Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled “3 Myths About Handgun Stopping Power” and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/handgun-stopping-power-myths/.
3 Myths About Handgun Stopping Power
- Thread starter Mike H.
- Start date
Annihilator
Hellion
To me, it still comes down to shot placement, if you can’t hit your target, bigger calibers or capacity won’t offer much help……
KillerFord1977
Emissary
Yes sir.
Why soldiers walk away from bomb, artillery and missile attacks as well.
Shot placement matters regardless of caliber.
Blackmesa96
Custom
I feel cheated. I thought Hollywood always represented things the way they are without embellishment.
I need a moment...
I need a moment...
As noted, shot placement is critical. I like a heavier caliber as I’m convinced Identical hits with a heavier caliber will increase your odds of the magic one shot stop, BUT failure to accurately place the round will result in less than optimal results regardless of caliber. A hit with a .22 short will beat a miss with a .44 mag every time. As has been said, speed is fine, but accuracy is final. I suggest folks carry the heaviest caliber THEY can shoot accurately.
I’d factor in ammo availability for maintaining proficiency as well. If 40 isn’t available in your area and 9 is, you can maintain proficiency with 9 and it would suit you well. You might think you are accurate with something after shooting nothing but your range pistol, but when it comes to your carry pistol, you need to be sure that you are proficient with it.
Lab4Us
Custom
Post #2 through #7… /agree with all.
Not a fan of articles that state “capacity” is necessary to successfully defend oneself. I am confident I can defend myself carrying a 6 round revolver or a 7/8 round 1911 or a 10/15 round 2011 or DA/SA pistol. It is why I regularly challenge Tactical Dude at various distances!
“Capacity. More rounds means more chances to get good hits. It means you can continue engaging if your first shots don’t work. It matters in multiple-attacker scenarios. Don’t sacrifice capacity for minimal gains in terminal ballistics.”
While that logic is sound (more chances to get good hits), however given same capacity (say an 8 round 1911), I’ll take a .45 round over 9mm round every time.
I don’t ever foresee myself doing battle with gangs on the streets of LA or Chicago…so I doubt I’ll need a 50 round drum of 9mm to successfully protect myself or my family.
Not a fan of articles that state “capacity” is necessary to successfully defend oneself. I am confident I can defend myself carrying a 6 round revolver or a 7/8 round 1911 or a 10/15 round 2011 or DA/SA pistol. It is why I regularly challenge Tactical Dude at various distances!
“Capacity. More rounds means more chances to get good hits. It means you can continue engaging if your first shots don’t work. It matters in multiple-attacker scenarios. Don’t sacrifice capacity for minimal gains in terminal ballistics.”
While that logic is sound (more chances to get good hits), however given same capacity (say an 8 round 1911), I’ll take a .45 round over 9mm round every time.
I don’t ever foresee myself doing battle with gangs on the streets of LA or Chicago…so I doubt I’ll need a 50 round drum of 9mm to successfully protect myself or my family.
SimonRL
Ronin
Oldmountaiman
Custom
When I was a Deputy many many many years ago our service weapon was a model 19 Smith & Weston and you had 2 dumps six rounds each. The department was small and not a lot of extras. We were told we should carry a backup because backup could be some what of a wait for support to arrive. Our shotgun was a Winchester model 97, not the safest shotgun as across the country reports of ADs with this weapon was made from a lot of departments but that was then and we are in the now. I remember the time we spent making sure we could hit what we were firing at.
KillerFord1977
Emissary
I still have a S&W Model 19-3
Model 15s for us.
negolien
Elite
When we requal they always show the Domestic stop where he's taken his kids and gets randomly pulled over for a traffic violation. Guy gets in a shoot out is shot in the heart then proceeds to get back in his car and drive 2 miles before he bleeds out. Unless it's a headshot they are unlikely to drop like a sack of wet rags like in the movies.
Annihilator
Hellion
Oldmountaiman
Custom
I wish I still had mine,it was excellent and dependable but like a lot of my friends we all parted with some great and worth while things