Here's What I Think

.30-06 Ballistics at 142 Yards

Velocity and Energy:

• Velocity: ~2,640 fps (still supersonic)

• Kinetic energy: ~2,322 ft-lbs

• Impact force: ~4,716 pounds-force

What This Means Forensically:

This is an enormous amount of energy - well above what’s needed for complete penetration through neck anatomy. The human neck is typically 4-5 inches deep from front to back, and a .30-06 at this range typically penetrates 18-24 inches of soft tissue.

Why No Exit Wound Would Be Highly Unusual:

For a .30-06 at 142 yards to not exit the neck, several things would need to happen:

1. Direct bone strike - The bullet would need to hit a cervical vertebra (C2-C7) directly

2. Complete fragmentation - The bullet would need to completely disintegrate upon bone impact