Here's a cool vid to demonstrate what happens:maturin said:Well, yeah, the eyes are vulnerable external organs and the brain is dense enough to be at risk. But if you're talking about bullets to the nose, you're in such proximity that the permanent (as opposed to temporary 'hydrostatic') cavity is going to be of more concern. Get shot in the nose, pieces of bone could simply be flung into your brain, killing you.dogstile said:Depends on what organs. If you get shot in the cheek or a bullet goes through your nose side on, it will most likely blind you and can even brain damage you, even if you've not hit the eyes or the brain (think if the gunman was to your right, 90 degrees)
Hydrostatic shock is a pretty tiny, incidental issue. The idea that if a bullet fails to come out the other side, it means that its energy has been converted into magical organ-killing shockwave power, is profoundly silly. It probably didn't come out the other side because it flipped arseyversy and made a bigger (permanent) hole. Or it was just a weak bullet, transferring a glorious 100% of its meager energy. The irony is that high velocity rounds that come out the other side have more energy to begin with and will cause greater hydrostatic shock effects. Basically you're just looking at nasty hollowpoints and thinking there's something special and physics-y about their performance.
(warning: kinda graphic if you are squeamish)