Thread: Difference for velocity and range - 20.4" vs 22.4" barrel - 7mm 08

Originally Posted by Bagheera

@gimp do you think ft.lb is not such a good indicator of lethality or do you think 1000 is too high or too low?

Foot-pounds of energy gives you very little information to predict the performance of any bullet on any animal. It's not a good metric.

OK, what does ?

I would have thought it was:
Accuracy
Bullet construction
Animal composition and size
“Power” (measureable by grains of powder, terminal momentum, Matunas optimal Game Weight, KE, etc)

Originally Posted by Bagheera

OK, what does ?

I would have thought it was:
Accuracy
Bullet construction
Animal composition and size
“Power” (measureable by grains of powder, terminal momentum, Matunas optimal Game Weight, KE, etc)

There's some really in-depth discussion and testing of ideas in this thread

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....ubters-107732/

Well thanks for that !
25 pages of no doubt erudite discussion and good photos.
Can you summarise any further than your initial post:

“Actual specific bullet function matters much, much more than the 3 digits stamped on the brass.
You cannot compare a 50-55gr basic SP (old .222 fodder) to a more modern heavy-for-calibre bullet that is tipped (or not) - the 73, 75, 80, 88gr ELDM, the 74 and 80 gr Targex, the various heavy Bergers, the 77gr TMK.
The wounds they create are totally different. The size and nature of wounds is what kills a deer.”


Can you suggest a better metric than kinetic energy ?

Originally Posted by Bagheera

Well thanks for that !
25 pages of no doubt erudite discussion and good photos.
Can you summarise any further than your initial post:

“Actual specific bullet function matters much, much more than the 3 digits stamped on the brass.
You cannot compare a 50-55gr basic SP (old .222 fodder) to a more modern heavy-for-calibre bullet that is tipped (or not) - the 73, 75, 80, 88gr ELDM, the 74 and 80 gr Targex, the various heavy Bergers, the 77gr TMK.
The wounds they create are totally different. The size and nature of wounds is what kills a deer.”


Can you suggest a better metric than kinetic energy ?

actual bullet performance as measured in animals or ballistic gel. You cannot put a single number to it. Qualitative and semi-quantitative assessment of wound cavity size and shape in ballistic gel tells you more about what a bullet will do in an animal than any number.

To borrow a photo from that thread - this is about 2400 ftlb impact energy in some lungs



This is 700 ftlb impact energy in some lungs



what does the number tell you about what you can expect the size of the hole to be in the important part of the animal? The discussion was pretty well had in that thread, there isn't much point revisiting it in my view.

Yep we’ve got off the topic of this thread which is how much difference 2” of barrel makes.

Back on the original discusssion - My OP was in regards to Sako Finnlight 85 7mm 08 - The factory barrel length is 20.4" not cut down.

I would assume that Sako know a thing or tow about rifles and would put this out as a hunting option. I think (not sure) that the 85 also came in 22.4" barrel.

Just some additional info.

My 85 7mm08 is 22 1/2” more or less.
With the supressor on its quite long for bush bashing but just fine for the Eastern Alps.
It feels soo nice to carry when I put the suppressor in my pack …
But even my mates Finnlite is not that short now hes put a can on it.
He struggles to shoot at longer ranges because he has a 2nd focal plane scope that doesnt dial and he doesn't reload so cant practice. Its not because his gun is too short.