What is better

R

Red Dog

New member
This is in reference to another post where steel was shot with different calibers.

It is better that a round exited the target? I think not.

I heard that SS went to fragmenting rounds to prevent over penetration.
 
The correct answer is, it depends.

In an urban setting with lots of people and other stuff that you don't want to hit, you probably don't want an exit if you can prevent it. Even at that, be sure of your backstop before you shoot, since there's no guarantees.

In a rural setting, it may not matter as much.

But keep in mind that the steel shot in that other post was shot with FMJ ammo. It shows the possibilities, but not many carry FMJ ammo for defensive use...other than military.

The best way to limit (or increase) penetration is by choosing the correct bullet for your needs.

Daryl
 
I think not also,I carry 45acp.180GR. HP. Ammo loaded to 1100 ft.sec.
I would rather let all energy transfer to target for higher shock.Dont need a blood trail !!!
 
The answer is it depends. Penetration and solid bullets is more important if you are in the woods with the possibility attack from dangerous game. I have owned and shot all three calibers, any will do.
 
The Secret Service (SS conjures up images of nazis), does not use fragmenting rounds. They use very conventional commercial hollow point ammunition. So do Air Marshalls, Flight Deck Officers etc. and so on.
 
I personally believe its better to deposit all kinetic energy IN a BG than shoot through.

I'll stick with my .45acp unless a perp comes into my house with a shield made of 1/8" steel. Then I break out the AR...
 
Fragmenting ammunition has no place in any self defense situation IMO, regardless of where you live. If you are worried about overpenetration then use a shotgun with birdshot. While still not a great choice, its better than fragmenting handgun loads.

Maximum expansion of the bullet for maximum permanent cavity damage that still allows for penetration that is adequate to reach vital organ systems is what should be sought after in a self defense load. The majority of the major manufacturers who manufacture modern self defense ammunition do this quite well regardless of caliber as long as it is one of the major service calibers (9mm, .357 sig or mag., 40 s&w, 10mm, 45 acp)
 
Over-penetration is a problem, especially with 12gauge buckshot (00 or 000). I've started using #4 buckshot in my home shotguns. Same velocity, but smaller shot and less chance of over-penetration.

In my Model 65, I carry Rem 158gr SWCHP +P. Hollow point should expand, and less chance of over-penetration.
 
I've started using #4 buckshot in my home shotguns. Same velocity, but smaller shot and less chance of over-penetration
Click to expand...

...but you just went from firing 8-9 projectiles per trigger pull to 27 projectiles per trigger pull. Something to think about. If misses, overpenetration and an unknown backstop are all issues then buckshot is probably not the best choice for home defense. While the shotgun is a very dynamic defensive weapon a handgun that only fires one projectile per trigger pull will limit the likelyhood, in theory, of a miss. Depending on how your shotgun patterns it may not take much to miss with a couple of pellets if you take a shot slightly off target.
 
The secret service would only use frangible bullets for one reason.

Because they are inevitably acting as bodyguards in crowded areas. It would be good if they could dump a round into the bad guy that wouldn't have the potential to kill the first lady when it came through.

But, they don't. They use standard rounds that are less likely to blow through the bad guy than are FMJ.
 
Shooting lots of handgun bullets all at once as opposed to one at a time changes nothing in regard to what is expected of them at the target.
 
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