There were a few applicable answers given in the last thread. There was also a whole lot of off-topic bickering about irrelevant issues. That nonsense got my thread locked before my thirst for knowledge was satisfied, so I've started this one to spark the meaningful conversation I was trying to get out of the last one. That, and I'm trying to restore my faith in THR as a constructive place to share ideas and learn from the experience of others.
I'm hearing (reading) a lot of good points. While I agree that it's not best to target a specific organ instead of aiming center of mass, the lower abdomen (everything between the bottom of the ribcage and the pelvis) seems like a pretty darn good point of aim for a .22 mag. There are plenty of soft organs there that would hurt like hell to get shot in (at the very least). The size of the target area seems to make it a good choice for engagement at a distance (by distance I mean 7-15 yards) with a NAA. I think that statement would be true from front or rear, however I'm not so sure it would work from the side, where the pelvis and ribs are closer together and arms may be in the way.
I'm wondering if the head/face/eyes are a good target for up-close engagement. I'm sure they'd be great targets with a larger caliber, but I'm wondering if a .22mag would have enough energy behind it to pierce the skull when fired from such a short barrel. I'm sure it would hurt either way, but I don't know if the pain of a .22 bouncing off a skull would be worse than the pain of a .22 piercing a kidney, the stomach, intestines, or liver. I'm not saying it wouldn't, I just don't know (thankfully). I wonder if the impact of the bullet against the skull or the muzzle blast of a very close shot could cause unconsciousness...
The neck seems like a good target for up-close engagement. My logic here is that piercing the carotid arteries would cause a rapid loss of blood pressure and instantly decrease blood flow to the brain, which I would expect to cause unconsciousness. Carotids being major arteries under pressure, I think even a .22 caliber hole would have a hard time clotting/closing due to the volume of blood passing through it.
Also, does anyone have any references, besides the ones already mentioned, where someone used a NAA in self defense? I'd be interested whether it was a successful attempt at SD or not.
I'm hearing (reading) a lot of good points. While I agree that it's not best to target a specific organ instead of aiming center of mass, the lower abdomen (everything between the bottom of the ribcage and the pelvis) seems like a pretty darn good point of aim for a .22 mag. There are plenty of soft organs there that would hurt like hell to get shot in (at the very least). The size of the target area seems to make it a good choice for engagement at a distance (by distance I mean 7-15 yards) with a NAA. I think that statement would be true from front or rear, however I'm not so sure it would work from the side, where the pelvis and ribs are closer together and arms may be in the way.
I'm wondering if the head/face/eyes are a good target for up-close engagement. I'm sure they'd be great targets with a larger caliber, but I'm wondering if a .22mag would have enough energy behind it to pierce the skull when fired from such a short barrel. I'm sure it would hurt either way, but I don't know if the pain of a .22 bouncing off a skull would be worse than the pain of a .22 piercing a kidney, the stomach, intestines, or liver. I'm not saying it wouldn't, I just don't know (thankfully). I wonder if the impact of the bullet against the skull or the muzzle blast of a very close shot could cause unconsciousness...
The neck seems like a good target for up-close engagement. My logic here is that piercing the carotid arteries would cause a rapid loss of blood pressure and instantly decrease blood flow to the brain, which I would expect to cause unconsciousness. Carotids being major arteries under pressure, I think even a .22 caliber hole would have a hard time clotting/closing due to the volume of blood passing through it.
Also, does anyone have any references, besides the ones already mentioned, where someone used a NAA in self defense? I'd be interested whether it was a successful attempt at SD or not.
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