I have always been of the mindset, that the larger the caliber, the more likely you will stop the person you are shooting at. I use 'person' for a reason. My personal thoughts kind of leaned with .38 or 9mm or larger, then something happened.
November 1 2025, my 44 year old son, was minding his own business in a karaoke bar, with a friend, when a person, entered the bar, apparently with a grudge, towards the karaoke DJ. To this day, we are lead to believe he had a .38 revolver (the police not very forthcoming regarding the weapon .. nor have been doctors). 5 shots rang out ... four hit the intended victim, and my son, happened to be standing behind the intended victim. 3 or 4 shots hit him as well. A third person was injured (I am not certain if the injury was from a bullet.
The intended victim, with 4 bullet wounds, was in the hospital less than 48 hours, and released. Apparently the bullets went in and out of him. My son was not so lucky. He has survived ... but he was shot in the hand below his first finger, exiting out between his first and second finger. One bullet hit him in the forearm and out the other side. The question remains as to if this second bullet went on into his left side, and completely through him, stopping just short of exiting his right side ... or if this would was caused by a third projectile. The 4th bullet, hit him in the belly and stopped inside him.
The hand first projectile wound did damage to his muscles and fractured bones, and is healing and about 70% return to normal use. The second projectile wound, through the forearm, quick in and out healed within days, with no serious damage. The second or third projectile into his left side and through almost all his body cavity, caused various abscesses, to form ... with months and months of antibiotics, they seemed to have run their course.
The gut or belly shot, took out his appendix, and injured his colon, requiring intensive surgery, a wide scar from just below his sternum to below his navel, creating additional abscesses, and the need for a colostomy bag. Out of work for four and a half months ... but he survived. Recently in August 2026, he was given an okay regarding his colon, and went under the knife again, removing much internal scar tissue, and successfully reconnecting his colon. Though still in major drug free pain, he is back to work (light duty).
So my point here, is had the shooter used perhaps hollow point projectiles, or a smaller caliber gun, he may have done all that damage to the intended victim, and not an innocent bystander. It is all about bullet placement, and the individual situation where it is found necessary to shoot someone with intent to kill ... but a hollow point in .38 might have done the job, or a .380, a .25, or even a .22 .... and not caused an innocent to become a victim, with such disastrous results.
