Your assertions are wrong, as usual.
Its more often stated as 3 to 5 feet, to which even then there are exceptions which can extend the range yet further.
How much powder would a .22 short (rimfire) have?
How much more powder residue would a .40 S& W produce?
.357 anyone? Ever shot one of those, in the dark? The tongue of the fire ball licks out easily five feet before extinguishing, deary.
The round carries along some in it's wake also, bringing along with it detectable residues, even if not producing characteristic stippling which would clearly indicate 3 feet or less, depending on how much stippling, the caliber, the lack of or presence of clothing, the composition and thickness of clothing if there be any. That last would work towards closing possible range.
Not 2 feet, and then there is some kind of magical wall which can deflect all powder residues beyond that.
Clear stippling pattern is more generally limited to 3 feet or so, but that's not what the other poster here had limited themselves to speaking about, to which you responded "2 feet".
“Its more often stated as 3 to 5 feet, to which even then there are exceptions which can extend the range yet further.”
Defined here as 30”. HOWEVER, lack of stipling only indicates greater than 30”. It does not EXCLUDE 24”.
But, wth, three feet is plenty close in this type of melee. After all the goal is to shoot him BEFORE he gets within 3 feet of you.
http://www.pathologyexpert.com/boards/forensics/gsw.htm
(includes Glock .40 and Glock .45
“The only reasonable conclusions one can draw from the powder stippling is that when the stippling appears locally concentrated, the weapon may have been discharged within 24 in. of the target surface. Gunpowder residue is usually associated with a distance of contact up to 12 in. “
http://www.evidencemagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1119