Terminal Effects
Wounds caused by contact shots are very devastating, as the body absorbs the entire discharge of the cartridge, not just the projectile. Even a blank cartridge can cause lethal wounds if fired in contact with the body, so powerheads, which are intended to fire at contact range, are often loaded with blanks.
Firearms such as muzzleloaders and shotguns often have additional materials in the shot, such as a patch or a wad. While they are generally too lightweight to penetrate at longer ranges, they will penetrate in a contact shot. Since these are often made of porous materials such as cloth and cardboard, there is a significantly elevated risk of infection from the wound.
Read more about this topic: Contact Shot
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