Editing Hydrostatic shock (section)

==Hydrostatic shock as a factor in selection of ammunition==

===Ammunition selection for self-defense, military, and law enforcement===
In self-defense, military, and law enforcement communities, opinions vary regarding the importance of remote wounding effects in ammunition design and selection. In his book on hostage rescuers, Leroy Thompson discusses the importance of hydrostatic shock in choosing a specific design of [[.357 Magnum]] and [[9×19mm Parabellum]] bullets.<ref>Rescuers, Leroy Thompson (1988) p. 207</ref> In ''Armed and Female'', Paxton Quigley explains that hydrostatic shock is the real source of "[[stopping power]]."<ref>Armed and Female, Paxton Quigley, E.P. Dutton, 1989, p. 160</ref> Jim Carmichael, who served as shooting editor for ''[[Outdoor Life]]'' magazine for 25 years, believes that hydrostatic shock is important to "a more immediate disabling effect" and is a key difference in the performance of [[.38 Special]] and [[.357 Magnum]] hollow point bullets.<ref>The Woman’s Guide to Handguns, Jim Carmichael</ref> In "The search for an effective police handgun," Allen Bristow describes that police departments recognize the importance of hydrostatic shock when choosing ammunition.<ref>The search for an effective police handgun, Allen Bristow (1973) p. 69, 91</ref> A research group at West Point suggests handgun loads with at least {{convert|500|ft.lbf|J|abbr=on}} of energy and {{convert|12|in|mm}} of penetration and recommends:<ref>{{Cite arXiv |eprint = 0803.3053|last1 = Courtney|first1 = Michael|last2 = Courtney|first2 = Amy|title = The Ballistic Pressure Wave Theory of Handgun Bullet Incapacitation|year = 2008|class = physics.med-ph}}</ref>

{{blockquote| One should not be overly impressed by the propensity for shallow penetrating loads to produce larger pressure waves. Selection criteria should first determine the required penetration depth for the given risk assessment and application, and only use pressure wave magnitude as a selection criterion for loads meeting minimum penetration requirements. Reliable expansion, penetration, feeding, and functioning are all important aspects of load testing and selection. We do not advocate abandoning long-held aspects of the load testing and selection process, but it seems prudent to consider the pressure wave magnitude along with other factors.|Courtney and Courtney}}

A number of law enforcement and military agencies have adopted the [[5.7×28mm]] cartridge. These agencies include the [[United States Navy SEALs|Navy SEALs]]<ref>Meyr, Eitan (January 06, 1999). "Special Weapons for Counter-terrorist Units". Jane's — Law Enforcement. http://www.janes.com/security/law_enforcement/news/ipi/ipi0312.shtml</ref> and the [[United States Federal Protective Service|Federal Protective Service]] branch of the [[Immigration & Customs Enforcement|ICE]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/1047/on_the_streets_of_new_york_security |title=On the Streets of New York: Security |date=September 3, 2004 |author=Allen, Terry J. |publisher=In These Times |access-date=2009-09-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fbo.gov/index?print_preview=1&s=opportunity&mode=form&id=62c8eeddbdcda0cf5644995690744cf4&tab=core&tabmode=list |title=Immigration & Customs Enforcement&nbsp;— Ammunition Solicitation Number |date=September 10, 2005 |website=fbo.gov |publisher=Federal Business Opportunities |access-date=2009-09-30}}</ref> In contrast, some defense contractors, law enforcement analysts, and military analysts say that hydrostatic shock is an unimportant factor when selecting cartridges for a particular use because any incapacitating effect it may have on a target is difficult to measure and inconsistent from one individual to the next{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}}. This is in contrast to factors such as proper shot placement and massive blood loss which are almost always eventually incapacitating for nearly every individual.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rathcoombe.net/sci-tech/ballistics/wounding.html |title=Terminal Ballistics |publisher=Rathcoombe.net |access-date=2010-06-07 |archive-date=2021-06-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624031342/https://rathcoombe.net/sci-tech/ballistics/wounding.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The FBI recommends that loads intended for self-defense and law enforcement applications meet a minimum penetration requirement of {{convert|12|in|mm}} in ballistic gelatin and explicitly advises against selecting rounds based on hydrostatic shock effects.<ref name="fn_(50)" />

===Ammunition selection for hunting===
Hydrostatic shock is commonly considered as a factor in the selection of hunting ammunition. Peter Capstick explains that hydrostatic shock may have value for animals up to the size of [[white-tailed deer]], but the ratio of energy transfer to animal weight is an important consideration for larger animals. If the animal's weight exceeds the bullet's energy transfer, penetration in an undeviating line to a vital organ is a much more important consideration than energy transfer and hydrostatic shock.<ref>{{cite book |first=Peter |last=Capstick |title=Death in the Silent Places |year=1981 |location=New York |publisher=St. Martin’s Press |page=152 |isbn=0-312-18618-5 }}</ref> Jim Carmichael, in contrast, describes evidence that hydrostatic shock can affect animals as large as Cape Buffalo in the results of a carefully controlled study carried out by veterinarians in a buffalo culling operation.

{{blockquote|Whereas virtually all of our opinions about knockdown power are based on isolated examples, the data gathered during the culling operation was taken from a number of animals. Even more important, the animals were then examined and dissected in a scientific manner by professionals.

Predictably, some of the buffalo dropped where they were shot and some didn't, even though all received near-identical hits in the vital heart-lung area. When the brains of all the buffalo were removed, the researchers discovered that those that had been knocked down instantly had suffered massive rupturing of blood vessels in the brain. The brains of animals that hadn't fallen instantly showed no such damage.
|Jim Carmichael<ref>Jim Carmichael, Outdoor Life, July 31, 2003, http://www.outdoorlife.com/node/45560</ref>}}

Randall Gilbert describes hydrostatic shock as an important factor in bullet performance on whitetail deer, "When it [a bullet] enters a whitetail’s body, huge accompanying shock waves send vast amounts of energy through nearby organs, sending them into arrest or shut down."<ref>A to Z Guide to White-Tailed Deer and Deer Hunting, Randall Gilbert, 2003, Woods N’ Water, Inc., p. 106</ref> Dave Ehrig expresses the view that hydrostatic shock depends on impact velocities above {{convert|1100|ft|m|abbr=on}} per second.<ref>Muzzleloading for Deer and Turkey, Dave Ehrig (2005) p. 64</ref> Sid Evans explains the performance of the Nosler Partition bullet and Federal Cartridge Company's decision to load this bullet in terms of the large tissue cavitation and hydrostatic shock produced from the frontal diameter of the expanded bullet.<ref>The deer hunter’s almanac, Sid Evans (1996) p.66</ref> The North American Hunting Club suggests big game cartridges that create enough hydrostatic shock to quickly bring animals down.<ref>''The Game Rifle'', The North American Hunting Club (1992)</ref>