Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 59

tools: an electronic scale, electronic chronograph, and a simple hand-held calculator. The effort is minimal, the results are profound. Understanding simple ballistic calculations will help you become a better shooter and hunter. C alCulating M uzzleloading B ullet energy The first time I heard the minimum muzzleloading caliber for deer was .45, I was hugely impressed. After all, at that point, my hunting days involved .3030s, 7mm Magnums, .30-06s and .308s, none of which came close to the .45. When I looked down the bore of that first 45-caliber, I couldn’t believe how big it was. Today, I know better. A 45-caliber,

energy as the minimum energy required from muzzleloaders. It stands true today. Roundballs will mushroom and be lethal at 900 feet per second. Muzzleloading bullets need to be traveling at 1,200 fps, on target, for their metal jackets to peel back and allow the lead core to mushroom, which translates into lethal soft tissue destruction. A 50-caliber roundball fired at 1,600 to 1,800 fps and moving 900 fps when impacting a deer at 150 yards (which is a lot farther than any muzzloading hunters should ever shoot) would still mushroom and impart lethal energy. But how does one calculate energy? Use the standard kinetic energy formula given to us by Sir Isaac Newton, back in 1667. It quickly becomes obvious that the

Kinetic Energy (KE) = (MV multiplied by MV) divided by 7,000 (used to convert grains to pounds as there are 7,000 grains to one pound), divided by 64.32 (the acceleration of gravity), multiplied by bullet weight in grains MV is muzzle velocity in feet per second
Let’s compare the KE of a 50-caliber roundball with those of a .50 Maxi-Hunter and a .50 Barnes Sabot:

50-caliber roundball (.490-inch), 177 grains; 1,875 fps muzzle velocity: KE = (1,875 fps X 1,875 fps) divided by 7,000, divided by 64.32, times 177 grains KE = 1,382 footpounds of muzzle energy 50-caliber Barnes Sabot, 300 grains, 1,621 fps muzzle velocity: KE = (1,621 X 1,621) divided by 7,000, divided by 64.32, times 300 grains KE = 1,751 footpounds of muzzle energy 50-caliber Maxi-Hunter (.500-inch), 355 grains, 1,400 fps muzzle velocity: KE = (1,400 X 1,400 ) divided by 7,000, divided by 64.32, times 355 grains KE = 1,545 footpounds of muzzle energy 127-grain roundball just doesn’t have the energy to anchor a whitetail more than 50 yards away. How much energy is enough? This may surprise you. Beyond 50 yards, the minimum speed necessary to disable soft tissue (skin and organs) of a whitetail-size animal with a lead projectile is 163 feet per second (fps). To break bones, 213 fps. This was why, back in the 1970s, the American Hunting Institute set 500 foot pounds of
APRIL  2012 

formula for Kinetic Energy is skewed in favor of higher velocity bullets. There is an exponential rise in energy with an increase in velocity, but not with its weight. This is why many muzzleloading ballisticians don’t accept kinetic energy as the only measure of a bullet’s power. In fact, noted book author and ballistician Sam Fadala notes that “Momentum” might be a more accurate method for calculating muzzleloading bullet performance.
59



Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012

Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012
History of the Whitetail
Contents
Third Try Tom
The Old Iver Johnson
A Jake for Jake Again
Grand Hunting Adventures and Beyond
Why?
It’s Never Too Late
Surprise On Valley Farm
A Great First Buck
Redemption Gobbler
Field Notes
Conservation News
Off the Wire
Another View
The Naturalist’s Eye
Straight from the Bowstring
Fun Game
Lock, Stock & Barrel
Crossings
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - History of the Whitetail
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - Contents
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - Third Try Tom
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 4
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 5
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - The Old Iver Johnson
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 7
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 8
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 9
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - A Jake for Jake Again
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 11
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - Grand Hunting Adventures and Beyond
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 13
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 14
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - Why?
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 16
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - It’s Never Too Late
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 18
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - Surprise On Valley Farm
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 20
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 21
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 22
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 23
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - A Great First Buck
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 25
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - Redemption Gobbler
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 27
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 28
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 29
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 30
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 31
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - Field Notes
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 33
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 34
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 35
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 36
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - Conservation News
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 38
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 39
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 40
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 41
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 42
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 43
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - Off the Wire
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - Another View
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 46
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 47
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - The Naturalist’s Eye
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 49
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 50
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 51
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - Straight from the Bowstring
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 53
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 54
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 55
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 56
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - Fun Game
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - Lock, Stock & Barrel
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 59
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 60
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 61
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 62
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 63
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - Crossings
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 64a
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - 64b
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Game News - April 2012 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/annualreport2008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200809
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com