I do - the prospect terrifies me. I've worked on three overpenetration shooting cases. Mas Ayoob has compiled quite a number of them in a recent Combat Handguns article. There are some rounds in which I would never carry ball - in civilization. Since you're liable for everything that comes out the front of your gun, it really behooves you to know what your carry rounds are likely to do from your gun. And then match it to your needs. What I carry up Bear Canyon is certainly different from what I carry in town.
Considering how likely it is to miss your target all together, and those rounds are much more dangerous at full speed than a bullet that has lost the overwhelming majority of it's velocity and energy, I'll stick with penetration. I'd rather have over penetration than not enough penetration. I prefer jhp only because they create a larger wound cavity, which means potentially more blood loss and a better chance of hitting a vital spot. But the only JHP I shoot are either very hot, or in a slow moving round like the 45acp. But I have no problem with 38spl and Wadcutters for defense. My 32 and 380 I shoot fmj or similar such as PowerBall ammo. My 9x18 I normally shoot silver bear HP because they are easily available, but I also shoot PowerBall ammo in that also. But now that the Buffalo-Bore flat nose is out, I will definitely be buying some of that.
Bottom line; if there's a choice of not enough penetration or possibly over penetration, I'll take the over penetration any day of the week. I would rather practice more an eliminate the MUCH GREATER RISK of missing the target all together, and the round flying very long distances and hitting an innocent person.
In 2006, in cases where New York City police officers intentionally fired a gun at a person, they discharged 364 bullets and hit their target 103 times, for a hit rate of 28.3 percent, according to the department’s Firearms Discharge Report. In 2005, officers fired 472 times in the same circumstances, hitting their mark 82 times, for a 17.4 percent hit rate. In Los Angeles, where there are far fewer shots discharged, the police fired 67 times in 2006 and had 27 hits, a 40 percent hit rate, which, while better than New York’s, still shows that they miss targets more often they hit them.
These are very common statistics. And most people will say that police are more prepared to fire a weapon than a private citizen. Sorry, but if 60-70% of my shots have the potential of missing their target, then I should be worrying more about that than the minimal possibility of a bullet over penetrating and having enough velocity and energy to be critical on an innocent bystander. I personally will not be in the same shooting situations as police officers. I doubt any of us will. (Although there are some that believe that their threats are the same as police. I disagree). I know for me, and I can only speak for me, I will not draw a pistol and aim it at someone unless I AM GOING to pull the trigger. There is not questioning that. I do not fire warning shots. I do not try and scare them away by the presence of a gun. I plan on shooting them. And probably, with the entire magazine or cylinder; unless they've fallen before that. I believe that the odds of me hitting my target is much higher than those in the reports. The anxiety of shooting a person doesn't bother me. I've been in enough situations where the thought of shooting another human being doesn't even make me think twice. At the same time, I believe drawing a weapon should be the last option. And again, there is no doubt in my mind, that unless the bad guy happens to be running AWAY from me when I aim, I plan on shooting that person. If I didn't plan on shooting them, I never would have drawn the weapon. Guns are not deterrent. I won't say freeze. I won't say get away. I won't call for help. If I pull that weapon out, I AM pulling the trigger unless they've already started running away as I was reaching for it.
So I'll take maximum penetration. Is it possible it could over penetrate and strike an innocent person? Yes, but that risk is many time less than missing all together and hitting someone. I'm willing to take that risk.
I like the bullet weight. Sounds like a baby 9x19........sorta. My P64 has a bit shorter barrel, but probably push 1000 FPS which ain't shabby. Definitely tops the .380. Little over 250 ft lbs even at 1000 fps.
