I'd like to know how other people feel concerning firepower vs. accuracy. I feel more confident with a Ruger Mark II with a 10 inch barrel than my 1911 Colt. Both are good guns, but the Ruger has less recoil and I can place 10 shots exactly where I want them as fast as I can pull the trigger. Is accuracy or the size of the hole more important?
Firepower vs. accuracy
- Thread starter Hammy
- Start date
Al Thompson
Staff Alumnus
Unless your firearm is belt fed, firepower is a myth.
Hitting is the goal - if your not proficient with the .45, either get some instruction or switch to a smaller caliber. (9mm)
While there are many dead people with .22 holes in them, your trying to get the most effective combination possible. The idea is to make the other person stop doing what they were doing when you shot them. Bigger bullet/faster bullet/expanding bullet in the right place simply ups your chances of achieving that goal.
Giz
Hitting is the goal - if your not proficient with the .45, either get some instruction or switch to a smaller caliber. (9mm)
While there are many dead people with .22 holes in them, your trying to get the most effective combination possible. The idea is to make the other person stop doing what they were doing when you shot them. Bigger bullet/faster bullet/expanding bullet in the right place simply ups your chances of achieving that goal.
Giz
Ditto, Gizmo. A nuke is only effective due to the fact that it's an area effect weapon, unlike handguns. Close dosen't cut it. Never mind that a "Hit" with .50AE to the foot may not accomplish the same thing as a "Hit" the the head with a .22!! Plenty of comparative documentation on the importance of shot placement. Don't rely on mystical "One Shot Stops", wonder bullets, or cannons. Concentrate instead on shot placement, effective technique, considder expansion as a bonus, and run like h*ll when you can. A handgun should only be a tool in our approach to personal defense. The most potent tool that you have is still your brain, and there's no shame in training it just as you would anything else. And ya can't stop what ya can't hit!
Tom
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A "Miss" is the ultimate overpenetration!
Tom
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A "Miss" is the ultimate overpenetration!
Edmund Rowe
New member
I think Marine Corps legend Chesty Puller said: "You can't hurt 'em if you can't hit 'em"
Urrahh!!
Edmund
Urrahh!!
Edmund
If you are TARGET shooting accuracy is thee thing to worry about. In a gunfight worry not. You'll be at the famous 21 feet or less in all but a few rare cases. Few handgun would fail to pass an accuracy test of any kind at that range or CLOSER. If you HIT what you shoot at (most won't) then firepower isn't an issue. We did pretty good with 6 shooters for a century or so. Capacity is our way of trying to put the burden of performance on the gun and not our responsibility to hit what we shoot at.
No bullet or amount of bullets or type of bullets will make up for poor placement.
Over the past 100 years we kept thinking more and bigger were better in lieu of our responsibility. Tart words, but that is what it boils down to in the real world.
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Specialists in the use and training of lethal force.
No bullet or amount of bullets or type of bullets will make up for poor placement.
Over the past 100 years we kept thinking more and bigger were better in lieu of our responsibility. Tart words, but that is what it boils down to in the real world.
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Specialists in the use and training of lethal force.
Accuracy is paramount. Spray and pray doesn't cut it on the street.
You must ask yourself two things in a self-defense scenario.
1. Did I hit? (the intended target)
2. Did it work? (stop the aggression)
You must stop the attacker as fast and decisively as possible.
Accuracy, not firepower, is where it's at when the situation is up and close where most shootings occur.
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Did you ever stop to think...
And then forget to start over again?
Jim
www.geocities.com/Heartland/Lake/3887/home.html
You must ask yourself two things in a self-defense scenario.
1. Did I hit? (the intended target)
2. Did it work? (stop the aggression)
You must stop the attacker as fast and decisively as possible.
Accuracy, not firepower, is where it's at when the situation is up and close where most shootings occur.
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Did you ever stop to think...
And then forget to start over again?
Jim
www.geocities.com/Heartland/Lake/3887/home.html
Good shot placement beats large numbers of big bullets any day of the week!!!!!
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Just as there is no such thing as too much fun,
there is no such thing as owning just one gun!!!
Off my meds (quit smoking), armed to the teeth, and loose on an unsuspecting society!!!
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Just as there is no such thing as too much fun,
there is no such thing as owning just one gun!!!
Off my meds (quit smoking), armed to the teeth, and loose on an unsuspecting society!!!
Are you asking if your 22 is an adequate defense pistol?
Yes.
Are you asking if you should carry it rather than your 45?
No.
If you actually shoot a person you can expect they'll be a mite bit jacked up on adrenaline. The 22 has an earned reputation as a round that does not always get their attention (exception-ear/eye shot).
A 115gJHP at 1250+ or 230gJHP at 800fps usually does...........
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"All my ammo is factory ammo"
Yes.
Are you asking if you should carry it rather than your 45?
No.
If you actually shoot a person you can expect they'll be a mite bit jacked up on adrenaline. The 22 has an earned reputation as a round that does not always get their attention (exception-ear/eye shot).
A 115gJHP at 1250+ or 230gJHP at 800fps usually does...........
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"All my ammo is factory ammo"