This is a straightforward question
far from it in my opinion…
Chest shots and shoulder shots present very different media for any bullet and introduction of different species and ranges/terminal velocities presents even more variables
Nipping a bullet between the ribs on a chest shot at 200m on a roe presents a very different resistance compared to a shoulder shop on a rutting red stag
Frangible bullets do increase the potential of expansion at lower terminal velocities or ranges…BUT…they also can severely reduce penetration by doing so especially with smaller calibres with lower bullet weights.
Bonded bullets are useful where thicker skinned heavier game can present over expansion with less resilient cup and core bullets.
Not sure we have the game to justify a harder bonded bullet like they have in Africa
Ballistic tips do nothing except standardise tip profile and help with a higher BC.
Thinner jackets, larger meplat and larger voids in the nose assist in expansion and frangibility
Bullets that expand, deform, shedding material, creating secondary wound channels, slowing down dramatically with increased friction through deformation and loss of mass …work in a very different way to those such as monolithic/solids of copper/brass that are designed to expand but maintain their original mass (as opposed to frangible non lead offerings).
The high velocity pass through of a bullet that does not deform beyond 1.5x calibre diameter and doesn’t shed mass creates a huge cavitation bubble, much larger than a bullet slowing down.
This destroys organs and puts a huge shock wave into the central nervous system if the bullet is placed close enough.
High frame rate video on gel blocks show a high velocity pass through creates a much longer “bubble” through the entire gel block
Usually a 24” width.
Compared to the 25-50% of the width of the block with cup/core bullets that shed and slow down.
The downside is when the terminal velocity drops to the point where the pass through velocity is low and the cavitation bubble is not big it fast enough to create the organ damage or CNS shock.
Common complaint of non lead bullets that have been mismatched to quarry or terminal velocity
I personally prefer a bullet that allows a wide range of shot placement options at a wide range of distances or terminal velocities.
For the vast majority a standard soft point will do more than enough with any chest, shoulder, neck or head.
As will a solid non lead or a bonded, harder lead cup and core bullet.
Where some of the lighter, frangible bullets fail is at very high terminal velocities/shorter ranges when the particles that break off create huge carcase damage but can also often fail to penetrate a heavier thicker skinned target if placed on the shoulder
There are bullets that will work well at reasonable ranges in a rifle like a 20” 6.5 Creedmoor but turn into Grenades when driven out of a 24” 6.5PRC with an extra 5-600fps
ELD-X for example
Similarly a heavier copper/brass monolithic in the same scenario would work better in the faster cartridge and worse in the slower one.
I run ELD-X and Peregrine monolithic in 300NM with MVs of 3250fps for a 200/208gr
The ELD-X in that weight class does not break up
The solids could take out most vehicles let alone deer
I run 147gr ELD-M in 6.5-284 pushing 2950fps
The 143gr ELD-X in the same cartridge I found to be far too frangible in the small sample I used them for
I run 95gr VMax in the 6.5Grendel at 2750fps
The MV is low and I want a faster more frangible bullet for shorter range quarry of all types.
You need to match bullet to cartridge to velocity/distance to quarry
