Colt .38-40

The Colt .38-40 is given the bullet damage modifier of a .40 caliber bullet.
Do you think that this is because the bullet has more mass than say a .38
special? Do you think that bullet mass should be used to determine bullet
damage modifier?

I have heard talk of the diameter of the wound channel. It seems to me that
the mass and the energy delivered would play a bigger role in damage,
penetration and bullet modifier.

On Sat, 4 Mar 2006 18:41:32 -0600, "B.J. McNail"
<bjmcnail.DeleteThis@centurytel.net> wrote:

>The Colt .38-40 is given the bullet damage modifier of a .40 caliber bullet.
>Do you think that this is because the bullet has more mass than say a .38
>special? Do you think that bullet mass should be used to determine bullet
>damage modifier?

I tihnk it more likely that it's a cock-up.

>I have heard talk of the diameter of the wound channel. It seems to me that
>the mass and the energy delivered would play a bigger role in damage,
>penetration and bullet modifier.

Energy and momentum affect penetration, which GURPS uses raw damage to
measure. The damage multiplier is there to take into account the
greater effect a large hole has, when compared to a small one, on a
living organism, all else being equal.
--
Rupert Boleyn <rboleyn.DeleteThis@paradise.net.nz>