mass no direction, ok got it.
If I calculate [acceleration and mass] I am working out the 'Force' value.
(which results in Newtons and can be converted to ft/lb) 1 Newton = 0.737562149 ft/lb
with that, Does anyone then really need to apply an energy formula for hunting bullets?
If you would prefer a bullet with 2000 ft-lbs energy to one with 20 ft-lbs energy for hunting elk, you have answered your own question.
I don't recall anyone EVER stating that there is some value for energy that delineates the difference between a bullet being effective for a particular task and not being effective for that same task. Energy is just a tool that can be used to compare the maximum destructive potential of different bullets of indeterminate mass, velocity and construction, or the same bullet (which perforce has a particular mass and construction) at different velocities.
Energy is, at best, an imperfect tool but much better than using velocity alone (i.e. with no knowledge of bullet mass or construction).
