By use of three-dimensional nonlinear dynamic finite element program LS-DYNA, a series of numerical simulations of pelletrator with enhanced lateral effect (PELE), which had the same projectile structure and material, pentetrate different metal targets with the same velocities (900~1300 m·s^-1) were presented. The simulation results were compared with the experimental and in good agreement with the experimental data. The corresponding theoretical analysis between the results of simulation and experiment shows that the process of the inertia compression has much to do with the effect for PELE, and the PELE has better lateral effect with the increasing of density and bulk modulus of the target.