Best Home Defense round for heavily muscled and fat guys?

[Mac!Gettothechoppa'!]

What are the best calibers to stop some guy built like Arnold was at his prime or a fat assailant with a 50-to-54 inch plus waistline? If penetration counts would 45 Colt or 454 Casull out of my Ruger Alaskan 2.5-inch barrel or my S&W 460 (8'3/8) be considered overkill or self defense? I've seen fat guys shot with 9mm that never penetrated beyond the layers of fat to reach any muscle or vital organs. My LE friends say "family comes first, jury selection comes second"...bigger is better unless you live in an apartment building, etc.

 

[Elliot45]

Get you a Smith and Wesson M&P15 Sport AR15 for $530 (less than many handguns) and shoot the 5.56mm and you will never have to second guess again. Regards, Jim

 

[Laketime]

One .45 acp 185 gr jhp to vitals should be sufficient.

 

[Ranger98]

My idea for things that go "Bump" in the night ..

 

[Arik]

What are the best calibers to stop some guy built like Arnold was at his prime or a fat assailant with a 50-to-54 inch plus waistline? If penetration counts would 45 Colt or 454 Casull out of my Ruger Alaskan 2.5-inch barrel or my S&W 460 (8'3/8) be considered overkill or self defense? I've seen fat guys shot with 9mm that never penetrated beyond the layers of fat to reach any muscle or vital organs. My LE friends say "family comes first, jury selection comes second"...bigger is better unless you live in an apartment building, etc.

That statement about the 9 is so broad. Where did they get shot? What manufacturer did the ammo come from? Did anything else play a part? Why does waistline matter? Everything vital is above that. I know of one guy who got shot in the back with 3 rounds of 5.56 and lived. It was Wolf fmj. There are plenty of stories of people surviving 45, 357, 308, 12 G and even one guy who survived TWO nuclear bombs!

What if you shoot that 454, miss and by the time you get back on target from that recoil Arnold is already pounding your face in? Bigger is better unless you live in an apparent. ..OR ....houses built close together

shot placement is what counts.

 

[BAM-BAM]

18" Mossburg 500/590 in 12 gage... for Arnold...... slugs.....

Oh ya ......... skip the pistol grip option ..... get a full butt stock.

 

[robertrwalsh]

If you need to go with a handgun rather than a long gun get something of a decent caliber loaded with solids if you think penetration will be a serious issue. The .454 is probably overkill.

 

[Mister X]

I'm fine with nine against any two legged predators no matter how big they are as long as I've got quality modern ammunition.

Some good recommendations https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?4337-Service-Caliber-Handgun-Duty-and-Self-Defense-Ammo

 

[tim c]

12 gauge 3" 00 Buck

 

[686-380]

Perhaps you consider a different type of ammo

What are the best calibers to stop some guy built like Arnold was at his prime or a fat assailant with a 50-to-54 inch plus waistline? If penetration counts would 45 Colt or 454 Casull out of my Ruger Alaskan 2.5-inch barrel or my S&W 460 (8'3/8) be considered overkill or self defense? I've seen fat guys shot with 9mm that never penetrated beyond the layers of fat to reach any muscle or vital organs. My LE friends say "family comes first, jury selection comes second"...bigger is better unless you live in an apartment building, etc.

Take a look at Lehigh Defense Xtreme Penetrator ammunition. They have various calibers that go deep enough. Good luck!

 

[Chuck24]

As a big 54+fat guy, you could stop me with a box of Krispy Kremes.

 

[Derosa]

I will bring the coffee. ;>)

 

[jeeps]

BULLET-PLACEMENT ,WE DROPPED A 1000+ BULL WITH ONE 22LR round nose.

 

[Wyatt p. Tato]

Tell him ... oh look barbells... Then shoot him in the knee no matter how big the knee really hurts.

 

[Gamecock]

12 gauge 3" 00 Buck

2 3/4" 00 is just as good. Perp won't notice the difference; recoil will be more controllable.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Just smear jello all over the floor...........
if it will stop a Giant chicken heart, it will work on any humans.

 

[Muss Muggins]

What are the best calibers to stop some guy built like Arnold was at his prime or a fat assailant with a 50-to-54 inch plus waistline? If penetration counts would 45 Colt or 454 Casull out of my Ruger Alaskan 2.5-inch barrel or my S&W 460 (8'3/8) be considered overkill or self defense? I've seen fat guys shot with 9mm that never penetrated beyond the layers of fat to reach any muscle or vital organs. My LE friends say "family comes first, jury selection comes second"...bigger is better unless you live in an apartment building, etc.

Use the same thing that's best for bear . . . (my work here is done)

 

[AKAOV1MAN]

Shot placement is king, penetration is queen, everything else is just angels dancing on the head of a pin(I don't own this, but it is true).
For a 9mm I use the Federal EFMJ, Expanding Full Metal Jacket. It looks like a FMJ with a flat metplat, but it does penetrate and it does expand. For a .38 Special I still like (after about 40 years) the 158 gr SWCHP, known as the FBI or Chicago load. It works, even out of a snub. With a .380 ACP I use the Buffalo Bore hard cast lead flat point, with the 380 you need penetration, a mag full of the above will alter anyone's concentration. Just about any .40 round above 135 gr will give both penetration and expansion (unless its FMJ). The 10mm and .45 ACP both will stop just about anyone. My personal favorite is the .45 Colt from Buffalo Bore, a 300 gr flat point at about 1,000/900 FPS. It is a hard cast lead slug and will get the absolute attention of anyone or anything if you do your part.
The .357 SIG and the .357 Mag revolver round are about the same with the 125 gr JHP, the .357 Mag with the 158 gr JHP is better, AFAIAC.
Take your pick, if you do your part, any of them will do the job. If in doubt about your ability to get a CNS hit (brain or spinal cord) do a pelvic cradle shot, a broken pelvic cradle will put anyone down, but not necessarily out, but they will be immobilized. The you can retreat, of do some anchor shots.

 

[jmace57]

Just smear jello all over the floor...........
if it will stop a Giant chicken heart, it will work on any humans.

I suspect me and you are about the only folks who know the reference! <bumpBUMP><bumpBUMP>

 

[Florida J Frame]

12 gauge pump 00 Buck