Stopping Power of various Calibers

[forby]

It's obvious to me that this study points to the fact that the 357 sig is superior to all.

Just kidding.....

Seriously.... I got that people with mouse calibers walk up and put the muzzle against the back of someones head- pull trigger.

Lots of people shoot 9mm

People with 44 mag shoot well

Long arms are more deadly

Finally... there aren't enough shootings to create good stats.....

[QuackXP]

Assuming the shooter can do their part and make two good hits to upper center of mass you want the bullet to do two things.

1. Penetrate far enough to reach vital organs.
2. Permanently destroy as much soft tissue as possible during its travel.

[BucksCountyBob]

What I took away from this study is that just about every caliber required two shots to get the job done. From reading other threads, I've gotten the impression that there is a feeling that the .45 ACP has some dramatic advantage in stopping power over 9mm specifically. This study SEEMS to indicate that this might be flawed thinking. As another poster on this thread pointed out, the data set might be too small to draw any firm conclusions.

Regards,

BCB

[QuackXP]

What I took away from this study is that just about every caliber required two shots to get the job done. From reading other threads, I've gotten the impression that there is a feeling that the .45 ACP has some dramatic advantage in stopping power over 9mm specifically. This study SEEMS to indicate that this might be flawed thinking. As another poster on this thread pointed out, the data set might be too small to draw any firm conclusions.

Regards,

BCB

When you are assuming that you need to make two good hits the difference between how many rounds you can carry per magazine may come into play.

For example the S&W M&P the 9mm holds 17 rounds per mag, the .40 and .357 Sig holds 15 and the .45 holds 10.

I think the .45 myth is allot of WWII nostalgia. Also military rounds are not designed around HP to immediately stop an attacker. They are designed around FMJ to create a causality that a medic has to deal with.

[filgun11]

All these studies makes it so complicated...
The way I see it is:

I have gun. Bad guy no gun = GOOD
I have no gun. Bad guy has gun = BAD
I have a gun, Bad guy has gun = We're f*cked! Only luck will determine who comes out alive.

I really don't care what caliber does the bad guy have. I care about whether I'm armed and he's not/ill-equipped(knife, bat, etc).


EDIT: Just to add. In my kitchen, we have 2 guns next to each other. One is a 9mm, and the other SR22. I told my wife, she can grab .22 and use if needed... It doesn't bother me... since she can shoot more accurately with the .22LR. I doubt intruders will say "Awww. look she has a cute .22".

[yeager484]

The best gun to have is much like the best camera to have.

It's always "the one you have on you".

[Orive 8]

I'm been a firm believer in point # 2 above. Handguns suck, the only reason they are used for self defense is they are portable and concealable.

Exactly,
Handguns are ineffective fight stoppers. We carry them because they are portable/concealable.

If you have to use one, have a plan A - be prepared to not have that plan work and have a plan B or even C ready to go.

Doesn't matter what your handgun caliber of choice is, be ready for it to fail when your 1,2,3,4, etc... well placed center of mass hits do not do the job.

Continuously train and practice your planned responses and just maybe - things will turn out o.k. for you.

[QuackXP]

All these studies makes it so complicated...
The way I see it is:

I have gun. Bad guy no gun = GOOD
I have no gun. Bad guy has gun = BAD
I have a gun, Bad guy has gun = We're f*cked! Only skill and a little luck will determine who comes out alive.

I really don't care what caliber does the bad guy have. I care about whether I'm armed and he's not/ill-equipped(knife, bat, etc).

Bolded in red is my addition.

I'm wondering if your average criminal takes professional training? Practices at the range? Maintain's their firearm properly?

Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

Source Disputed



The concept of luck in this sense reminds me of one of my favorite sports, motorcycle racing, specifically Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing or otherwise known as MotoGP.

An enormous amount of effort by many people goes into building and tuning a machine built for a specific purpose. This machine is studied, tuned, tested, and studied some more. The rider spends a lifetime practicing his art of operating this machine to the best of the machine and his abilities. But when the red lights go out and the race starts, man and machine are the primary factors in who wins the race but sometimes random factors beyond the control of anyone can seriously influence how the race will end.

[SwampFoxZ71]

The best gun to have is much like the best camera to have.

It's always "the one you have on you".

^^^

Agreed. Many of my friends will have a 9mm or 45acp, 38 or something. We'll be out somewhere and they'll talk about defending themselves. I ask them if they're carrying, and they almost always say "No, but it's in my car/truck."

Really!? That's fine if you're in your vehicle or in your house, but if you don't have it on you, you're toast.

First rule of a gunfight, have a gun.

[Kev19010]

Doesn't matter what your handgun caliber of choice is, be ready for it to fail when your 1,2,3,4, etc... well placed center of mass hits do not do the job.
.

I think 1,2,3,4, etc well placed center of mass shots will definately do the job. The way you are talking seems like we're talking about spitballs here.