Tra3
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For archery hunting I am a big proponent of high momentum arrows (heavy, more front of center weight). For rifle hunting so much is focused on muzzle energy to the exclusion of what happens at impact. We know that a .22-250 can get over 1500 ft/lbs of energy, but no one picks that to hunt bigger animals with, like elk. There is simply not enough momentum to push that bullet through.Me too
I do not have that experience yet, but the physics of momentum say it should, assuming all other factors are more or less equivalent...
To continue with "Doctari" Robertson, he captures this in the following table:
View attachment 391621
K. Robertson. Africa's Most Dangerous, p. 135
The Woodleigh Weldcore RNSN (round nose soft nose) is a high quality bonded bullet with fairly thick jacket, not just a glued together cup & core like so many "bonded" bullets nowadays, so, like the AFrame, it has very high weight retention. Assuming that the RNSN and TSX both expand to about the same diameter and they both retain about the same weight percentage, and assuming they are both sent at typical speed for the weight, the 350 gr will out penetrate the 300 gr because of its significantly higher SD and higher momentum.
This being said, let us be clear: any quality 300 gr .375 H&H bullet (TSX, AFrame, Weldcore, etc.) has not only enough penetration for a shoulder/lungs/heart side shot on buff, but possibly too much. The discussion really is more relevant to follow up solids on run away rump shots.
View attachment 391630
K. Robertson. Africa's Most Dangerous, p. 126
And of course, we could not omit the famous conclusion:
View attachment 391623
K. Robertson. Africa's Most Dangerous, p. 136
Actually, the .375 H&H is even more of a one-rifle-safari rifle if you consider using two bullet weights and two scopes (to avoid confusion).
My own semi-weight .375 H&H R8 barrel wears:
--- one Leica ER i 2.5-10x42 with BDC ring custom engraved to the 300 gr TSX clocked in my barrel, and sighted with 300 gr TSX for any PG out to any reasonable hunting distance, and buffalo in herds. It also shoots very well faster-opening 300 gr Partition for cats;
--- one Leica Magnus i 1-6x24 sighted with 350 gr Woodleigh FMJ solid for elephant and hippo, and 350 gr Woodleigh RN SN (round-nose soft-nose) for hippo body shots - the RN SN and FMJ shoot to the same point of aim.
I am taking this second configuration as a backup to my K gun .470 for my trophy elephant hunt in Zim this coming August (in case a dream 60 pounders walks across an opening we cannot approach to less than 50 yards - yeah, I know, one can dream...). This would also be my first shot / follow up shots combination for dagga boy outside of a herd, should I not use the K gun.
I appreciate reading this post, in reminds me to worry less about muzzle energy and more about the right combination of weight and speed.
Which brings me to my question: why does the .257 weatherby kill so effectively? The momentum calculation includes speed, but bullet weight is more important in the math, right?