Dad's .45 TurkeyPell v3.4

FEATURES

complete ammunition metric realism pass;

every mass, kinetic energy at muzzle, drag coefficient, for every round either directly taken from reality or extrapolated from similar;

new zeroes accounting for each new ammo metric patched in and tested in game;

complete patch of all the text strings in the game, so names and descriptions will be accurate;

complete patch of the UI pen and exp bars so the make some logical sense :D

I spent a long time testing the metrics in game. Essentially with the right set up you can get a very close ballistic simulation. I used weight in grains and muzzle energy . I have given accurate game tuned drag coefficient through a custom made ballistic calculator derived from game code . Real-world cartridges and hunting loads were used as inspiration wherever possible. Bullet weight, muzzle energy, construction type, and intended hunting role all shape how a round behaves in-game.

Terminal ballistics are handled by scalars labelled Penetration, Expansion and overall Damage . These are more fudged and have been tweaked based on how I think the game is handling these numbers. Feedback from people experienced with firearm shooting would be greatly appreciated!

The most important change:  The vanilla game tends to teach players that Polymer Tip means penetration and Soft Point means expansion. That is no longer a reliable guide.

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

In reality, bullet construction matters far more than tip shape. A polymer-tipped bullet might be a violently fragmenting varmint round, a controlled-expansion premium hunting bullet, or a deep-driving monolithic design. A soft point might be a fast-opening traditional hunting load or a heavy, tough bullet built for dependable reach through bone and muscle.

Core rule of the mod: Behaviour follows construction and intended role - not tip label.

General Construction Guide

Frangible polymer and varmint ballistic-tip designs

Fast expansion or fragmentation, high initial shock, shallower penetration. Best for small game and lighter-bodied animals.

Traditional soft point, round nose, and classic hunting loads

Controlled expansion with dependable penetration. Often heavier and slower. Good all-round hunting performance, particularly at woods ranges and on medium game.

Bonded, partition, monolithic, solid copper, hard-cast, and solid designs

High weight retention, deep straight-line penetration, and strong performance through bone and muscle. Usually less dramatic expansion, but more reliable on difficult angles and larger animals.

Modern premium hunting bullets (SST, ELD-X, TTSX, AccuBond, Partition, and similar)

Often flatter-shooting and more aerodynamic than traditional designs. Typically controlled expansion with strong terminal performance. Behaviour varies by design: some favour penetration, some favour expansion, and some prioritise long-range consistency.

JHP, HP, and aggressive expanding loads

Fast expansion and wider wound channels, with strong immediate tissue disruption. Less penetration than tougher hunting designs. Best for lighter-bodied game or closer-range work.

FMJ, solid, and hard-cast

Minimal deformation. Deep, reliable straight-line travel through tissue and bone. Lower expansion and less tissue disruption than expanding designs, but dependable performance on larger animals and difficult shot angles.

How Behaviour Shifts Across Calibre Groups

Small calibres and varmint rounds (. 17 HMR, . 22 Hornet, . 223, . 22-250, and similar)

Polymer-tip loads in these calibres are often varmint-focused and may expand or fragment aggressively. Soft points tend to be steadier and penetrate more reliably on Class 2 to 4 animals. Expect faster, lighter, and more explosive behaviour overall.

Medium hunting calibres (. 243, . 270, . 308, . 30-06, 6. 5mm, and similar)

Polymer-tip ammunition here increasingly means premium hunting loads rather than explosive varmint rounds. Better long-range performance, flatter trajectories, and typically controlled expansion. Soft p