Customer Reviews

Bullet Penetration: Modeling the Dynamics & the Incapacitation Resulting from Wound Trauma

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The author, the late Duncan MacPherson, was an aerospace engineer involved in the US space programme who developed numerous techniques and equations to guide missiles and spacecraft. MacPherson used the skills so developed to model the dynamics of terminal ballistics. The models developed are not based on theory, but on extensive practical testing included in the text for scrutiny.
The result is a 300 odd page b&w hardcover thesis on the test results and the subsequent model development. Although this book is extremely technical and aimed at the ballistic and forensic practitioner, most of it is surprisingly understandable to the lay ballistician, even though sections may require a re-read or two. Basic maths is essential. It is not a book to read from cover to cover at bed time (although it might be an excellent first acquaintance). It is a book to work through in good time while wide awake, but the reward for doing so is tremendous. A whole new world opens up to the reader.
It will unfortunately not be read by the masses of hunters and shooters who have grown up on wild terminal ballistic thumb-sucking and therefore many myths will prevail, despite the existence of scientific proof to the contrary such as this. It is a truly impressive and excellent piece of ground-breaking work that should forever grow in stature amongst its readers and users. If you are prepared to work getting through it and shedding some misdirected pre-conceptions - this is a book for you.

"This remarkable book...advances wound ballistics to the status of a mature predictive
science...This superb book can provide those responsible for weapon and bullet
selection with the reliable information they need to make informed choices -- to
balance intelligently the inevitable pros and cons that accompany these compromises. It
further provides data and insights that are of crucial importance to Wound Ballistics
Researchers, Forensic Pathologists. Firearms Examiners, Trauma Surgeons, Ordnance
Engineers, Law Enforcement Personnel and others critically dependent on firearm
performance. "
- Fighting Firearms, (January 1995) by Dr. Martin Fackler, M.D., President of the
International Wound Ballistics Association

"This new work in the field of wound ballistics introduces a model of bullet penetration
dynamics based on solid physics and mathematics that will interest those trying to get
to the bottom of the 'stopping power' debate...Previous internal ballistics models are
reviewed, analyzed and presented along with a considerable amount of testing and data
done by the author in forming his model and conclusions. Though this book is not light
reading, its graphs and clear explanations make the subject more understandable to
non-physicists. The author, an engineer who worked with the space program, drew
much medical information from Dr. Martin Fackler and other authorities from the
International Wound Ballistics Association."
- The American Rifleman (June 1995)