Dirty Harry Callahan,

I feel that ENERGY FOOT POUNDS does matter, but with respect to shooting, I am (and most likely always will be) a dinosaur. I see self-defense much like hunting. In the event that I take a shot, I want the recipient of that shot to drop as quickly as possible.

In my perspective, bullet energy means momentum. For example, a 22 Long Rifle has a muzzle energy of 116 foot pounds, while a 357 Magnum (158gr) has a muzzle energy of roughly 530 foot pounds, and a 45 ACP has a muzzle energy of 355 foot pounds. Rightly or wrongly, I would like to believe that the more momentum that I can sling at a recipient will increase the chances of dropping the recipient. If my logic is off, I would love to see a welterweight boxer fight a heavyweight boxer!

Chances are extremely good that in a gunfight, the defender won't be able to deliver pinpoint accuracy, so you need a card up your sleeve, and in opinion, that card is momentum (bullet energy).

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Judge control not gun control!