Originally Posted by
okie
That wouldn't surprise me one bit. I think the differences would be relatively small, but at least in theory it should hold true. The important thing to keep in mind is that the energy levels are way more than the generalized threshold for cavitation. .44 mag is even on the weaker side of things when you're talking big game handgun hunters. Those are also massive bullets with lots of inertia, so they don't lose their energy easily. And we're talking energy levels on par with anything from 223 to 300 win mag, at close range, with bullets weighing around 300 grains, so it's going to turn just about anything into hamburger, regardless of what bullet you use.
The difference though is that the fibers of muscle tissue are just about the most elastic substance on earth, suspended in water. Not saying there's zero difference, but nothing is going to cut through living muscle like it does through paper.
Another thing to keep in mind is that bullets almost always tumble after punching through the chest wall and getting into the intersecting tissue planes inside the thoracic cavity, so anything besides a round musket ball is likely to look similar in real life.
Bookmarks