Solids vs. Soft-Points

by
posted on March 28, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

Q: Is a solid bullet just as effective on heavy-boned animals as a soft-point, all other things being equal?

A: Driving a solid bullet through both shoulders or the spine of a large game animal can have as much, or more, terminal effect as a soft-point through tissue. The solid will typically produce a smaller (in diameter) wound channel than an expanded soft-point bullet, but will more likely produce a longer wound channel as it will often penetrate more deeply. The result is less peripheral damage but a possibly deeper wound channel. On large, dangerous game like elephant and buffalo, a solid may also break bones that a soft-point will not.

Latest

W H2026 10 Coues Coues Whitetail Deer0782d
W H2026 10 Coues Coues Whitetail Deer0782d

A Coues Deer Smorgasbord

Five elusive Coues bucks in three days? Odds for that are low in the Southwest habitat the diminutive deer call home. But that never stopped a family from trying.

A Not-So-Country Gal Might Survive: 5 Things I Learned from my First Hunt

Follow along as American Rifleman's Managing Editor Melissa Dixon goes on her first deer hunt, picking up five important lessons along the way.

Carbon Synergy Climbing Sticks Recall

Hunters and others using Carbon Synergy Climbing Sticks should discontinue their use immediately.

Head to Head: The .35 Remington vs. the 360 Buckhammer

The .35 Remington, or the 360 Buckhammer? Which will take the edge in this latest Head to Head matchup.

Says Me: A Familiar Scene

What defines a trophy? It’s a question every hunter asks and answers throughout his or her career. In the beginning it may be any deer or any buck; the first wallhanger; the first head of Western game; a kid’s first deer; a limit of … whatever. Curious about an answer? Read on.

Elk Hunt Redemption: A Tale of Two Elkies

Struggle makes success sweeter, but it’s also a royal pain in the hindquarters.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.