Imagine stabbing someone with a 1" dowel. Might hurt, probably not going to penetrate. Apply the same force to an ice pick and it will definitely penetrate. Just a matter of surface area the force is applied to.
So I got to wondering, vis-a-vis shooting bears in the head. Seems like it is not just the sectional density of the bullet that would count, to penetrate the skull is a combination of the muzzle energy and the surface area that muzzle energy is spread over. Is it possible that a 357 might have an advantage because it focuses it's energy on a smaller area, thus being more likely to penetrate the skull?
Decided to calculate "Muzzle energy per square inch" that a specific ME and caliber yields. Here's a few numbers in descending order.
12980 30 Carbine, 110g FMJ @ 1990fps
10604 Buffalo Bore 44M +P+ Outdoorsman
6768 Buffalo Bore 357 Outdoorsman
6413 12ga 437g slug @ 1800fps
3696 Buffalo Bore 38Sp Outdoorsman, from 2" bll
I find it interesting that the carbine rates so high and the 12ga so low.
So I got to wondering, vis-a-vis shooting bears in the head. Seems like it is not just the sectional density of the bullet that would count, to penetrate the skull is a combination of the muzzle energy and the surface area that muzzle energy is spread over. Is it possible that a 357 might have an advantage because it focuses it's energy on a smaller area, thus being more likely to penetrate the skull?
Decided to calculate "Muzzle energy per square inch" that a specific ME and caliber yields. Here's a few numbers in descending order.
12980 30 Carbine, 110g FMJ @ 1990fps
10604 Buffalo Bore 44M +P+ Outdoorsman
6768 Buffalo Bore 357 Outdoorsman
6413 12ga 437g slug @ 1800fps
3696 Buffalo Bore 38Sp Outdoorsman, from 2" bll
I find it interesting that the carbine rates so high and the 12ga so low.