So Coyote...Explain why a .458 flat nosed bullet penetrates farther than the same in round nose or why that flat pointed cast did more damage than a 180 grain Core-Lokt on basically the same shot. ...
Too many unknown variables there to explain or even confirm anything. What I can confirm is that a .308� 180g Barnes MRX can out-penetrate a .458� bullet or be out-penetrated by one, do more damage than a .458� bullet or less � depending on a variety of factors.
The photo below shows a number of bullets recovered from water jugs. From left to right:
Speer 300g Uni-Cor .458", Speer 350g FP .458", North Fork 350g .458", Cast Performance 460g WFNGC .458", Hornady 220g FP .375", Barnes 180g MRX .308"
![[Linked Image]](http://www.hunt101.com/data/556/8115Water_Bullets_2.jpg)
Sorted by number of jugs penetrated with bullet type, velocity and energy:
5 jugs = Hornady 220g FP .375", 2230fps, 2429fpe (.375 Win)
6 jugs = Speer 300g Uni-Cor .458", 2247fps, 3363fpe (.45-70)
6 jugs = North Fork 350g .458", 2189fps, 3726fpe (.45-70)
7 jugs = Barnes 180g MRX .308", 3100fps, 3841fpe (.300 WM)
8 jugs = Speer 350g FP .458", 2147fps, 3582fpe (.45-70)
9 jugs = Cast Performance 460g WFNGC .458", 1812fps, 3362fpe (.45-70)
9 jugs with exit = Speer 500g African Grand Slam .458�, 1554fps, 2681fpe (not recovered) (.45-70)
Interestingly, the bullet that penetrated best (in repeated tests over the years) has had the least velocity and energy:
11 jugs with exit = Oregon 300g Trail LaserCast .458�, 1167fps, 907fpe (none ever recovered) (.45-70)
The number of jugs penetrated doesn�t begin to tell the story of the damage done. The most destructive was the 350g North Fork, which blew a hole the size of the water jug base in the 5/16� plywood supporting the lead jug. That bullet also blew up several jugs behind the first. The 500g bullet did more damage than some, less than others, and passed through 9 jugs before exiting the side and continuing on. The .308� 180g MRX was very destructive and penetrated well. The best penetrators, the 300g LaserCast FP at a paltry 1167fps/907fpe, also did the least damage by a significant margin. We have never recovered one of these.
Water jugs are water jugs not game, so take the above results for just that � results in water jugs. My on-game results are limited to three of the above bullets:
.375 Win/220g Hornady FP, antelope at 167 yards, broadside with exit, death leap and down.
.45-70/350g North Fork, buck mulie at 192 yards, quartering away with exit, a few feet and down with massive leakage.
.45-70/350g North Fork, 6x6 bull elk at 213 yards, broadside, obliterated a section of left front leg, obliterated a section of near-side rib, shattered far side rib and stopped under the hide. The bull just toppled over.
.300WM/180g MRX, doe mulie at ~300 yards, front to rear with exit, straight down.
.300 WM/180g MRX, doe mulie at ~ 300 yards, broadside with exit, straight down.
What design penetrates best or does the most damage? It all depends�
