Does Energy Count In Handgun Calibers?

Do you think energy counts in handgun calibers?

  • Yes

    Votes: 208 79.1%
  • No

    Votes: 49 18.6%
  • Don't know

    Votes: 6 2.3%

  • Total voters
    263
  • Poll closed .
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For the most part, yes it does. Depending on what you are doing, the transfer of energy from projectile to target will determine how effective you are in using the caliber.

Speed times mass, or larger mass times slower speed could give the same results. Shape, caliber and weight of the projectile also will have an effect.

All are factors in the amount of energy that will find it's way to your target.

Now if you are just paper punching, energy is less of a factor except in pushing your bullet's mass to the target at a certain distance, the greater the distance the more energy you will need.

Jim
 
As a function of mass and velocity energy certainly does count but IMO only as a less determinative number. i.e. a .44 mag load will generally have a higher energy level than say a .357 mag. However the number isn't a good single definitive method of determining effectiveness between different rounds with energy numbers of relatively small variation.
 
I'm going to vote no, because I lean towards the "bullets make holes" school of thought so I'm more worried about the average penetration and expansion of any given defensive round than I am about the energy level of the round when comparing bullet A to bullet B.

But, that doesn't mean I discount energy levels entirely. I just don't know how much of a factor they are.
 
the more energy the better chances of a hollow point opening up in soft tissue.
 
Transfer of energy, especially with lower calibers, is important.

For rifle calibers, they are overkill so it's probably not as important in my view.

But for pistols, which are really undersuited for immediate results, energy dump is very important.
 
In terms of transferred energy into the target no it doesn't matter at all.

As a value that can be used to represent a loads ability to drive bullets of a given mass to an adequate depth it has limited usefulness




posted via that mobile app with the sig lines everyone complaints about
 
"But, that doesn't mean I discount energy levels entirely. I just don't know how much of a factor they are."---

Not really a factor, as much as a result.

[edit: I'll leave it to the obvious experts]
 
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Penetration, expansion and placement matter. Energy numbers help help predict what will happen with the 1st 2. Energy numbers aren't useless, but are easy to misinterpret if you don't also understand that there are other factors that influence bullet peformance such as bullet construction.

Also anything within 100 ft lbs of energy is close enough to call a tie. No point in arguing about caliber "A" getting 400 ft lbs of energy being inferior to caliber "B" getting 500 ft lbs of energy. When we see 300-400 ft lbs difference then it starts to matter.
 
Can't really compare gut shots that don't hit anything major to an arterial shot. Apples and oranges.
Plus, if the assailant is on certain drugs, stopping power goes out the window, unless you get a CNS shot.
Had the trooper hit the assailant in the same spot where the assailant shot the trooper, the assailant would have ended up the same way as the trooper.
Had the trooper shot the assailant in the heart/lungs with his .357, the assailant would have had a lot harder time breathing and functioning.
Stopping and killing are two different things, and that is one of the flaws in the linked article.

The assailant got lucky. Plain and simple. Had the trooper dumped those four rounds into the assailants chest, instead of his gut, the story would have been about a dead assailant, instead of a dead trooper.

The author lost credibility by referencing the Nicole Brown Simpson case, and by stating that the knife "ruptured" major blood vessels.
The knife severed the blood vessels.
 
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Having personally seen people survive direct center mass hits with 7.62 machine gun rounds and keep fighting; I believe the energy difference between common handgun service calibers to be negligible to say the least.
 
At what ranges were they shot with the 7.62 NATO rounds? That makes a difference. As do adrenaline and drug use.
If handgun energy doesn't matter, then the .25 acp is a great service round.

I'm not saying it's the be all, end all of stopping power, but it does matter. Especially with expanding ammo.

The reality is, stopping failures can occur with any and all common small arms projectiles. There are a lot of reasons they can occur.

Bottom line is, we all need to carry a 12 gauge shotgun for SD.
Too bad it's not practical.
 
When comparing cartridges with properly designed expanding bullets I think energy is the most important factor. If you look at 9mm, 40 S&W and 45 ACP they are all very similar in effectiveness because they have very similar energies. 22LR, 25 ACP, and 32 ACP are much less effective because they don't have the energy to do the damage that the bigger rounds can.

Anyone that thinks energy transfer in handgun calibers is a factor should read this......
http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs3.htm

I actually found this article to be pretty ridiculous. Is he really saying that a 22LR is just as effective as a 357?

Having personally seen people survive direct center mass hits with 7.62 machine gun rounds and keep fighting; I believe the energy difference between common handgun service calibers to be negligible to say the least.

Yes, that is a common problem with FMJ bullets. The wound cavity is very small until the bullet starts to tumble. The results would have likey been very different with hollowpoint bullets.
 
I actually found this article to be pretty ridiculous. Is he really saying that a 22LR is just as effective as a 357?

No that's not what he is saying at all. What it says is that the energy of the round is not relevant but rather shot placement and adequate penetration are what counts.

I think his examples make a lot of sense, but that's just me.

It's interesting to see how people see what they want to see, isn't it.
 
Since all bullets must have energy in order to travel to the target the purpose of your question is unclear.
Yeah I could have made it more clear. What I was looking for is do you think handgun bullet energy transfer is a big factor in stopping someone.
 
It matters to me, but not in the sense of having fodder for 9 v. 45 discussions. Moreso in that it allows me to make a subjective judgment as to minimum caliber I find acceptable for SD. At the point of 9/40/45 I personally don't find much appreciable difference, with the next jump being at the magnum level.
 
Well, obviously it matters. A bullet with 0 energy would be worthless.

The question really is if it is the primary measure of how effective a bullet is. The heavier, fatter and faster bullets are all means to increase performance.

But X penetration with Y diameter are the results which what matters in the end.
 
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No that's not what he is saying at all. What it says is that the energy of the round is not relevant but rather shot placement and adequate penetration are what counts.

I think his examples make a lot of sense, but that's just me.

It's interesting to see how people see what they want to see, isn't it.

Well, if the energy of the round is not relevant then why is a 357 more effective than a 22?
 
What it says is that the energy of the round is not relevant but rather shot placement and adequate penetration are what counts.
Energy of the round is totally relevant.

Show me a round that can offer adequate penetration with no energy.
 
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