Not a great choice in an apartment due to over penetration. I’ll take a Glock 21 with one of the Korean extended magazines, which I’ve found quite reliable.
Still, he gets a passing grade on the 1st Rule of a Gunfight: Have a Gun.
“Still, he gets a passing grade on the 1st Rule of a Gunfight: Have a Gun”
Good answer!
In drywall, at close ranges, a 9mm will penetrate further than a .223. Don't take my word for it though. Look at the FBI results or hundreds of articles and videos. Furthermore, with proper frangible ammo, .223 works even better. The reason being that the energy of the round at close distances is so high compared to the mass, the bullet sheds mass quickly and starts disintegrating.
9mm cartridges can over-penetrate, too. If defending yourself in your house, don’t miss. Nearly anything will go through a sheet rock wall and do some damage, and people are not gelatin. Bullets fly right through many parts of the human anatomy. For AR-15 ammo, like other calibers, look at the numbers and penetration depths before choosing self-defense ammo. And don’t miss.
The AR for Home Defense: One Expert’s Opinion
The NRA
by American Rifleman Staff - Tuesday, May 26, 2015
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2015/5/26/the-ar-for-home-defense-one-experts-opinion/
Best Choices for Self-Defense Ammo (FAQ)
.223
https://www.ar15.com/ammo/project/Self_Defense_Ammo_FAQ/#mozTocId803443
In my opinion, training is more important than cartridge choice by far. I’ve seen in person, that even most people in civilian or military uniforms can’t hit what they’re firing at very well, even on ranges. The best marksman as a group are hillbillies.
I wrote, “The best marksman as a group are hillbillies.” That should have been marksmen. A long time ago, I lived with hillbillies for years, did years of Army training for a combat specialty and graduated from a police academy.
And a passing grade on the 2nd rule of a gunfight...have enough ammo. That's why a wheel gun will never be my primary defensive firearm.