First,
it seems to me correct to say that 'shock' is a technical term describing the propogation of energy in a medium at a speed higher than the speed of sound in that medium, and that 'acoustic' refers to a propogation at
subsonic speeds in that medium.
http://physics.info/shock/
Ah now I see the issue.
The author of that first article and the description in the link above are not detailing the shock wave when two solids (or dense liquids) impact (mechanical shock).
The article is very specifically explaining the principle of a "sonic boom" and the resultant shock wave as an object accelerates through its own pressure front in a medium presents resistance (in this case air).
by definition breaking the sound barrier (in air) results in a pressure wave travelling at or above the speed of sound.
Extrapolating that into solids is not relevant in this example.
This is mechanical shock- defined (simply) as:
“a non-periodic excitation of a mechanical system, that is characterized
by suddenness and severity, and usually causes significant relative
displacements in a system.”
Shock is a transient physical excitation simply measured by accelerometers
You can plot shock on a graph, acceleration over time
A drop, an impact, a collision etc
The key element is the short time frame of the acceleration
some light reading:
http://www.pcb.com/techsupport/docs/vib/lores_24__mechanical_shock_tech.pdf
To summarise, it seems to me that the transfer of kinetic energy that causes problems for our quarry is not accurately described as 'shock', whether 'hydrostatic' or otherwise.
I totally agree it is all about energy transfer, as I did above.
Couldn't care less what people call it but "shock" it definitely is. Purely on the basis of its delivery. sudden and severe
I agree using any term relating to hydrostasis/hydrostatic is misleading, but as you say, people call them "bullet heads" and we still know what they mean
From a physiological point of view (and that is a field where I am more comfortable) shock (or in simple terms very fast acceleration and/or deceleration) in tissue is enough to create significant injury and kill.
The fox shot in the head at low velocity has caused by the brain to slam against the inside of the skull as the skull accelerates in the opposite direction. A certain amount of elasticity in the frontal plate exacerbates this.
Brain injuries quite often display damage on the opposite side of the skull due to the secondary impact as the skull stops but the brain continues. (Rattle a ball in a bottle for an analogy)
A subdural and more likely, epidural haematoma may simply raise the intracranial pressure to a fatal level, very quickly
The death of a stag shot through the back of the neck but missing the spine is caused by the permanent disruption of the autonomic pathways of the spinal cord. no physical disruption, break, or CSF burst is necessary. just a shock wave.
The autonomic pathways are the unconscious control pathways, including heart and respiratory rate,
Neurogenic shock in car crash victims is well documented