CassandraComplex
New member
CR Sam, I respectfully submit that you are making a common error of confusing power with penetration. (In fact, usually, more velocity, with hollowpoints, equals less penetration, but let's ignore that for now)
Bullet design and sectional density gives you penetration, not velocity, energy or caliber.
A standard 9mm 124gr non-expanded bullet will give you well over 36 inches (3 feet!) of penetration (way more than you need for any human at any reasonable angle). The 9mm FMJ will even penetrate deeper than a .45 FMJ (through wood, metal, glass, flesh and bone in all tests so far). So, penetration is not a factor bewteen these calibers.
On the other hand, a .357 125gr hollowpoint of the standard design will NOT accomplish the pentration you want it too in your scenario. They usually expand and only penetrate to about 8-10 inches in the standard design. (Now, get a 158gr .357 bullet or a different hollowpoint design and the story changes.)
A 9mm in the 124 gr +P variety will give you the same penetration and expansion as any other defensive load (look at the chart by FUD at the beginning of this thread)
So, if you want penetration, look at bullet design. All calibers will fail to penetrate with the certain load types and designs, and all will penetrate deep with other bullet type and designs.
(See the posts above by Red bull and others on the Miami incident for more on this.)
If you are worried about a 9mm not penetrating through, then get a bullet design that does, like a 9mm 124gr +P Gold Dot that will penetrate plenty deep (19 inches through clothing, even after windshield galss) and expand as large as the .357 (over .6" expansion).
If you really want penetration then get a modern 147gr 9mm load and it will expand and penetrate very deep.
Do you understand the point I am trying to make? Penetration is not about caliber and not about power. It is about bullet design when speaking of the defensive pistol cartridges (9mm to .45 and everything in between).
A .357 Mag/Sig could fail to penetrate in that scenario just like a 9mm could....if you pick the wrong load for the job.
If you want your round to penetrate that deep, then you don't need to look to another caliber, you just need to find the load type that does, within whatever caliber you want. They all will do get the same job done (same penetration, same expansion) with the proper load selection, including the 9mm.
[This message has been edited by CassandraComplex (edited June 12, 2000).]
Bullet design and sectional density gives you penetration, not velocity, energy or caliber.
A standard 9mm 124gr non-expanded bullet will give you well over 36 inches (3 feet!) of penetration (way more than you need for any human at any reasonable angle). The 9mm FMJ will even penetrate deeper than a .45 FMJ (through wood, metal, glass, flesh and bone in all tests so far). So, penetration is not a factor bewteen these calibers.
On the other hand, a .357 125gr hollowpoint of the standard design will NOT accomplish the pentration you want it too in your scenario. They usually expand and only penetrate to about 8-10 inches in the standard design. (Now, get a 158gr .357 bullet or a different hollowpoint design and the story changes.)
A 9mm in the 124 gr +P variety will give you the same penetration and expansion as any other defensive load (look at the chart by FUD at the beginning of this thread)
So, if you want penetration, look at bullet design. All calibers will fail to penetrate with the certain load types and designs, and all will penetrate deep with other bullet type and designs.
(See the posts above by Red bull and others on the Miami incident for more on this.)
If you are worried about a 9mm not penetrating through, then get a bullet design that does, like a 9mm 124gr +P Gold Dot that will penetrate plenty deep (19 inches through clothing, even after windshield galss) and expand as large as the .357 (over .6" expansion).
If you really want penetration then get a modern 147gr 9mm load and it will expand and penetrate very deep.
Do you understand the point I am trying to make? Penetration is not about caliber and not about power. It is about bullet design when speaking of the defensive pistol cartridges (9mm to .45 and everything in between).
A .357 Mag/Sig could fail to penetrate in that scenario just like a 9mm could....if you pick the wrong load for the job.
If you want your round to penetrate that deep, then you don't need to look to another caliber, you just need to find the load type that does, within whatever caliber you want. They all will do get the same job done (same penetration, same expansion) with the proper load selection, including the 9mm.
[This message has been edited by CassandraComplex (edited June 12, 2000).]