3 ms·
Most urban/non-military gunshot injuries are from pistols, which have a fairly negligible temporary cavity since they're relatively low velocity (order of 1000f
by rdl 13y ago
Most urban/non-military gunshot injuries are from pistols, which have a fairly negligible temporary cavity since they're relatively low velocity (order of 1000fps, vs. 2500-3000fps for a rifle round). Plus, they're often expanding ammunition (hollowpoints, etc.) which do more direct tissue damage.
Military rifles, firing FMJ ammunition, do have a huge temporary/cavitation trauma vs. direct trauma (unless they hit bone).
- hga 13y agoSee my comment elsewhere in this thread; Martin Fackler and his followers believe temporary cavitation trauma is "at best a secondary mechanism, if not irrelevant." Although I have a personal theory about why FMJ battle rifle (e.g. 7.62 NATO/.308) torso wounds tend to be fatal, at least in the field: there larger temporary trauma diameter stands a good chance of shocking the spine and disabling long enough for person to bleed out unless someone else quickly comes to their aid.