Trustworth Statistics on Handgun Stopping Power

[Firepower!]

Tap Tap and One in the Head if its still charging.
This is called stopping power.

The best stopping power in your practice. First head shot- I would be amazed if the intruder is still breathing.

 

[KenW.]

Tap Tap and One in the Head if its still charging.

Rather than the traditional failure drill, we're now being taught in my agency the "zipper". Still three rounds; but one center of mass, one upper chest, and one to the mouth or forehead. (Mouth can be targeted because the center of the brain that controls involuntary movement is at the brain stem, behind the mouth). Use the recoil of your weapon for the climbing motion.

The 9mm guys can pull this off better than we .45 ACP guys.

We're also taught to consider a pelvic shot because the head is small and moves so rapidly. Massive bloodflow through the region and a large bone to quickly stop/slow the bullet for effective energy transfer. Break the pelvis and the person will be on the ground.

Shot placement, and not caliber, is pivotal.

 

[slide]

I agree KenW that placement is vital, but what if placement isn't right? Then, IMO, caliber makes a difference. a 22 lr placed in the eye will stop anybody, but a .22 lr in, say, the high thorax may not. However, a 454 in that same high thorax will.

In addition, clothes and body composition make a huge difference. I personally witnessed a shooting where a fellow put 5 .25 acp shots into a guy's abdomen area. The guy was a fat guy wearing clothes including a leather jacket and vest. Not one bullet made it to the skin. The one who was shot beat the shooter up.

 

[shadowalker]

Shot placement without sufficient penetration is worthless. Penetration without good shot placement also isn't ideal. Worst case scenario if I fail to stop the bad guy I want him to be wounded enough to need medical attention so they can catch him.

Shot placement is important but not more important than penetration, in fact I'd say penetration is slightly more important. Penetration is what will make the difference when a non perfect shot is made and the bullet has to travel through an arm or the side of a BG or another intermediate barrier before hitting vitals.

Penetration is becoming more and more important because Americans are getting larger, it takes more penetration to reach vitals in a 250 or 300 LB person than a 180 lb person.

I'm in the penetration camp. I don't care about the size of the hole, I just want one deep enough that it hits a major organ if I do my part. I want a bullet that will dig past the thickest winter clothing, layers of fat, muscle and bone to reach those organs. I don't care if the hole is .38 caliber or .45 caliber as long as it does just that, penetrate.

I'm also in this camp, expansion is nice if it occurs but I'm not counting on it. Handguns lack sufficient energy for temporary cavity to matter, and may not expand, penetration is what they use to stop a threat.

 

[slide]

OK, if we're going to bat this about, then there is the issue of over penetration. That's a charge I've heard thrown at the .357. I'm not even getting into police issues where this is more serious as police need an arm which can work against an auto where we don't.

While we may not be held liable for a bullet used in self defense which penetrates the bad guy but then goes on to do unintended damages, I personally am concerned. I personally, and without any real scholarship, feel that the 45 acp is the ideal combination of appropriate penetration, no over penetration and large hole size. I think bullet design not of much concern. That is, I don't see a RN, SWC, SP, or HP any more effective than the other. I tend to favor RN because a jam can really ruin your day.

 

[KenW.]

Shot placement without sufficient penetration is worthless

Obviously. You don't hunt elk with a .22 LR regardless of shot placement. A hit can be in the perfect spot, but the projectile must reach something vital.

I advocate using the largest caliber and hottest ammo you can control well enough to put three rounds into a dinnerplate size target at 7 yards in 3 seconds or less. If thats a .500 or .380, so be it.

 

[DougDubya]

Mr. Marshall has said the only reason he carries a handgun is to keep his enemy's head down until he can reach his rifle.

So, handgun stopping power is pretty much a factor of getting accurate hits. Train well, and hit early and often, and you'll be fine.

 

[KenW.]

I don't know Mr. Marshall, but I have taken plenty of deer with a 12 ga. without any "tactical" goodies.

 

[briang2ad]

All these things boil down to this...

The "penetration guys" hate the 40.

The "big hole" guys hate the 9mm.

Thats all you need to know. On any forum, if you want to see pages and pages of circular debate, just say "cal X is ___ for defense".

 

[makarovnik]

No comment.