Knockdown Power

[Narcoleptic Warrior]

There's been quite a bit of talk about the effectiveness of the shotgun for home defense, especially when used at close range with applicable buckshot loads.

Much has also been computed about the ft/lbs rating of each individual pellet and/or the entire shot column as a whole.

However, what I would like to know is exactly how much MOMENTUM does a standard 9-pellet 1300fps 12ga 2 3/4" load deliver when the pellets hit a target at 10 yards or less? What I am looking for here is an anecdotal comparison to say.....something like the impact of being hit with a thrown football, a tennis ball at full speed or maybe being punched in the chest by your average drunk.

 

[Odd Job]

The impact is like resting a 12-gauge butt-stock against your chest and firing it

 

[Smokin Joe]

The impact is like resting a 12-gauge butt-stock against your chest and firing it

close. but it would be more like you take 9 blunt ice picks attach it to the stock, place that over your chest, and Fire.

the impact is different because of the penetration. and surface area of the impact.

like if you jump into the swimming pool, like a diver you penetrate, a belly flop you dont and OUCH.

 

[Slideman]

It is more complicated than that. The projectiles 'gradually' accelerate in the 20"+ barrel. At the target, they decelerate much quicker. Thus the impact takes effect over a shorter time and distance. Of course spreading the acceleration impact over a broad buttstock is kinder than what happens at the other end, too.

 

[CDFT]

Is it 1.25 oz of lead in a 2.75" shell? Well then it would be like taking a five pound weight and tossing it at somebody's chest at fourteen miles an hour.

Not bad (as anybody who's fired a 12 ga can tell you), but it's not exactly going to stop a charging man due to force alone (the blood loss, however...).

 

[OBIWAN]

OMG...

Welcome toanother episode of "everything I learned about physics came from a comic book"

No I don't mean everyone