A Reasonable Discussion of Stopping Power

[481]

Since experenting with tissue damage on humans is prohibited by law the only way to really prove tissue damage is on huntable animals or cuts of meat picked up at your local supermarket, but even so there will be anomolies like if bones were hit... Op if you want definitive answers go hunt as many pigs as you can with as many gun and cartridge combinations as you can. It may take years but you'll have your answers.
As far as handgun and caliber effectiveness I have a limited sample of one. My first wife "hated kids and never wanted them" hired a guy to kill me and my 1 yr old, at the time, daughter. Long story short he watched me load my 6 inch gp 100 357 mag and entered my home anyway. The shot hit torso through rib cage under right arm and logded in his spine. Load was 158 gr hornandy xtp jhp @1335 mv. At 15 feet it was effective enough.

Good Heavens, man, what a horrific story. I am glad that you survived and that you are here with us now.

 

[JR24]

Good Heavens, man, what a horrific story. I am glad that you survived and that you are here with us now.

I agree. Horrific.

Special place in Hell for anyone who even thinks about hurting kids.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

Stuff that mattered?

Like what? In ten years here, I reckon I've seen virtually all of these discussions before. Nothing really new is ever said. There's rarely anything new to say new things about, in any event. People like chewing over these perennial, unanswerable questions. If forums were only limited to discussions about new and important things, they'd be ghost towns.

 

[Keith G]

As far as handgun and caliber effectiveness I have a limited sample of one. My first wife "hated kids and never wanted them" hired a guy to kill me and my 1 yr old, at the time, daughter. Long story short he watched me load my 6 inch gp 100 357 mag and entered my home anyway. The shot hit torso through rib cage under right arm and logded in his spine. Load was 158 gr hornandy xtp jhp @1335 mv. At 15 feet it was effective enough.

Your sample of 1 is larger than 99.9% of the rest of our samples. Glad it worked out for you and your daughter.

 

[TN Outlaw]

Wow, that would be a frightening event for sure. Glad it turned out fine for you and your daughter.

About testing with animals, that's kind of the problem here as to why so many people have different opinions. You can take the same gun with the exact same load and kill a number of deer, hogs, bear, etc with a hit to the vitals in pretty much the exact same location and get alot of different results. I know because I have hunted with the same gun and load for a long time. Had everything from bang flops to a deer that ran nearly 300yds. Same load, same behind the shoulder impact.

Every shot is different and stands alone. Every animal reacts different and stands alone. Every bullet has a mildly different reaction and stands alone. Too much inconsistent data when comparing similar cartridges and that's without interjecting all the inconsistent data the shooter will bring into the equation.

Even looking at rounds that we know are far apart in size/wt/velocity such as a 380acp and a 44 Magnum, most comparison lists of shootings of human beings that I've seen don't show one to be much more effective than the other even though we know how much more effective the 44 Magnum is or at least should be. Too many variables.

I'd suggest testing on the medium of your choice until accomplishing the desired results from whichever cartridge and bullet it takes to achieve this, then practice until YOU are effective as possible and the gun/ammo combo are 100% reliable.

 

[stillquietvoice]

About testing with animals, that's kind of the problem here as to why so many people have different opinions. You can take the same gun with the exact same load and kill a number of deer, hogs, bear, etc with a hit to the vitals in pretty much the exact same location and get alot of different results. I know because I have hunted with the same gun and load for a long time. Had everything from bang flops to a deer that ran nearly 300yds. Same load, same behind the shoulder impact.

Every shot is different and stands alone. Every animal reacts different and stands alone. Every bullet has a mildly different reaction and stands alone. Too much inconsistent data

I agree but that's what we have. There is also statistics from police and military about cartridge effectiveness.
Statistics are just that until proven valid through our own use and practical experiences.

Thank you all for your well wishes and concerns didn't mention it to hijack the Op's thread but to provide real world experience.

Things have worked out well for both of us and now she is raising her own. He turned 6 this month.

 

[mavracer]

Even looking at rounds that we know are far apart in size/wt/velocity such as a 380acp and a 44 Magnum, most comparison lists of shootings of human beings that I've seen don't show one to be much more effective than the other even though we know how much more effective the 44 Magnum is or at least should be. Too many variables.

One observation I have to mention on variables is that humans vary in size and construction soooo much. If you promise the bad guy will be 5'6" and 120# I'd be pretty happy with the 12" minimum, but then I go to a Chinese buffet and I question if 18" would be enough.

 

[SharpDog]

I agree but that's what we have. There is also statistics from police and military about cartridge effectiveness.
Statistics are just that until proven valid through our own use and practical experiences.

Thank you all for your well wishes and concerns didn't mention it to hijack the Op's thread but to provide real world experience.

Things have worked out well for both of us and now she is raising her own. He turned 6 this month.

Hijack away, glad it all worked out. I've drawn before but haven't had to shoot, thank goodness!

 

[stillquietvoice]

Hijack away, glad it all worked out. I've drawn before but haven't had to shoot, thank goodness![/QUOTE}

Glad it worked out for you as well. I hope and pray that no one has to go through that. I know that is an unrealistic expectation nut the hope is there.

I had a good friend to talk to spent hours with him. He took me put to the range afterwards. He said its like getting into a car accident you have to get back in the driver seat or risk never driving again for fear of another wreck.

He wore tiger stripe in Vietnam so he'd been there. I'm not really sure who helped who more.