Over Penetration Threat

There is an oft-cited; but rarely seen report from NYPD that details their experience with overpenetration before and after switching from 9mm FMJ. Not suprisingly, the switch to JHP reduced the numbers significantly; but I don't think I've ever seen a link to the actual report.

I'd agree though that people fascinate with overpenetration to the degree that they get ridiculous. People worry about rounds travelling through drywall without stopping to think that any round that is stopped by drywall is certainly not going to do much to a person.

While I wouldn't load up FMJ unless it was all I had, I'd tend to agree that underpenetration probably results in more "good guys" killed than overpenetration.
 
Of course the antis think all FMJ is "armor piercing cop-killer" ammo.

Won't be long before they take up the "hollow point ammo is inhumane because it is designed to infliict more damage" mantra.
 
Lets not pick on New Jersey, some people there have accurate and deadly firearms, loaded with the most effective ammo.


Haven't you ever watched the Sopranos?:)
 
I saw a training video which showed an incident where the bullet went through the intended target and into the innocent hostage. The police sniper was above and behind the perpetrator who was holding a female hostage at gunpoint to his front. The sniper fired down at about a 40 degree angle into the back or back of the head of the perpetrator. The rifle bullet passed through the intended target and hit the hostage killing her too.
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And this is relevent to handgun overpenetration how?

Its fairly rare when a full power rifle round does NOT completely penetrate a human body.

One of the 10 basic firearms safety rules (and everyone seems to put them in different orders these days) is "know your target, and what is BEHIND IT!"

Even Hollywood has finally recognised the "dangers" of overpenetration, although in their typical fashion, they only use it when it suits the plotline.

One of the cop dramas I watched last season ended with the heroine detective being held hostage, and used as a human shield. She grabs the bad guys gun hand and shoots herself, so the bullet passes through her and takes out the bad guy. Of course, in the fictional story, she lives, and later fully recovers.

Now, tis a long established fact that in a gun fight, you get serious tunnel vision. One may not see, or hear anything except the bad guy (and hopefully, your front sight). So, knowing there is someone behind the bad guy, or on the other side of the wall, or the street before you shoot is not very likely.

I would assume police get training to help overcome this (and if they don't, they should) because they are much more likely to be in that situation than ordinary citizens.

In my personal life, defensive handgun "overpenetration" is not a concern. If it is in yours, best advice I can think of right now is "aim for the thick part, and don't miss".:rolleyes:
 
I remember reading about an instance presumably in the 1930s where a LEO was carrying the then new S&W 357 magnum and got involved in a shootout with bank robbery suspects. The officer fired at the back of the car as the BGs sped away and 1 of his shots went through the trunk, the back seat, the front seat, through the driver, killing him and lodged into the steering wheel. Pretty amazing esp for the time.

This "over penetration" thread made me think of that story.

I don't know if this actually happened but I don't believe any HP could do such a thing. Does anyone know where I read this or have a copy of that ad? I can't remember where I read that story. It was probably in some gun magazine.
 
I would agree to much talk of over penetration. I would be more concerned about the rounds that miss the intended target.
Its a pity that the FBI did not ust FMJ in miami then we might not of had the rush to jump on the .40 bandwagon
 
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