Author Topic: Caliber, Ammo, and other fun questions (Read 902 times)

mr.theman · « **on:** February 18, 2006, 09:32:49 AM »

I am look for my first home defense and CC weapon. I am not new to guns but I don't have one that is strictly a defense gun.
I have been looking at 45's and like the Springfield XD, but this thought entered my mind today. "If the bad guy is in the house and I shoot him from say 15 feet center mass what is going happen to the bullet after it leaves his body (if it does). Will it have enough power left to go through the wall and into another room (kids room for example) and hurt someone. If he is in the doorway will the bullet exit and have enough power to go out the open door accross the street and into the neighbors house?" Maybe I am looking at to much gun to safely discharge in an area where other people may get in harms way. I don't want to say "mr. bad guy could you please take 3 steps to the right before I shoot you." Are there other calibers that I should be looking at.
Can this issue be solved with ammo selection? I would assume that with hollow points the more expansion the bullet achieves the less likely it would be to exit the body and if it did it would have lost a great deal of energy.
Please help to put my sometimes over active mind at ease. Thanks for any advice that you guys offer. If there is a better place on the net to get these answers I DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT, GBO is great!!!

Savage · « **Reply #1 on:** February 18, 2006, 02:34:16 PM »

Most any adequate defensive handgun caliber will penetrate several interior walls. The .45 is a good caliber for your purposes, you might get a little less penetration with the lighter bullets for the .45 like the 185gr HP. The primary concern is hitting your target.
Savage

257 roberts · « **Reply #2 on:** February 19, 2006, 01:54:13 AM »

Just like Savage said,if you find yourself in that position do what you have
to do, the rest is for lawyers
But a 45acp hardball(department issue) will go thru a body, thru a window and across a street in a mailbox AND in the window across the street into a entertanment center!!!

rockbilly · « **Reply #3 on:** February 19, 2006, 06:05:30 AM »

Most any modern firearm will penetrate dry wall. In the average house I can shove my fist through both sides of a wall.

I vote for the large caliber, but caution you to be fully aware of your target and their location in relation to other members of the household. I had a friend that shot an intruder, the bullet passed through him, through the wall and hit his young son who was sleeping in the next room. :cry:

drdougrx · « **Reply #4 on:** February 19, 2006, 06:34:41 AM »

Maybe try Glasers?

They're supposed to have the least amount of penetration due to the bird shot matrix.

Have a look at the Cor-bon site: http://www.corbon.com/

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #5 on:** February 19, 2006, 08:34:52 AM »

If this is a real concern you'd best replace the handgun with a shotgun using a shot that is not heavy enough to blow thru a wall and injure an innocent party. As a matter of fact, a big dog, security lights, and a well secured perimiter may serve you just as well as a firearm.

mr.theman · « **Reply #6 on:** February 20, 2006, 10:23:23 AM »

Thanks for the replys guys. As far as this being a "real concern" not so much so. The way my house is set up it is very unlikley that anyone could get between my and my kids room without me being able to take action first and I have always been diligent in knowing what is beyond my target. THis is one of those things that pops into my head on my way to early 50 mile drive to work every morning. I just thought I would see what you guys had to say about it. I will check out the glasers and try to determine pros and cons of such a round. Thanks for the advice guys.

drdougrx · « **Reply #7 on:** February 20, 2006, 10:46:07 AM »

Hi I,

A shooting instructor of mine, Massad Ayoob from Lethal Force Institute, used a .357 glaser on deer in NH in I thinbk the 1980's. He told the class it was the most impressive antipersonal ammo he'd ever seen. He was amazed at the tissue damage. I used to carry them in a .38 for along time. Now, I just use hydrashoks.

Best of Luck!

corbanzo · « **Reply #8 on:** February 21, 2006, 12:04:26 PM »

You could also look for something that will take a fragmenting load... I know they are mostly small caliber for varmints, but you might be able to find something larger caliber.... Something that breaks on impact and bounces around inside them.... ugly mess of the guts.

Savage · « **Reply #9 on:** February 22, 2006, 02:16:34 AM »

I'd stay away from the "Glassers" or any other frangible bullet. The tests I have read indicate unreliable penetration with these rounds. I would also submit that anyone who would hunt deer with "Glassers" is somewhat unresponsible at best.
Savage

chevyfan1a4 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 16, 2006, 06:44:29 PM »

Federal 135gr 9mm hydra shoks penetrate on average 13" They are going pretty slow if they do come out of someone. If they do a 2x4 or some sheet rock will most likely stop it.

If you don't like the 9mm or are still concerned, 20 gauge #2 bird shot!

Buckeyeppc · « **Reply #11 on:** March 21, 2006, 12:00:07 PM »

Here's a great site to see what type of penetration various types of ammo will do.

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot1.htm