House Vs. Apt's?

I don't think you are paranoid, I think you are being responsible.

Sooner or later you need to see the Truth! The Box of Truth that is. Actual testing, rather than Internet forum conjecture. Invaluable website.

http://theboxotruth.com/docs/bot1.htm

Lessons learned:
1. Sheetrock (drywall) doesn't slow any round down much. If you shoot in the house, walls will not stop any serious round.

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http://theboxotruth.com/docs/bot3.htm

Lessons learned:
1. Notice that the #4 and #1 Buck penetrated 6 boards. In previous tests, 9mm, .45 ACP, and M-193 out of an AR all penetrated all 12 boards.

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http://theboxotruth.com/docs/bot12.htm

Lessons learned:
1. Insulation in walls seems to make very little, if any, difference in penetration of the rounds tested. I believe that we can put that one to rest.

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Part of safely using a firearm is accounting for where all your rounds end up, so yeah, you've got to think about it.

I did have a shotgun for a while loaded with #6 steel shot when I was apartment bound. Hey, it was cheap, I had lots, and it would do the job. Problem was, I had a nasty dogleg hallway to manuver through if Mr. Murphy came a'calling, and a 28" barrel. Had the XD40 by the bed with a tac light on it to remedy the situation.

The sight lines in my apartment were such that I was in limited danger of punching through a common wall and striking my neighbors. We had a corner apartment and traffic flow from the front and only entrance was such that it took people away from the common walls.

Now, in the house, I have a couple of options. An AR, my Mossberg 590 (20" bbl), or my 1911. Last time we heard a bump in the night (racoon trying to bust down the dog door), I cleared the house with the shotgun and a surefire light.

I live in an apartment complex, and the only walls that aren't concrete are the ones leading to the UPSTAIRS neighbors. As long as i don't shoot up or out a window, my neighbors are safe.
Downside is, the hallway to my bedroom faces a window which is facing my neighbors window across the courtyard. If i miss the BG, a round is VERY likely to go down the hall, out my window, and into my neighbors house.
If i had a shotgun, I'd use it for HD.

I think any responsible individual should assess their living situation.

I'm soon moving to an apt. and am rethinking my tools.

I'm considering less than lethal options for the shotty due to penetration issues with 00 & any pistol cal.

I do not mean to offend anyone, nor it is my intent to discredit or diminish any testing that anyone has done/ or continues to conduct.

One has to actually shoot projectiles inside of an Apt , House, or any other structure to find out.

One will find by doing so, the same exact "everything" , the same gun, exact load, the same shot taken...etc., will have different results often times.

There is a HUGE difference in shooting drywall , set up for testing, and that drywall inside a Apt, House, or Business.

One, "Built Structures" react different.
Second, Ages of Built structures react different.

Meaning if one were to shoot inside of a Home [structure] built 50 years ago versus a new construction, *most likely* there would be a difference.

I have seen new construction, that meets code, and one can literally take a butcher knife, punch through Exterior vinyl siding, get past that thin "insulation" and kick the drywall between 2x4s and be inside the house.

I did this btw with a Old Hickory Butcher knife.

I know a .40cal from a Glock will go through "new construction" if going "that way", because the "other way is the Firewall as Fire Code says has to be there.

I also know where there is some drywall and paneling a 30-06 and 12 ga slug is NOT going to penetrate.
WE built that wall so it would NOT allow incoming projectiles to penetrate.

Testing is only to give one some considerations and starting point to do their own testing.

Projectiles Do NOT always "do" what they are "supposed to do either.

Patient stuck a 4" .357 revolver barrel in his mouth, with .357 loads , pulled the trigger and lived/ is living.

ONE .22 short rim-fire is the reason we did the organ harvest on another person in the OR


I like Forster and Brennke' slugs out of shotguns. I do not do any reduced loading of any kind out of shotguns...
Field of fire and cover with furniture is what those I know for Apts and Homes do.
Yep, In my last Apt, I used 12 ga slugs, 230 gr hardball, 124 gr FMJ, 158 gr LSWC (not hollowpoint). For "apt loads".

None of the rounds penetrated when I shot them through what I had in my Apt, which was good, none of my rounds would exit, and none of the BGs could get to me.

Suggestion by Mentors too many years ago.

-Use enough gun.
-Be the firstest with the mostest Gen Bedford Forrest
-Don't miss

This stops what needs stopping, and the less projectiles fired means less chance of one not going where it needs not to go.

Mentors and I shot real structures...