BULLETS: EXPLOSIVE, EXPANSIVE, ETC 333 



etration is more of a crushing force than a piercing 

 force like that of the sharp-pointed balls. And the 

 higher its velocity the farther in it gets; provided it 

 be solid or have not too large an expansion-hole in 

 front. 



It is thought by many that a ball that lodges in an 

 animal is more effective than if it passes through; as 

 the nervous system then receives the whole shock of 

 the ball. This is often a mistake of effect for cause. 

 The ball does not kill better because it stops. It 

 stops generally because it has greater killing power; 

 to wit, its expansive power. A ball having enough 

 extra force to tear its way entirely through an animal 

 and continue its flight must leave about the same 

 amount of force in the animal as if it had only force 

 enough to get just through. 



As a rule, it is best to have balls pass through, 

 especially solid balls. From the entrance-hole of a 

 small bullet the animal bleeds little or none, and the 

 flesh on the side where the ball stops will be badly 

 bloodshot. If it goes through you will be more apt 

 to have the aid of blood to help you track the animal 

 if wounded; it will also bleed out much quicker and 

 be much less injured by settling of blood. 



Where great penetration is needed it had better be 

 given by hardening a ball with tin than by sharpening 

 its point. As much as twenty-five or thirty per cent 

 of tin may bemused without injuring the rifle-grooves 

 by an ordinary amount of use. A ball of terrific pen- 

 etrating power may, however, be made as follows: 

 Take a long bullet and cut it in two just below the 

 point where it rides the grooves by rolling it under a 

 sharp knife-blade. Then drill or bore a large hole 

 through the butt-piece, replace it in the molds, and 



