago, I remember reading it when I was young over 40 years ago. Several different cartridges were used, with velocities from the slow 45-70 all the way up to the 220 swift at over 4000 fps. They were all shot at a piece of hardened armor. They only one that even made a serious crater in the steel was an old 3006 AP round, until the 220 swift was shot. The author said that over 4000 fps the overall physics change and the small 40 gr soft point 220 swift at over 4000 fps punched a hole clean thru the piece of steel. So it kinda makes you wonder.

[@johnsanders7337]

What I think is best, is build your OWN understanding and place good shots

[@exelis]

I really like the wax medium for illustrating expansion. I would love to see Remington Yellow Jacket .22 tested this way. It is, by far, the best squirrel and rabbit round I have fired from either rifle or pistol... I usually have to stick to CCI 22 Quiets from a rifle, because neighbors, but the Yellow Jackets are much more humane, especially if your shot isn't perfect. (Edit: they certainly wreck soda (tonic/pop/coke) bottles and cans.)

[@Chris_Garman]

They used to be the only thing my dad would buy. Unfortunately, as with everything Remington, their quality is nowhere near what it used to be. I find them to be very dirty also.

[@spudgamer6049]

I've heard that yellow jackets simply aren't as velocity sensitive as other .22 hollow points. IE, they expand at lower velocities than things like stingers or the more traditional 38 and 40 gr hollow points, while not exploding like a varmint round and not penetrating enough at their max velocities either. Having never done any kind of testing on them myself, I can't say if that is true or not. I will say that they will end rabbits, squirrels, and similar size animals very well. They do have at least one down side beyond Remington's QC issues, though. That being, they sometimes have feed issues, especially in semi autos.

[@exelis]

@@spudgamer6049 Never had a misfire, though I bought 500 rounds of it just before the plague of our time, and I still have close to 400. Been saving them only for when really needed. I have mini mags and stingers, but the yellowjackets just work better at dispatching the little guys, and the reasons don't much matter. I prefer a clean kill if possible - I hate seeing anything suffer, even if it just ruined an entire patch of green beans in my garden.

[@spudgamer6049]

@@exelis I've never had a failure to fire or failure to properly extract and eject either, but have had some fail to feed properly in a couple of semi autos.

[@chrisjones469]

Ron is spot on. I like to take the extreme example to demonstrate a concept through a thought experiment. Imagine a bullet striking the blade of a knife. Claiming the bullet expands after the contact with a delayed effect is like saying the bullet passes through the knife edge and then splits in half AFTER passing through the knife blade. I think most of us can agree that this is impossible. The same concept applies to expansion. Obviously a bullet will experience more deformation after passing through 2 pine boards than 1 pine board, thus the amount of material and material properties will all affect expansion through distance, but the function for expansion will not need to factor in a time delay, but distance, force, and material characteristics only. BTW, I love the dog!

[@devinb3397]

Exactly. You’ll get a more dramatic reaction shooting a milk jug with a .22LR than shooting a piece of paper with a 50BMG. the people who claim they zip through sometimes are speaking the partial truth, but their reasons are wrong. It’s because they’re using a tough projectile and putting it behind the shoulder. But they’d also complain if they used a varmint projectile and shot for shoulder and ruined 1/4 of the meat on the animal

[@andybreglia9431]

Bullet placement is most important, expansion is secondary. A good hit with a .30-06 will beat a poorly placed hit from a .577 Nitro every time.

[@G53X0Y0Z0]

A poor hit with a .30-06 using good bullets might beat a poorly placed hit from a .577 Nitro on some occasions.

[@williamwinn948]

But I thought even a near miss with A .577 would explode your head? lol.

[@daveyboy728]

@@williamwinn948 yeah I think 577 nitro might be a bit of a stretch lol. You hit anything with that and it’s dead. Don’t care where it hits lol.

[@Kamdo777]

@@daveyboy728 Hits charging elephant through the ear.....

[@warrengreen3217]

@@daveyboy728 not in a leg no way

[@jeffabernathy1670]

Well said, and demonstrated, sir.

[@cervus-venator]

Good information. I always viewed it as a transfer of energy to create what we referred to as the shock. A fast moving bullet striking the target transfers the energy into the target and the expansion of the bullet is part of this energy transfer. As stated a solid non-expanding bullet at high speed may zip right through the target and a lot of the energy goes with it. However, a bullet designed to expand slows down releasing that energy into the target. Anyway, that's how I always kind of thought of it or viewed it. Nothing technical or researched, just kind of how my uncle tried to explain it to me back in the late 70's when I was first starting to deer hunt and reload. Thanks for the info as always and very interesting.

[@geoffball9547]

Excellent video, my curiosity on this subject has been resolved. Thank you!

[@Bowstringdotcom]

So much good common sense in your videos and some great data to back it up, Thank you sir, great channel.

[@11ccom]

Great info Ron.

[@javaman5464]

Great explanation, Ron. You are very knowledgeable and articulate very well.

[@pastorjosh44]

Helpful, thank you.

[@tldnr]

Really great video. Thank you.

[@aaronsgunsmithing]

There are many pictures out there of different bullets that show the difference in expansion of one bullet at different speeds of impact. Each of those I have seen the faster a bullet is going the more it expanded. Like you said Ron, more kenitic energy helps the bullet expand. I also agree that we need to pick the right Cartridge AND Bullet for the game we are chasing.

[@isaactrujillo76]

The only thing I would add, is speed does in fact kill when it comes to rifle rounds. It’s not just the bullet ‘touching’ that does the killing. But the hydro shock. That’s why there’s so much meat loss around the bullet track. The shock of the temporary expansion creates major damage. But placement on wild game is key!

[@iflystuff1]

Thanks Ron, good reminder that physics still works.

[@ChallisVenstra]

My dad dropped more elk with a 7 rem mag and a 140 Nosler partition (going as hard as he could drive it) than anyone I know. I’ll take a “7 em em” any day. I took my first elk with it. I was 14. Only about a 40 yard shot. Ground pounded that bull. To my 14 year old mind, that was a hell of a gun.

[@seanwhite304]

Nosler Partition IMO works very well with faster velocities. I'm also pretty bias as well because I love Nosler Game Bullets lol..

[@rogertorgersen9995]

My wife shot an elk at about 20 yds with a 6.5 Creedmoor using Barnes ammo. Her second shot at about 80 yds put him down. We found her first bullet under the off side hide and it looked almost new except for the rifling. I've never seen such a thing before.

[@joejohnson-ne2sg]

I agree Ron I have hit a small buck in the heart with a 16gauge slug from 10 yards I gut the heart in half it still climed a 10 fiit briar wall flipped over the top and ran 10 yards. I look for aassthrough to get a good bloodtrail.

[@the_unapologetic_patriot]

I can't even begin to guess how many whitetails I've taken with my 7mm Rem Mag. I've never had one go farther than 15 yards from where it was shot. They usually go straight down. Love the 7mm.

[@jonenglish6617]

Absolutely correct Ron. Science beats anecdote every time.

[@sacerdote4327]

Energy= one half the mass x the velocity squared. Speed is very very important.

[@northwestwildandfree1505]

No. They will expand per design. Like you said a solid won’t. Always enjoy your videos. Thanks!

[@Titan-iw7xv]

Spot on as always Ron!

[@stephenmalcome3797]

Like your video and the explanation.

[@israelsapp7863]

I've never had a problem with the ole Remington corelock soft tips or regular Winchester and I've killed alot of deer😎😎. Awesome video 👌

[@playbytherootz4777]

I shoot 168gr nosler ballistics tip, 30.06, those open up to baseball size exit . Every deer shot within 150yards, had complete pass through. One shot at 213 yards didn't exit but still opened up pretty gd

[@johnjay1147]

If anything, too much speed is bad. For example, hornady eld-x at close range will fragment. Not as bad as a varmint bullet, but the eld-x definitely stays together better at a little further distances. But again, it’s all about the bullets design.

[@edwardabrams4972]

Your right on! The eld-x was made for longer ranges. So if the game your hunting is going to be inside of 200 yards you need to us a Barns X or Accubond. I have seen a Nosler partition 180 grain out of a 300 wn mag fly completely apart on an elk at 75 yards when hitting a bone, but in a 308 or 06 stay together

[@kurtreinhardt6789]

Great informative video- I've heard lots over the yrs knocking down 7mm- from now on I'll suggest that they change bullet type

[@1joshjosh1]

I'm a shooter but not a hunter. I like listening to this stuff. I respect hunting I'm just too lazy to do it. Seems like a lot of work.

[@Dehoffryn]

Excellent video, thank you : )

[@wacojones8062]

I go with Elmer Keith's idea of big, heavy and fast. 180 gr Hornady spire point early type in 30.06 left a 9 inch across exit hole on a shoulder hit on a mule deer. 175gr Hornady spire points in 7mm Rem Mag sheer devastation with good placement I took the horns off a jumping young mule deer buck classic crossing skeet lead with the scope and several other notably one shot kills with the load. Most back in late 60's into middle to late seventies. 400 gr Winchester soft points in 45-70 gave one shot kills of Buffalo with good placement.

[@kweeks10045]

Had a buddy use a 375 H&H on a small South Texas whitetail doe. It looked like a pencil hole in and out, even with a soft nose bullet. That may be an extreme case, but it happens.

[@guardianminifarm8005]

Well done. Thank you.

[@georgefloydspaceshuttlepro1839]

Hit the shoulder blade/joint with any bullet and you'll have an easy follow up shot if the animal ever gets up

[@jurieccilliers]

2000th Like. Thank you for the great and educational content Mr. Spomer.