macadore
Member
This is one of the more interesting threads on THR. The people recommending handgun shot shells are jerking everyone’s’ chains. As a callow youth, I once shot a 44 mag shot shell at an old tire from about 10 feet. The pellets bounced back and splattered all over me. They didn’t break the skin or even leave marks. They did sting but not as much as the angst over my stupidity. I later shot one at a paper target. It made a large donut pattern. Anyone with any experience shooting these cannot be serious about using them for self defenses against anything but snakes at close ranges.
So far the .223 recommendations have been that it should not be used because it penetrates too much and that it should not be used because it does not penetrate enough. I have to believe the .223 varmint round would be very effective for close range defense. The 13 inch penetration recommendation was for hand guns which don’t have enough energy to do anything but punch small holes in things. A .223 that purees several cubic inches of body parts would have to cause more bleeding/trauma/shock than any handgun round leisurely passing through the body.
So far the .223 recommendations have been that it should not be used because it penetrates too much and that it should not be used because it does not penetrate enough. I have to believe the .223 varmint round would be very effective for close range defense. The 13 inch penetration recommendation was for hand guns which don’t have enough energy to do anything but punch small holes in things. A .223 that purees several cubic inches of body parts would have to cause more bleeding/trauma/shock than any handgun round leisurely passing through the body.