Lighter and heavier bullets of the same caliber. Pros and Cons.?

Question

My question is directly portraying to .40 S&W cartridges.
I find cartridges ranging in bullet weight from 135 to 180 grains.
From what I’ve read, statistics seem to lean toward the lighter bullets putting out more energy. Is there a reason why the heavier bullet weights are defiantly better? Does it depend on my application?
I feel as though I’m missing a piece of this puzzle.
Lost in a land of statistics, numbers and figures...

Answer 1

Let me clear that up for you: A light bullet will develop more kinetic energy than a heavy one, because the speed of the bullet is greater.

But! what good is that energy when practically none of it will be expended on the target. High velocity low mass bullets do not have the knock down power of a high mass low velocity bullet.

There was a time when the Army issued .38 caliber handguns, but during a fight with Moros who were drugged they just kept on coming.

That is when the Army switched to the . 45 invented by Moses Browning.

A 250 grain .45 Caliber bullet is a sure knock down for an assailant. Also the accuracy is greater. My preference is the .45 Colt model 70.
I made some tests with the 30-06 150 grain military round.
I fired an unmodified round into a gallon of water. The exit hole was about 2 inches in diameter.
I then took a pair of dykes and clipped the nose off of a round and fired it at a gallon can of water.
That round made that can of water explode like a hand grenade. It unfolded the entire can into a sheep of tin. Of course there was not visible exit hole, it was all hole.

So! It all depends upon the purpose, A heavier bullet is better for knock down and accuracy.
Weatherby depended upon bullet speed to build up the energy. May knock down a deer and put food on the table, but in my book there is nothing superior to a 25-06 round for hunting.
As you probably know that is a necked down 30-06.

Answer 2

Okay, short answer, that might go a little long. The lighter the bullet, the faster it goes. Which means you get a flatter trajectory. Also, it'll tend to travel further. However, the heavier bullet will transfer more energy to the target when it hits. Also, lighter loads have less felt recoil than a heavy load. It really does depend on your application. What the target is. Do you need the faster bullet to travel further through the target than the heavier load's harder hitting, but not as deeply penetrating shot?

Answer 3

You did not say what you have been searching, so i will assume whitetail deer. The a hundred and fifty grain is in simple terms about suited, and your Federal is a robust bullet. With that ammo and your M721, you could kill any whitetail that ever walked. Elk, moose, grizzly, caribou, etc. will require extra penetration, and hence a bigger (and harder bullet), some thing interior the form of one hundred eighty-200 grains, and a "top rate" bullet, like a Nosler or Barnes to penetrate the extra conceal, muscle and bone shape mandatory to attain the vitals of those larger animals. Accuracy isn't inevitably based on bullet weight, nevertheless an particularly mild or very heavy for high quality bullet would possibly not shoot nicely on your rifle. A lighter bullet might have a some distance better muzzle velocity, and could hence have extremely much less drop, nevertheless it would desire to have extra wind waft. A heavier bullet will arrive at a miles off objective with extra potential, and could waft much less interior the wind. we at the instant are not speaking a variety of distinction, nevertheless. the version in drop, for occasion between a a hundred and fifty and a one hundred eighty-grain bullet at 500 yards is approximately 3 inches. a hundred and fifty-one hundred eighty grain bullets are the main regularly occurring and useful interior the 30-06, with a hundred sixty five being a stable compromise.

Answer 4

Actually they come up to 200 grains, the Russian Smith and Wesson bullet which is flat nosed and accurate!

It would seem a bigger load in a .40 would give a flatter trajectory longer! .40's have never been a very good long range bullet but has a lot of knock down power! I prefer not to get that close!

Answer 5

Lighter =faster and more penatration. Heavier = slower but more knockdown when it gets there.

Answer 6

depends on the range and the target


with a vehicle you can drive fast or economical

which do you want?