An Alternate Look at Handgun Stopping Power

Buckeye Firearms Association ^ | 8 July,2011 | Greg Ellifritz

[marktwain]

Very interesting data, and a good analysis. Excellent charts at the site. Perhaps an freeper can post them here. This researcher is not making money, but obviously spent a great deal of time and effort on this. I especially appreciate the differentiation between psychological stops and physical stops.

[ilovesarah2012]

What’s a “hangun”?

[Mr Ramsbotham]

And I've stopped feeling the need to strap on my .45 every time I leave the house out of fear that my 9mm doesn't have enough "stopping power." Folks, carry what you want. Caliber really isn't all that important.

When leaving my house I always strap on my trusty 155MM howitzer. It's no "Big Bertha," but it's much more portable, and doesn't leave me with a sore back.

[driftdiver]

It would be interesting to know if drugs were a factor among the people getting shot correlated to the calibers ability to incapacitate.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

What’s a “hangun”?

A Japanese warlord, if I'm not mistaken.

[driftdiver]

I am surprised at the numbers for the .22. Good post

[ilovesarah2012]

Well, that explains it!

[Steely Tom]

I prefer the new sling-mounted Javelin anti-tank rocket.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

I prefer the new sling-mounted Javelin anti-tank rocket.

I don't mind it, but only if it's got the mini-nuke projectile. On the other hand, you never know if they're going to come at you with a tank.

[CodeToad]

All it means is shot placement is key. It certainyl isn’t going to be fatal or a one-shot-stop if hit in the shin.

[Mrs.Z]

I teach a high school forensics class at a Christian prep school.

We use a police DVD to show the difference in the stopping power of different calibers and loads. (Targets were a combo 1x4 wood plank and water filled milk jugs.)

Their conclusion was to go for the highest velocity round for “your” most accurate caliber.

[BCW]

“Caliber really isn’t all that important.”

But Caliber + Shooter ability is important!

That’s a factor I did not see in his report. One Shot stopping power is something that Vietnam Vet’s will tell you first hand when facing “Charlie” at point blank range - or a WW II or I Vet - although the WW I are gone now - but a trained shooter that has experienced in high threat - high stress - environments - can use the .45 semi auto effectively with a one shot stopping capability...I , however was issued a 9mm in Iraq (officer) - and felt very inadequate with that sidearm in a heavy irregular warfare environment and wished we had the .45 cal!

[Wonder Warthog]

"What’s a “hangun”?"

The sudden stop at the end of a rope with 13 turn loop....:^)

[Wonder Warthog]

Good data. Perhaps Mr. Elfritz should consider soliciting cases that other people know about (send me a email...or letter if old-fashioned). He might get some fantasies, but I doubt they would be statistically signficant.

[Bulwyf]

Highest velocity isn’t always the answer, like another poster said, shot placement obviously counts, but also a slow heavy projectile can inflict more damage in some cases, especially if one is wearing body armour. For example, a shotgun slug to the chest if a person is wearing body armour will have a great effect, or a shot to the helmet, likely still break necks. Even the Americans in WWII found that they would shoot a german in the head with the .45 and it wouldn’t sometimes penetrate the helmet, but the german was dead anyways... the force of the hit breaks the neck.

[donmeaker]

Another attempt to find data in the plural of anecdote.

One anomaly is 9mm. Seems that spray and pray lives in his data.

The other anomaly is .357 magnum. Odd since it uses the same bullets as .38 special, and quite often .38 special is shot from a .357 pistol. Normally this is explained as “cops use .357 revolvers, and thus get better hits”. That may have worked in the 70s, but not so much now.

Da Rules:
First, have a gun. Any gun is better than no gun.
Second, practice so you can hit your target. You really can’t be sure of where you hit because your target will be moving and you will be under stress. Practicing reduces stress.
Third, as a tactic, keep shooting until the target is neutralized/incapacitated or runs away.
Fourth, pick a round that can penetrate to the target’s vitals. This can be a .25ACP with full metal jacket, or a hollow point of larger caliber. Avoid lightweight expanding rounds. Avoid shot size smaller than #1 in shot guns. #1 shot will penetrate a human all the way to the back. Spine, major blood vessels are located deeply.

A 3 inch magnum 12 gauge with #1 shot will give you 25 chances to cut the target’s spine. That will give you a good chance against a single assailant, but gangs typically run in packs.

[driftdiver]

Also not considered are other factors which may effect the bullet before impact.

A person to person engagement is one thing. What if you have to shoot thru a car door or similar obstruction? I’ve read of cases where the light but high speed projectiles were deflected by a cars windshield.

In another case the .45 ACP hollow point was filled by the persons heavy leather jacket. This resulted in the HP behaving more like a ball ammo.

[Jim Noble]

The missing element, for many keyboard cowboys, is training and practice.

You should carry what you can hit with.

4 hits with a .22 beats 4 misses with a .44.

[Pollster1]

Remember that ability and training are associated with caliber used. Thus, for example, the very small number of shooters using an 0.32 may have good incapacitation numbers (other than failure to incapacitate) because users of unusual calibers are likely to be better trained and thus great shots, not because the 0.32 is better than other mouse guns.

It's hard to argue with the rifle/shotgun results, except that they have weaknesses for concealed carry. If you're going to defend your home though, the shotgun jumps to the top of my list. I wonder how many intruders are incapacitated by the sound of the pump action even before the trigger is pulled - that's got to be an effective psychological stop, even before you get the physical stop!