"Best" FMJ SD Caliber

[mothermopar]

45 acp. One of if not the best manstoppers in general. And the preferred alternative for our armed forces over the 9mm fmj... For a reason. Bigger holes are better than smaller ones.

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

If any commercial pistol caliber was an option?
.50 GI for sure. Same concept as the .45 ACP, but just a wee bit better at it.

If I was limited to standard "common" calibers it would be .45ACP.

 

[Manco]

Actually, ain't a lot of difference in the calibers and what little difference there is is where bigger is better actually makes a little sense.

As much, more, or less sense than having more rounds?

 

[dom1104]

Always a good idea to keep things in perspective.

 

[leadaddict]

The one you have the most ammo for would be best. For me it would be my Glock 17 with a 33 round magazine if I had to use FMJ.

 

[leadaddict]

dom1104 - love the picture. I'm so stealing it...

 

[481]

Always a good idea to keep things in perspective.

Good post, dom.

Not a penny's worth of difference between any of 'em.

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

Good post, dom.

Not a penny's worth of difference between any of 'em.

Thats a good comparison, if all you consider is simple bullet diameter. I don't see 9x19mm pushing any 230gr slugs, much less any 300gr flat nose FMJ like the .50 GI.

Not saying the 9mm is a poor round. With twice the magazine capacity in a similar size weapon, it can certainly be said that it has its advantages.

 

[Manco]

Always a good idea to keep things in perspective.

It's too bad that the perspective is off, then, because according to that picture, measured to the pixel, 9mm is about 0.4 inches and the other two calibers are substantially undersized in relation to 9mm. I'm not saying that the difference between the real calibers is large by any means, but whoever created this picture definitely exaggerated how close they are in diameter. And by the way, the reason I checked is that even without holding the cartridges next to each other in my hand, it's easy to tell that the real differences are greater.

 

[ScratchnDent]

I'm going with the one that makes the biggest holes...preferably on both sides of the target, to let the most air in.

 

[Gryffydd]

the other two calibers are substantially undersized in relation to 9mm.

Yup, it's definitely not quite proportionate.

 

[dom1104]

huh never knew that pic was off, is this one any better?

 

[ScratchnDent]

50 cal hole = .616 square inches
.45 cal hole = .501 sq. inches
.40 cal hole = .396 sq. inches
9mm hole = .310 sq. inches

 

[Snowdog]

I would handload some 185gr SWCs as fast as I could push them out of a 1911 (since that's the pistols I'm best with).

 

[Kingofthehill]

I'll take these please.

FMJ dependability and they expand

 

[jonboynumba1]

.45 acp subsonic (has it's upsided shooting inside) also accurate and heavy enough for reliable penetration even at those slow speeds and big enough to still knock em in the dirt...I guess that's wht it's always been my favorite HG cal. and it can be loaded up or down light or heavy and from powder-puf plinking....to hard shooting woods walking HP rounds to moderate but still powerful HP loads....it does it all well...and can do it all well with one (18.5#) recoil spring and ONE pwder (Unique for me)

why .45acp?...because it just works that good!

 

[Manco]

50 cal hole = .616 square inches
.45 cal hole = .501 sq. inches
.40 cal hole = .396 sq. inches
9mm hole = .310 sq. inches

Better check your math. It's more like the following:

.50 GI: diameter = 0.500 in, area = 0.196 in²
.45 ACP: diameter = .452 in, area = 0.160 in²
.40 S&W: diameter = .401 in, area = 0.126 in²
9mm: diameter = .355 in, area = 0.0990 in²

huh never knew that pic was off, is this one any better?

It's harder to compare directly because of a number of factors. Attached to this post is a fixed version of the graphic that is far more accurate than the first one that you posted (not your fault--probably just somebody else with an agenda). Note that the inch scale, which I've lengthened slightly, is measured from the very last pixel on each end. Going by this new scale, the original depictions of .45 ACP and .40 S&W are fairly close to reality (with .40 S&W just a fraction of a pixel too large), but 9mm is definitely far too large, so I've replaced it with an accurate depiction. Save both files and compare them side-by-side--the difference should be obvious. Feel free to verify the accuracy of my modifications. Enjoy.

 

[easyrider604]

If you can find 45 ACP FMJ with a Flat Point, that would be ideal in a 45 acp non-expanding bullet. The flat point gives the bullet a good sized meplat that creates a bigger permanent wound cavity compared to a round nose.

A 38spl/357mag LSWC similar to the Lee Tumble Lube 158 grain design has a meplat almost as big as the bullet diameter, hence, it will create a nice permanent cavity.

By the same token, many have advocated the use of 38 special full wadcutters as a defense round for the same reason...bigger permanent wound channel.

IMO, a good revolver round would be a 38 spl 148 grain lead full wadcutter at around 800-850 fps muzzle velocity. I think I saw some plated full wads somewhere that would make good SD reloads.

 

[gofastman]

Better check your math. It's more like the following:

.50 GI: diameter = 0.500 in, area = 0.196 in²
.45 ACP: diameter = .452, area = 0.160 in²
.40 S&W: diameter = .401, area = 0.126 in²
9mm: diameter = .355, area = 0.0990 in²

It is impressive, the effect a small change in diameter has on surface area...

 

[Zerodefect]

.45acp, .40S&W, .45GAP, .50GI.

 

[481]

Thats a good comparison, if all you consider is simple bullet diameter.

If one is relying upn FMJs for SD that is all one can consider.

Zero expansion is the rule, rare exceptions notwithstanding if you are lucky enough to hit something with the hardness and density to deform the FMJ.

Of course, you can't get a 230 gr. bullet in a 9mm, but equal sectional density (which with velocity governs penetration depth in non expanding ammo) is achieved by running a 147 gr. in the 9mm.

Much rather have a good JHP (caliber doesn't matter, at least to me) if I have a choice in the matter.

 

[dom1104]

Wow Manco I am truly impressed with your image measuring prowess

I had no idea that image was off, its been tossed around as fact for a long while.

Truly, 100% impressive.

 

[LibertySympathizer]

Wow, great info. Some items to think about, which I really appreciate.

For a lot of you, this probably seemed like a stupid silly question, but unfortunately, this may be a grim reality for me because of laws, and relocation is not an option ATM.

 

[Ben86]

Of course I would choose .45. It makes the biggest hole. That being said I prefer 9mm jhp. But if I could only have fmj because of some idiotic law I would want .45.

 

[mljdeckard]

To take the comparison a step further, and entrance hole with a larger cm2 footprint will cause more cm3 of tissue damage, thus GREATLY increasing the likelihood that the bullet will hit something that makes the bad guy stop.

I carry 230 gr HSTs, but if for some reason I were carrying hard ball and I had to draw to save my life, I wouldn't feel for one second that I was at a disadvantage because I was carrying FMJ ammo. I wouldn't change a thing about how, where, how fast, or how many times I shoot.

The differences between handgun bullets are subtle, until you measure from one end of the spectrum (9mm fmj) to the other (230 gr HSTs.) Handguns are inferior survival tools, and you need to give yourself every advantage you can. Carry the biggest, meanest bullet you can handle. Hit the bad guy as many times as you can with it, on your way back to your shotgun. When you are fighting for your life, the only force is OVERWHELMING force.