stoping power revisited

Originally posted by raspy:
<><> I think the only way to judge (stopping power) is to keep shooting until the threat is stopped. That will give you the true result of (stopping power). Sometimes it will be 1 shot, other times it may be 12 shots. There are to many variables to say what is the best caliber for stopping power, or how many shots to stop the threat.
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Raspy

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Yeah, it seems like the stopping power debate will never end. My logic tells me that even though people have been stopped at one time or another with everything ever fired in every caliber known, I depend on big bullets making big holes. Two .45's are going to have a better chance, no matter how small, of hitting or knicking something vital than two of any smaller caliber.
Draw an imaginary line between your nipples, and center a 4 inch circle on it over your sternum. Into that circle I would rather put a .45acp slug than a 9mm slug. Now then, I know the 9mm's may do just as much damage but I'd prefer staking my life on the .45's... IMNSHO.

Shot/ shot the .45 is still king.

But...

with the advances being made in ammo, is it possible that, we achieve a level we can call "adequate", in which case, the speed and capacity of cartridges like the 9mm become more desireable?

Too, with the increasing availability of concealable body armor, does having a higher capacity, faster firing gun, like the 9mm, 5.57mm (or the rumored 6.5mm) make more sense?

I dunno. Too, I sometimes worry about dangerous creatures. My guess is, they won't be wearing body armor, and will probably have more respect for a .45

[This message has been edited by elsworth (edited 09-17-2001).]

Didnt the FBI choose .45acp for its HRT's sidearms?

Originally posted by raspy:
<><> I think the only way to judge (stopping power) is to keep shooting until the threat is stopped. That will give you the true result of (stopping power). Sometimes it will be 1 shot, other times it may be 12 shots. There are to many variables to say what is the best caliber for stopping power, or how many shots to stop the threat.
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Raspy

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True... For some people, a hit from a .22 will take the fight out of them, for others, not even a 44 magnum would stop them.

Much depends on where the shots are placed, but certainly, other factors can get into the equation.

Drugs, mental disorders, that "disconnect" the bodies physiological raection to being shot can compound the situation.

True, I will increase my odds using a .45, but I don't feel under-gunned with a 9mm. Then again, maybe, a 12 gauge loaded with Buck, or Slugs might be more effective, at least, in defense of my home.

No matter what, I have trained, and learned, that until the threat has ended, I will continue to shoot.

No matter what kind of wonderbullets the manufacturer makes, your shot placement will always be more important than what ammo you carry.

Having said that, if the shot goes where it belongs, I prefer it to be the biggest, heaviest round I can deliver with consistency, reliability and the least amount of effort.

I don't wanna get flippant..

But if I had to actually pull my 9MM CZ-75 out on some bad dude to defend myself,

and I fired a full capacity load of 16 shots...easily under 3 seconds...and that didn't work...
then I was meant to be dead.....that's all.

Stocky

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Anyone who isn't a paranoid schizophrenic now-a-days, just isn't thinking clearly!