THE STOPPING POWER OF DIFFERENT HANDGUN CARTRIDGES

2/22/2003

[2nd_Amendment_Defender]

General Julian Hatcher, a noted forensic pathologist, in the early 1900’s developed a good formula to determine the theoretical stopping power of a firearm cartridge. His formula has withstood the test of time and validation from other studies and data related to stopping power.

You want a handgun cartridge that has a Hatcher value of over 50 for the most effective stopping power. Values over 55 have diminishing returns in that you don’t gain any significant increase in stopping power for the extra recoil and control you must cope with. Handgun cartridges that don’t make a value of at least 50, should not considered for self-defense. If the rating of your handgun cartridge is under 30, it only has about a 30% chance of producing a one shot stop. Hatcher Ratings of 30 to 49 raise a one shot stop to approximately a 50% chance. Ratings of 50 or higher produce a one shot stop about 90% of the time.

Handgun Cartridge Type ..................... Hatcher Rating

.45 ACP full metal jacket 230 grain .......... 49.1

.45 ACP jacketed hollow point 230 grain ...... 60.7

.44 Magnum full metal jacket 240 grain ....... 92.3

*.44 Magnum lead wad cutter 240 grain ......... 136.8

.44 Special full metal jacket 240 grain ...... 51.6

*.44 Special lead wad cutter 240 grain ............. 76.5

.41 Magnum full metal jacket 230 grain ............. 54

*.41 Magnum lead wad cutter 230 grain .............. 80

10 millimeter full metal jacket 180 grain .......... 50.3

10 millimeter jacketed hollow point 180 grain ..62.1

.40 S&W full metal jacket flat nose 180 grain ...... 53.4

.40 S&W jacketed hollow point 180 grain ....... 59.4

.38 Special full metal jacket 158 grain ...... 26.7

*.38 Special lead wad cutter 158 grain ............. 39.7

**.357 Magnum full metal jacket 158 grain ..... 32.7

**.357 Magnum lead wad cutter 158 grain ............ 48.5

.357 SIG full metal jacket 147 grain ................ 36.6

.357 SIG jacketed hollow point 147 grain ..... 45.2

9 millimeter full metal jacket 147 grain ............ 32.3

9 millimeter jacketed hollow point 147 grain ... 39.9

.380 Auto jacketed hollow point 95 grain ..... 18.3

.32 Auto jacketed hollow point 71 grain ...... 11.1

.25 Auto jacketed hollow point 50 grain ...... 3.7

.22 Long Rifle jacketed hollow point 40 grain ... 4.2

* Jacketed hollow points will have the same rating as wad cutter bullets if the bullet hollow tip is greater than 1/2 of the caliber of the bullet.

* .357 Magnum ratings are taken from a firearm with a 3 inch barrel. Longer barrels will raise the rating of the round.

[Jim Noble]

Soldiers, marines, and policemen are not representative.

First, they are trained. Secondly, they practice with their weapons. Third, they are stronger, younger, and more coordinated than average. Fourth, they are indoctrinated with concepts of duty, honor, country, and mission.

And so on...

[Jim Noble]

Soldiers, marines, and policemen are not representative.

First, they are trained. Secondly, they practice with their weapons. Third, they are stronger, younger, and more coordinated than average. Fourth, they are indoctrinated with concepts of duty, honor, country, and mission.

And so on...

[alarm rider]

Rule of thumb:

One to the head, two to the chest.

That said, I do not trust a 9mm auto as much as I trust a 1911 .45.

If push comes to shove, give me the .45.

[thogle]

For about the same amount of money and a lot more stopping power why not go with a .45 ACP such as a Springfield XD 45 or maybe a Glock Model 21? You don’t want to have to depend on a smaller piece of lead when it really counts. Not only does the .45 make bigger holes, it also hits like Mark McGuire with a baseball bat. It’s hard for the bad guy to shoot back even if he’s not quite out yet when he’s been knocked backwards and is completely dissoriented by the impact. If you hit him in the torso he’s most likely going to be knocked completely of his feet by the .45. Smaller faster rounds can go right through and not do a whole lot of immediate dammage. Even though he might be dead he might not know it yet with the smaller faster round.

[thogle]

For about the same amount of money and a lot more stopping power why not go with a .45 ACP such as a Springfield XD 45 or maybe a Glock Model 21? You don’t want to have to depend on a smaller piece of lead when it really counts. Not only does the .45 make bigger holes, it also hits like Mark McGuire with a baseball bat. It’s hard for the bad guy to shoot back even if he’s not quite out yet when he’s been knocked backwards and is completely dissoriented by the impact. If you hit him in the torso he’s most likely going to be knocked completely of his feet by the .45. Smaller faster rounds can go right through and not do a whole lot of immediate dammage. Even though he might be dead he might not know it yet with the smaller faster round. Of course none of this matters if you can’t shoot and it would probably be good to shoot first.

[KoRn]

/mark

[Nailbiter]

ping

[fella]

Will .44 specials work in a .44 magnum?

[Travis McGee]

Yes. Ditto .38 Special in .357 mag.

[USMC0351Grunt]

I don’t know where you ever got your, “training”, but you NEVER dry-fire ANY weapon.

[USMC0351Grunt]

NOW you’re using your head.

[USMC0351Grunt]

You ever shot a human-bein with a .40 caliber or larger?

[USMC0351Grunt]

I carry a Taurus PT1140 as a conceal carry during the summer and a Glock Model 22, .40 Caliber during the cooler seasons (Jackets and shoulder holster or side holster) and transfer my Taurus to the back-up position.

You want to play ganes carrying anything less than a .40 caliber, then write your obituary now so it looks good and sounds cool in the newspaper.

[USMC0351Grunt]

Now THIS is an excellent choice! This man is serious about staying alive!

[eyedigress]

A .40 caliber will stop even the worst of intentions. I couldn’t agree more.

[TxAg1981]

I agree that stress fire is VERY different than range fire.
. That being said, in stress situation you will rarely notice any recoil. Muzzle rise will affect your follow up shots but not felt recoil.

[raybbr]

Just came across this thread in search about 9mms vs. .380 and thought it would be fun to wake it up.

[Loud Mime]

For reference James Brady was shot with a .22 caliber.

As was Robert Kennedy

[Firewagon]

Rates as something you won’t be carrying;) Above the 44 Mag by about two times; but even that gun, unless you’re Dirty Harry, will not be something anyone will want to carry around - outside of using it as a ‘short rifle’ for hunting!

[Firewagon]

Beware, possible flame war.... That 454 300 grainer @1600 fps carries about 1800 fpe. It also may as well be a single shot - follow up shots with those BIG boys is problematic, especially trying to hit anything stationary, let alone moving. Even if you are shooting a bear at close range, hopefully you have a backup weapons guy or a backup plan!

By contrast, my 10mm w/180 SGDHP, out of a 3.8” Glock barrel, hits 1250 fps w/625 fpe. Difference being, I can have four empty cases in the air at the same time, on target @10 yds, That’s 720 cumulative grains of ‘bonded’ bullets bringing 2500 cumulative foot pounds of energy with them! That same combination, btw, has accounted for at least one boar hog @30 yds (two shots) and one coyote (one shot) @110 yds, verified by a range finder.

Said all that to say, shoot what you shoot best, and NEVER expect the bad guy to STOP with one shot! That Boston clown soaked up eight (8) 40 caliber rounds (police shooters) and failed to expire before his brother ran him over with a car!!