[mad_as_he$$]

Lang ago in the $hithole of the earth I put a three round burst into a very small man at about 75 feet from an M-16. He kept coming. Switched hands drew my 45 auto that was loaded with my Uncle's (no not that uncle) very hot home loads. Put two into the heart and the guy dropped almost at my feet. Upon examination we found the 5.56mm had gone into the chest just below the sternum and out the back missing the ribs. The 45 tore him up. Now I have shot about every varmint in North America with a 5.56 (223)hunting bullet and it tears them up. The lesson is that FMJ in 5.56 is questionable in hollow point or core-lok it is devastating. This fact should not be lost on the guys who believe a civil war is coming.

[white17x]

I have had exactly the same experience. I have expended many many thousands of rounds of 5.56 into various targets and was never impressed by it. Wasn’t too impressed by the M16 at all even though I currently own an M4 that has never been fired.

[uncbob]

Switched hands drew my 45 auto that was loaded with my Uncle's (no not that uncle) very hot home loads. Put two into the heart and the guy dropped almost at my feet. Upon examination we found the 5.56mm had gone into the chest just below the sternum and out the back missing the ribs. The 45 tore him up.

Two in the heart from the 45--what would have happened if you had put 2 in the heart from the M16 at 75 feet

[andy58-in-nh]

Thanks - your observations mirror my own hunting experiences. Now since you’ve been there and done that, do you have any feelings about the efficacy of FMJ ammo in .45 and 9mm? I’ve got a lot of both, and a relatively small amount of (much more expensive) JHPs. Should I stock up on personal defense ammo and just expend the rest on targets and not plan on using them in case the SHTF? Thanks again.

[RetiredArmy]

My AR 15 is locked and loaded and ready.