CAPMJUSTICE
New member
I'm considering getting a snub nose 44 Special for a versatile self defense/woods defense gun, and in watching the reviews of different loads of this caliber in ballistics gel, I noticed some interesting things:
1. The wadcutters penetrate A LOT! sometimes 20 in +
2. Loads designed specifically to penetrate extra get 30 + in!
3. Some of the self defense loads don't expand and therefore overpenetrate.
4. The defense loads that do expand only reach 12-13 in. Which is a passing grade according to the FBI, but is not what I expected because I've heard so many people compare the 44 spl to the 45 acp.
5. The caliber seemed to exhibit a surprising immunity to any material placed in front of the ballistics gel. It got the same penetration no mater what it had to go through!
So, after looking at these tests, the 44 spl exceeds my expectations for woods defense for such a low velocity caliber, but it under performed my expectations for self defense. My questions are, in order of priority:
1. Is there any additional benefit the caliber has, in self defense, that makes up for its merely passing level of penetration? (maybe its material immunity? How important is that factor in self defense?)
2. How is it penetrating so deeply in the penetration specialty and wadcutter loads with such low velocity?
1. The wadcutters penetrate A LOT! sometimes 20 in +
2. Loads designed specifically to penetrate extra get 30 + in!
3. Some of the self defense loads don't expand and therefore overpenetrate.
4. The defense loads that do expand only reach 12-13 in. Which is a passing grade according to the FBI, but is not what I expected because I've heard so many people compare the 44 spl to the 45 acp.
5. The caliber seemed to exhibit a surprising immunity to any material placed in front of the ballistics gel. It got the same penetration no mater what it had to go through!
So, after looking at these tests, the 44 spl exceeds my expectations for woods defense for such a low velocity caliber, but it under performed my expectations for self defense. My questions are, in order of priority:
1. Is there any additional benefit the caliber has, in self defense, that makes up for its merely passing level of penetration? (maybe its material immunity? How important is that factor in self defense?)
2. How is it penetrating so deeply in the penetration specialty and wadcutter loads with such low velocity?
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