The Most Potent Self Defense Rounds

[Cosmoline]

It's worth remembering once again how bullets kill. They DO NOT kill by "dumping energy." They kill by DESTROYING TISSUE. Specifically, they kill by:

1) Destroying key CNS tissue causing instant shutdown of the nervous system
2) Destroying a sufficient amount of the circulatory system to cause the target to go into shock. "Shock" does not mean surprise. It means the condition created by a massive drop in blood pressure.
3) Causing sufficient damage to lung tissue to either shut off the 02 supply or causing internal bleeding into the lungs, drowning the target.

This lesson tells us something very, very important. WHERE YOU HIT IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT CARTRIDGE YOU ARE USING!

 

[LightningJoe]

M&S statistics say something, but they've got so much margin of error that all you can really get out of them is that .44 Magnum is better than .22 LR. That's true and the M&S stats corroborate that, but it's not a remarkable insight.

Here's my method for determining the relative effectiveness of handgun cartridges: I hold one cartridge between the thumb and forefinger of my left hand and the other cartridge between the thumb and forefinger of my right hand and I look at them. Whichever cartridge is the one with which I would less like to be hit, I deem that to be the better cartridge.

 

[Wags]

Talking about opening a can of worms from the begining of this thread......

 

[treeprof]

While I appreciate the input of the new member who resurrected this thread, let's not forget that it is 2 years old, and that the person who originated it is no longer here at TFL, for good reason(s).

 

[Brian Williams]

I forget where is my "Ultimate"



This thread is a couple of years old and some bullet tech is way outdated.

 

[Elmer]

This thread is a couple of years old and some bullet tech is way outdated.

Although the Marshall and Sanow stuff is just as much BS today as it was then.....

Only thing that hasn't changed, is that some believe it.

 

[svtruth]

Do the Ns justify the means?

It was nice to see actual vs theoretical, but statistical comparisons are very sensitive to numbers of observations. Prolly why 10mm and .45 don't come out better.
JMO

 

[TX_RGR]

WAL-MART still has some of the one-shot stop bullets in stock. They are in the sporting goods section, right next to the hole-in-one golf balls. They cost a little more, but worth it if you ask me, for something that will work every time.

 

[Elmer]

 

[dasmi]

45 Colt as a self defense round? Say goodbye to the bad guy....and your hearing.

Excuse me, what?

 

[bad LT]

I actually like these kind of "statistics" - They provide some kind of reference tool when choosing between different ammunition types.

 

[Trumpetman]

Pocket Full Of Dynamite

This is an update. My last post was in July of 2005, but I've been reading THR posts right along.

Some of you may or may not remember that I was robbed and shot at in April of 2004, and I started my shooting education shortly thereafter. I've learned a lot from you guys, from my own personal research and from defense lessons at the range. I thought some of you might be interested in my choices of carry equipment now, as opposed to back then during the first few months after my robbery.

THEN:

Primary -- 9mm (S&W 9VE) 4" Barrel, (24oz. Gun) 16# Recoil Spring
Winchester USA 147Gr. HP (Standard Pressure)

Secondary -- .25ACP (Phoenix Arms P-25) 2" Barrel
Winchester USA 50Gr. FMJ

NOW:

Primary #1 -- 9mm (S&W 9VE) w/4" Barrel, (24oz. Gun) 18# Recoil Spring
Cor-Bon 115Gr. +P HP

Primary #2 -- .357 Mag. (Taurus M65) 4" Barrel (36oz. Steel Gun) Rubber Combat Grips
Federal .357 Mag. 125Gr. HP

Secondary #1 -- .38 Special (Rossi 351) 2" Barrel (24oz. Steel Gun) Rubber Combat Grips
Speer Gold Dot 135Gr. +P HP (The ones designed for short barrels)

Secondary #2 -- (Occasional Summertime) -- .25ACP (Phoenix Arms P-25) 2" Barrel
Winchester USA 50Gr. FMJ

I stole the title of this post from an article I read in which snub-nosed guns were used to test various defense rounds (Pocket Full Of Dynamite). That information, plus some of the ideas gleaned from this thread, helped me to decide on the ammo I'm using right now. I still practice a lot, mostly with lead handloaded .38's and .357's that mimick my carry rounds, and with a mixture of standard pressure and +P 9MM Winchester 115Gr. FMJ's.

I'm not claiming these are the best choices for everybody. I'm just showing you how my thinking has evolved since the early days. My choices in ammo have improved, I believe, but I still tend to buy less attactive guns that fit my hand well and draw good reviews and high praise from trusted friends in the shooting community....with one possible exception--the Raven .25ACP. Most people don't like it at all until they test-fire it and find that it is remarkably accurate at 10 yards, and goes "POP" every time.

Thanks for all the good info and lively banter.

Happy Shooting! Stay safe. Practice. Don't flinch.