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Muzzle Energy

agloreaglore Member Posts: 6,012
edited April 2002 in General Discussion
Ok, how many out there get razzle-dazzled by the foot pounds of muzzle energy that the manufactures put in the ballistic charts.

I for one do not. I hunt a lot of big game with handguns in which the ammo I load would not have enough muzzle energy to kill what it is that I am shooting if I listened to all the gobbel degoop the experts proclaim I need to kill such and such an animal. Who really believe that 1000 foot pounds is required to kill a deer? Or who believes that it really requires 2000 foot pounds for larger animals such as Elk and Moose?

Not me. Not now, not never

AlleninAlaska aglore@gci.net

How would you rather die, 10,000 foot pounds of muzzle energy in the BUTT or a sharp knife in the HEART?
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Comments

  • Tailgunner1954Tailgunner1954 Member Posts: 7,734 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Al: I only resort to the energy figgures when someone is way out in left field Example being the clerk at the ammo counter that was trying to convince a custumer that a 22 Hornet was a good 300 yd deer cartridge.
    The guys that feel they need at least a 338RUM for 50yd deer hunting I just shake my head and walk away.
    Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.
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  • BoltactionManBoltactionMan Member Posts: 2,048 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Al, you are absolutely correct. Energy figures are skewed sometimes by the formula and it effect of squaring velocity. I have been reading a lot of African hunting books lately and all the old cartridges these guys swear by are SLOW!(by todays standards) But they all used big caliber, heavy bullets and penetrated deeply. (This within reason, describes handgun cartridges)

    Most of our old time cartridges were not firecrackers but people killed game with them for years. It all calls for a little common sense, if you can hunt in close you can use all kinds of guns. If you want to shoot at 500 yards, your choices are limited. If you want to shoot at 500 yards, most of us need our heads examined.

    I remember an old Jim Carmichael column where the guy wrote in and asked about an elk caliber. He said his guide told him to get a new gun his .270 wasn't good enough. Carmichael's reply, "You don't need a new gun, you need a new guide"

    Man I talk to much.

    KC
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