Quote:
Studies have shown the chances for hollow point bullet expansion are so low that your depending on sheer luck . . .
I would like to see a link to the studies you are referring to in that. I agree with your overall point that no one should count on a one shot stop with a handgun, but I am interested in knowing how infrequently and under what conditions modern hollow points fail to expand in the major calibers.
this is a pdf
http://www.firearmstactical.com/pdf/fbi-hwfe.pdf its somewhat based on professional opinion and as I think ive stated that my opinion on the matter is largely based on much of the information included in this report. you can research this all day long and find just about as many opinions on the subject of handguns terminal performance as people have rear ends. Im logical I believe, and this is compelling information. ive read a few other arcticles on the same subject covering much of the same data and have seen much the same conclusions as in the example I linked too. I think its safe to plop the 40 between the 9 and 45 that this discussion was aimed at. though some mention was given to 22lr and high powered rifle. I regret not finding a really excellent topic I read not long ago and have not found it in time to link it as well. it had much the same basic fbi conclusions but had more of the supporting data as well as a more in depth review of actual wound data, ahh well. yes the 45 and 40 make slightly bigger holes. no they can knock a man down by force of there energy.
if you look at many of the knockdown power advocates you always find less supported information as in this example, name and link to this example are
left out as I don't have an axe to grind and cant really see the point in arguing what facts are presented in such articles so its basically an example and not verbatim. ......
basically one officers story,(and ive read many other examples along the same lines) about how he shoots a bg 4 times with a 9mm and ends up getting stabbed, and of course another time when the same officer drops a bg with a 45 with one shot, practically taking him out of his shoes.,,
so theres an example of the stuff myths are made of, I am not calling this guy a liar. Could of gone down exactly as stated as well as some of the other examples ive read. just keep in mind that every situation is different, rarely see all the facts in these stories, like ballistic data or autopsy data. so imo again, I prefer to look at it logically and leave out emotional attachment to your personal choice and when you do you see that what counts most is shot placement far and away above caliber used. I think we all pretty much agree on that one point. bullet caliber is secondary, important but secondary, as a 9mm will with good shot placement do the job, and if the 9 will so will the 40 and the 45 obviously. I do think theres also the undeniable fact that without good shot placement it wont matter which caliber you use. All that supports my opinion that you should go with a gun you can shoot fast and accurately and has as much capacity as you can comfortably carry. My choice is the 9mm not because it has the most power on paper, but because it has enough power with the added bonuses of extra rounds and faster shot to shot times and is not abusive to the average shooter to become proficient with even in the smaller framed hideout guns like the lc9. Anyway hope the link is interesting reading for some, not really out to do a crusade on this subject, I am a little erked when I see a dealer pushing 40`s over 9`s to a newbie and people talking about knock down power should qualify that means on steel plates not people. but other than that just shoot straight.