Does bullet nose profile significantly affect penetration consistency?

[Naphtali]

For years I have believed, without proof, that a bullet with a flat nose of approximately 75 percent of bullet diameter will be significantly more likely to penetrate the flesh, bone, sinew, and so on of larger game animals - without changing its direction of penetration - than pointed and round-nose bullet shapes. My bullet testing on dry clay-backed paper and wet shows when bullets change shape during penetration, sometimes that shape change, aka mushrooming, unbalances the bullet which then changes its direction. But this is penetration of paper. I have no idea whether any testing for this facet of bullet penetration has occurred on animals.
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Interestingly, this research has been done for bow hunting by an American retired optometrist named Ashby. Doctor Ashby retired to Australia where he conducted (is still conducting??) research to identify shape and weight of broadheads that are most effective on extremely large game. "Extremely large game" in this case means Asian buffalo in Australia's Northern Territory. Although testing was oriented for traditional bows, compound users can use his data equally effectively.
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I have not shot a jacketed bullet in handgun or rifle in decades. While my query and paper testing has occurred only with cast bullets, I cannot identify a reason why if a pattern exists, the pattern will not include jacketed bullets. The only time a non-lead bullet was included in testing was to compare effect on paper of my .72-caliber conical load from my double rifle with a Barnes Triple Shock 150-grain .30-caliber bullet at chronographed 2900 ft/sec, a load that had killed more than ten elk.

[Nevada Ed]

Back in the 70's, shooting rags wrote about bullet shapes and hunting.

A lot of talk was about what was the best bullet to use in the forest.
Was the Round nose better than a Spitzer when it came to a branch or twig.....
or good heaves a rib bone?

So what are the odds of hitting a rib bone dead on, any way?
Now I can understand hitting a heavy shoulder bone!!

I have no idea, as per which is best but I do know a FMJ 9mm will generally over penetrate.

[ruggyh]

The answer is yes.

Plenty of research has been conducted by guys like Michael McCourry and other with regard to shape, weight and construction.

Choose your bullet wisely.

be safe
Ruggy

[elpac3]

There is quite a bit of data sitting out there from the DOJ and FBI on bullet shape and performance on human targets.

As Ed noted, the gun rags have published more on this topic than one can digest often times perpetuating the myth of "brush busting" bullets.

The new copper bullets with ballistic tips open up and work like a drill bit at 32,000 rpm from my .270. Have not seen evidence of a change of course once they enter.

[b79holmes]

I recently saw a video series on youTube where a guy tried to test the 'brush rifle' theories placing a target in the woods and shooting thru the brush with both tradition brush cartridges and common spitzers.

I can't quote exact calibers from memory but the traditional brush calibers won buy a significant amount. Spitzers would deflect and miss the paper target, or be up to a foot off the point of aim.

[gwpercle]

Elmer Keith wrote about the SWC penetrating straighter through game (deer and elk) than round nosed ammunition.
He claimed the SWC killed better. His theory was when the bullet encountered bone , the sharp edge of the SWC cut a hole while the round nose was diverted ....Since he had a whole lot more experience than me so I'm going to go with Elmer and the flat nose penetrates straighter in game theory .
This information can be found in two books " Sixguns" and "Sixgun Cartridges & Loads".
Now Keith was writing about handguns not bows and arrows, rifles or 72 caliber double rifles...all bets may be off on these .
I do believe a bullet with a flat nose, like the SWC or FP , is better for taking game at moderate ranges .

Gary

[Joe4d]

I say hogwash.
I have shot lots and lots of things going back about 40 years. roundnose, hollowpoint, Cast SWC, Hornady XTP. Pointed S oft tip spitzers, Accupoint rubber tip jobs, Barns X bullets, Speer flat nose 45/70 hot cores
You know what each and everyone of them have in common ?
They go in one side and come out the other in a pretty near straight line.

[SMSgt]

^^ Well, that settles that!