I've been a casual reader here. Maybe I posted before and forgot. Didn't look. From my perspective, the sword cuts both ways, no doubt. It's hard for us to see in ourselves what we think we see in others. I like how you guys are coming together here in the last couple posts. We are all better than we sound on here sometimes.
We would do well to heed the words of the wise man in Prov 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
I don't like to get on bandwagons because you're committed to the wagon even if it runs into the ditch. For me, I like the principle of the monos but use whatever the rifle eats the best. The 7-LRM really likes the Berger Hybrids so that's what she gets. The 7 Allen Mag took to the 150 Badlands (after a good bit of work), so that's what she gets. The 6.5 Sherman Max likes the 123 Hammers and runs them nice and speedy. All good medicine.
I am not out to prove or disprove any projectile. Had good terminal results with ELD-M's and Berger's, but also with the monos. The one thing that monos have going with me is speed capabilities and penetration. With the ideal broadside behind-the-shoulder impact and at longer ranges the ELD-M and Berger type usually perform very well.
Here's a real-world case in point from this past season. My son was using the 7-LRM with the 180-Hybrids and had to take a stern to stem shot on a wounded SMALL deer. Impact was in the driver's side ham. Penetration didn't reach the heart/lung area. Took another shot later to sink it.
A week later I took a LARGE deer from the same angle with the 6.5 Sherman Max and the 123 Hammer. Same range at 200 yds. Impact center of rear ham. Full penetration. Exit out near the shoulder of opposite side. Much bigger-bodied deer. One and done.
This is personal experience. I'm still learning but am so far impressed by the performance of the 123 & 124 Hammers we've used. They seem to punch pretty far above their weight class.
As to being in a class of their own...it depends on the parameters. If defined too broadly, then no. But in all fairness, from what I've seen, they do have terminal advantages over the other monos I've used - Barnes and Badlands. So, in my humble opinion and small understanding, I get the claim. There is a difference. The claim can be fought over all day, and each be right if assuming different parameters. This is what gets us bunched up too often. In real life we probably aren't so far apart.
Now other factors such as BC disadvantages with some monos come into play when getting way out there. That's why I really wanted the Badlands to work. I like them but have mixed feelings based on personal results. Still not sure what to think. The Hammers held together better at hyper-velocity, as in doing what they were designed to do. While I love BC, from what I've found, the increased velocity potential with the Hammer does give it some wiggle room on the BC depending on the cartridge and projo of choice. They are usually very accurate for me and consistent. That I like. As are the Badlands.
As to the petal design, my personal experience seems to indicate that with the larger peeled off petals that break off quickly and leave a flat nosed shank, I typically get straighter penetration, faster, and deeper. A peel-back mono or C&C mushroom would seem to create a larger wound channel, but what it overlooks is the fact that the flat-faced shank maintains much higher velocity over the full path of tissue-displacing penetration. When you scale that factor, you get a picture of a longer and effective (sometimes dramatic) trauma path. Also, at high velocities with the monos designed to petal/star out, some petals will break off while others do not. This immediately redirects the bullet, and that redirection can be quite dramatic.
(I got 14" penetration in gel with the 139 Scenar at 2800 fps and around 36" with the 150 Badlands at 3650 fps. The Badlands shredded its petals (small bits) quickly at that speed and acted more like the Hammers. The wound channel vs full travel was quite a bit longer with the mono in proportion to the Scenar)
Just personal observations from a nonprofessional. Take it or leave it. I'm still in the school of life.
May your Lord's Day be blessed tomorrow.