[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.

[driftdiver]

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

[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]

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.

[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.

[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!

[JDoutrider]

Bump!

[RandallFlagg]

Oh, BOOKMARKING!!!

[Gilbo_3]

In order to physically force someone to stop their violent actions we need to either hit him in the Central Nervous System (brain or upper spine) or cause enough bleeding that he becomes unconscious. The more powerful rounds look to be better at doing this.

i recently read a study on this [ayoob IIRC], and the difference in the 'chance' of hitting something 'vital' in soft tissue is increased with bullet diameter...IOW a .45 will clip an artery where a 9mm in the exact same hole misses it...

besides that, only hits count...

[Neoliberalnot]

If you don’t want to get sued, you best make it a lethal shot(s).

[count-your-change]

What? No fifty calibre?

[Lurker]

Very interesting. Thank you for posting it.

[TheRightGuy]

taurus judge revolver ... winchester .410 PDX1 ammo ... one shot hits all

[umgud]

As with any caliber discussion, it always defaults to shot placement. For this reason, I think there is too little discussion of the actual platform.

Without regard to caliber, a full sized handgun will always be easier to place accurate shots with than pocket pistols or snubby revolvers. Of course, I'll note that the smaller guns are easier to conceal and are more likely to be carried.

Having said all that, here is my favorite for stopping power:

[Mr Rogers]

I agree with the FBI (http://www.firearmstactical.com/pdf/fbi-hwfe.pdf). Get a handgun round that can penetrate 12-14 inches. If it has too much recoil for you to shoot well, step down to the best you can find that you CAN shoot well. Then practice.

My home defense gun is a 3” 44 Mag...but with its weight and grip combo, it doesn’t bother me to shoot it as much as my J frame in a hot 357. For carry, I use the J-frame, but with the old 38 special +P “FBI” load.

Oddly enough, the one time I’ve pulled a gun, it was a 22 - all I had at the time. But I had shot 10,000 rounds thru it, wasn’t going to miss, and none of the 8 guys wanted to be first. I think my confidence that I could go for a head shot showed in my body language, and the would be robbers lost interest.

Oh, and it was a 6 shot revolver, so it was physically impossible for me to stop all 8 guys. But as it turned out, I didn’t need to fire a shot...

Also this:

http://www.snubnose.info/docs/No_faith.htm