I have a question about bullet energy and bullet weight. Why do people tell me to load heavier or use a heavier bullet to take bigger game?

Most of the time when I look at the energy of the bigger or heavier bullet, it usually is lower than the energy of a lighter bullet. Don't I want more energy for a bigger animal? I don't think I am using a bad cartrige. I shoot a 30-06, so what am I missing? Or am I talking to the wrong people? Or is it time to shoot a bigger gun, or I guess a bigger cartridge?

Can anyone help me?

Mburu,

People are probably telling you to load heavier bullets for a number of reasons. Most like it is because the first fundamental in hunting bigger and heavier game is to use a bigger bullet. A heavier bullet when fired from the same cartidgetypically carries more momentum than a lighter bullet , so it actually hits harder evven if it has less energy. Another reason could be an observed understanding of how Energy Saturation affects bullet expansion. This has it's roots from when virtually every bullet was made of lead or had a lead core. Lots of energy in to small of a bullet would make it pop on impact.

So regarding your question about your 30-06. A larger or heavier bullet will probably loose energy but will continue to gain momentum. And Momentum is the true knock down power of a bullet. Energy is the ability to tear apart tissue, not the true impact. Use the quick reference graphs in the GUIDE to chart your energy and momentum at the given velocities for each bullet weight. Also, as you use a bigger bullet your energy saturation will go down so your bullet will hold together better. This will enable you to break more bone and structure and achieve a continuous wound channel. So, no you do not neccessarily "need" to upgrade but you could if you wanted to. A 300 Win Mag or a 338 caliber cartridge will defeinetly give you the ability to shoot a bigger bullet at a faster velocity. But your question is why use a bigger bullet. The answer is at ranges under 150 yards, it will simply do a better job on bigger animals.

I like and agree with what the admin said,

But I think the simpler version is, As animals get bigger you want the bullet to be heavier and slower. The bullet should expand more slowly and hit harder, knocking them off their center of balance. Like the admin said, hitting the animal hard is not necessarily driven by energy, but also momentum. Look at the size and toughness of the animal you are shooting. Having the right amount of mass can be very important, sometimes it can be more important than the energy delivered.