SD Ammo and Drywall

[LubeckTech]

I am interested in thoughts on Self Defense ammo and calibers (9mm, 40 S&W and .45acp) as far as stopping power and drywall penetration.
I would tend to feel a 185-200gr 45acp HP would offer the best incapacitation and least drywall penatration with 9mm being the reverse.
What are your thoughts or experiences??

 

[DPris]

They'll all go through several layers of drywall unless stopped by something like a stud.
Denis

 

[LubeckTech]

I've been reading about 9mm frangible and even they have significant drywall penitration.

 

[Steve C]

Gyp Board (sheet rock) doesn't stop bullets very well. Both FMJ and JHP will pass through the equivalent of several walls before stopping. JHP simply clogs with the gypsum and acts like a FMJ. Even a .22 LR will pass through a couple gyp bd walls.

Read the following test of a several calibers including the .9mm and .45 acp and penetration through gyp bd walls.
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot1.htm

 

[cougar1717]

Your typical handgun calibers will cut through insulation and two layers of drywall cleanly. There are fiberglass mesh products that can be installed behind drywall to stop a bullet as seen here: http://www.nabulletproof.com/index.php?pr=Bullet_Resistant_Fiberglass
However, ballistic panels are usually too expensive for the average homeowner. They're usually found in commercial applications, like federal buildings, police stations, payment windows, etc.

 

[06]

Interior walls are next to nothing for stopping a round. Rooms are not safe places to retreat as walls can be easily punched through. Safe rooms can be made that way by working before installing the wall board/paneling. Some even put in steel panels around doors and hang commercial steel doors that can stop perps from easily entering. Such can offer a safer firing position if needed also.

 

[Bovice]

Well, according to some, the .223/5.56 round turns to pixie dust when it hits drywall, so you should sleep next to your AR15.

Based on what I've seen .223s do, I have to call BS.

Pistols might penetrate drywall too, but the concrete exterior wall is going to stop it dead. You won't hit your neighbor if you shoot your 9mm in the house.

 

[LubeckTech]

In regards to .223 the bullets that theoretically don't permeate drywall are "frangible" (not solid) bullets FMJ will penetrate many sheets of drywall. From my research 9mm 100gr frangible bullets will go thru several sheets of drywall and don't have good stopping power on living targets. .223 frangible bullets should have good Stopping power though.