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Historically, the discussion of how a bullet affects the target has been a contentious topic. The source of contention was and is, as with most things, ignorance.
Lets take a look at terminal ballistics for two hypothetical rounds:
First, I want to make a point that is usually not made clearly. Bullet #2 has the same kinetic energy as bullet #1, but it has 50% more momentum. Think of it as the difference between a little rock hammer and a pickaxe both being swung by the same arm.
For thorough practical discussion of the topic, I can think of no better reference than Julian Hatcher's Textbook of Pistols and Revolvers.
Lets take a look at terminal ballistics for two hypothetical rounds:
- 135gr bullet at 1500fps (357 magnum)
- 300gr bullet at 1000fps (44M or 45LC)
First, I want to make a point that is usually not made clearly. Bullet #2 has the same kinetic energy as bullet #1, but it has 50% more momentum. Think of it as the difference between a little rock hammer and a pickaxe both being swung by the same arm.
- Ballistic Pendulum
A ballistic pendulum is a target that is designed to measure kinetic energy. An ideal ballistic pendulum would record a value exactly proportional to the kinetic energy of the projectile. In real life, it doesn't work, because the bullet and pendulum both deform, dissipating energy in complex ways. Ballistic pendulums are only accurate at relatively low velocities.
- Metal plate hanging on a chain
What the heck?! Where did I get this from?! Well, it's what we non-ballisticians usually have ready access to, and it happens to demonstrate differences due to momentum pretty convincingly. The 135gr high velocity bullet will dance a 5 lb plate noticeably. The 300gr bullet will swing the plate clear up over the bar that the chain is hanging from. Hmmm... interesting. Why is that? Well, the terminal behavior in this case is dominated by momentum transfer from the bullet to the plate - The 300gr has 50% more momentum, and the more massive bullet at a lower velocity transfers momentum more efficiently over time. The time dependent components are described as "kinematic" effects. A complex topic I will leave for independent study if you care to pursue it.
- Small animal
Considering something like a rabbit, the small high velocity bullet hitting it center of mass has at least the possibility of blowing it to bits due to cavitation (temporary wound channel expansion), an effect whereby water vaporizes momentarily under a high shear gradient - And the collapse of the "bubble" is so rapid that it creates a shock wave that damages even more tissue than the preceding shear wave. The rabbit may not explode most of the time, but it can happen if the temporary cavity is not contained by the body. The big slow bullet #2 goes right through, bruising, crushing, and smashing it's way along a nearly straight path, leaving a couple of big holes at each end.
- Medium to large animal
The small, high velocity bullet will generally produce a large temporary wound channel via cavitation, and then follow an unpredictable path, doing more or less damage. The large, slower bullet will tend to do the same thing it did to the small animal, tending to follow a straight path. The relative effects of the two offer no basis for comparison that I can see, though Julian Hatcher gives the nod to the round with the larger sectional area, momentum being equal.
Do note that the examples were chosen to exclude well known differences between pistol rounds and rifle rounds at velocities sufficient to produce shock waves in water, which occurs at roughly 50% of the speed of sound in water, or about 2400 fps.
For thorough practical discussion of the topic, I can think of no better reference than Julian Hatcher's Textbook of Pistols and Revolvers.
