stopping power statistics

The most effective caliber?

I think when its all said and done, having ANY caliber weapon with you ("when the chips are down") is the best caliber. You can make arguments for all types of guns and calibers. Keltyke said it best, "too many varibles to make any caliber the best". But, I gotta admit, when and if the chips ever go down on me, it sure is comforting to know I have my Colt 1911 loaded with Winchester Black Talons (230 gr) to even the score......
 
The flash and bang out of a 45 should, or could, be nearly twice that of a 9mm, due to the case capacity difference.

Tamara: I was thinking of a very specific instance: the 500 S&@, using near or over 700 grain bullets, in stock barrels. See John Ross about stabilizing such bullets.

And, not really quantifiable, or maybe not adequately explained is the geometric effect, or appearance of effect, when you start moving 260 grain or heavier bullets, in 45 or larger calibers, at 1200 fps, or more, in a handgun.

Even ft-lbs of energy don't quantify the wound channel photos, and observations of effect, out of a handgun...
 
Black Talons - a blast from the past.

The ultimate stopper that will hang you in court and banned by the Feds or the UN. The buzz saw through human flesh. Let the flames begin.
 
Strasbourg tests

The strasbourg tests did in fact happen.
http://www.thegunzone.com/strasbourg.html
Discussion of really huge projectiles in monstrously powerful calibers is meaningless in terms of stopping power, since most of the projectiles don't even begin to expand in a mass as small as a human being. If it's a relatively light projo, designed like the Speer gold dot, the real defining wound is going to be the irreparable exit. I fooled around a bit with .44 mag, using the 180 gr. GD @ around 1,800 fps from a 9.5" Ruger SRH. My testing proved definitively that if you shoot a 5 lb. can of peanut butter from 20 feet away with that thing, you will be covered in the stuff. That's all it proved, but boy was it scary!
 
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