Why Is Stopping Power Important When Hunting?

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In a hunting context, stopping power is important for minimizing the animal’s suffering. A round that drops the prey in its tracks is more likely to achieve quick terminal results than one which leaves the creature on its feet.

Five factors that affect a shot’s stopping power are:

  1. Bullet placement
  2. Kinetic energy
  3. Wound channel
  4. Element of surprise
  5. Anatomy

Here at Powder Valley, we’re proud to support hunters who practice their sport in a safe and humane action. That’s why we stock the very best reloading powders and products available anywhere. Combine these benefits with our fair pricing and timely shipping, and it’s easy to see why we’re the one-stop source for firearms owners across the US.

Browse our site to stock up on all your shooting and reloading supplies. In the meantime, let’s take a closer look at what “stopping power” means for hunters.

Five Factors That Lead to a Quick Kill

In self-defense situations, shooting experts draw a distinction between stopping power and killing power. That’s because the primary goal when dealing with a human attacker is to end the threat to innocent people as fast as possible. Actually killing the assailant (known as “terminal results”) is never the primary goal.

A different set of priorities applies when the scenario changes to a hunting environment. Inflicting suffering on the animal is never desirable, so the goal of every ethical hunter is to cause terminal results as fast as possible. Here are five factors that help to achieve this goal:

  1. Bullet placement – here the idea is to interrupt the function of vital organs such as the heart. This requires a hunter who is familiar with the prey’s general anatomy and where to place each round.
  2. Kinetic energy & caliber size– this refers to ballistic factors like bullet weight, size, construction, and velocity. In general, faster and heavier bullets are more likely to achieve quick terminal results.
  3. Wound channel – this term refers to the path the bullet takes inside the animal. A bullet that breaks apart and tumbles as it passes through the body creates multiple forms of trauma that cause the prey to drop in its tracks.
  4. Element of surprise – a skilled hunter is also a stealthy hunter. He or she will approach the prey so that the animal never detects a human presence. When the element of surprise is lacking, the animal’s bloodstream will be filled with adrenaline and other stress hormones that will only prolong its suffering.
  5. Anatomy – large animals such as deer, elk, and moose have thick layers of fat, muscle, and fur that protect their vital internal organs. It’s important to match your ammunition to the type of prey you’re hunting, so that you can overcome these natural defenses as swiftly as possible.

These five factors are the primary variables that lead to a quick kill. Keep them in mind as you prepare for your next hunting trip. Remember also that safety always comes first, so stay alert and responsible whenever you’re carrying firearms.

Powder Valley Has What You Need for Shooting Success

Take a look at hunters that come home empty-handed. More often than not, their mistake was going into the field poorly equipped.

You’ll never have this problem if you buy your supplies from Powder Valley.

That’s because we carry a giant selection of black powder, casings, reloading presses, smokeless powder, and bullets of every type and caliber. Our quality is unsurpassed and our customer service is legendary.

Browse our site and make your selections today. Remember, we can help you to shoot more and pay less than before.