Originally Posted By: NDHunter83Whats this "splash" you guys are talking about?
Originally Posted By: 204GunnerSplash is a large entrance wound that usually doesn't penetrate the vitals because it blows up on contact and does a bunch of damage to the hide.
As said, "splash" is when the bullet "blows-up" on the hide before any penetrateion (can yield a surface wound only 2-3" deep). However, I believe a lot of guys get the "splash" because of contact of stuff on the way to the target. When the bullet hits limbs, heavy grass, weeds etc close to the victim the bullet can start separating, flipping, unwrap whatever & act like a short range shotgun blast (shrapnel doesn't penetrate well). I'm sure this is the cause of some "splashes" & so called "bullet failures".
Still, I do realize the reality of "real splash" as well. While not as bad as some I've seen, the following is the only splash I have ever had with a vmax. Oddly enough it was a 60gr Vmax out of a 20" barrel (right at 3K). Coyote was ~25 yards in a trot to the call, nothing between me & him but leaves on the ground.
What you see is the entrance. Of course no exit... No follow-up shot required. Would have prolly been different with a shoulder shot though. It was a little worse than the pic implicates (I rolled the hide back for a less gruesome pic).
I've shot several more coyotes with the 60 @ 3k & also the 55vmax @ 3400 (different gun), plus all the vmax weights in 6mm & never had any problems with splash, runners or spinners.
The noslers are really good too. I've just always had really good luck with the cheaper vmax. I'd go with which ever shoots best in your gun.