Guns-n-Ammo poll on best SD round

[mc5aw]

In today's GnA email update I received a link to a recent poll GnA conducted with random NRA members. I'm not sure where the individuals were interviewed, but it was a varied demographic and opinions were equally diverse. The debate goes on ...

Man on the Street: What's the Best Cartridge for Self-Defense? | Guns & Ammo

 

[CoMF]

Tch. That's an easy question to answer. It's the heaviest round that you can shoot accurately at speed.

 

[Bartman3562]

Federal HST. End of discussion.

 

[gm272gs]

120mm HEAT round, out of an M256 gun.

One shot stop, virtually assured.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

The only opinions that really matter would be the ones from those who have had to defend themselves with a weapon. Almost any bullet will get the job done if it is shot accurately. These kind of polls don't accomplish a darn thing. Most all SD ammo is made with the same characteristics and will have the same end results if shot placement is accurate. A head shot with a 22LR will kill just like a 45ACP....just with less dramatic results. If I remember correctly it was a 22LR that killed Senator Bobby Kennedy.

 

[mc5aw]

If I remember correctly it was a 22LR that killed Senator Bobby Kennedy.

Ultimately it did ... a day later. After RFK was shot, he was briefly conscious before being whisked away to a hospital. He died the following day. Technically the .22 killed him, but it certainly wasn't instantaneous as a close range/larger caliber head wound might have been.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Ultimately it did ... a day later. After RFK was shot, he was briefly conscious before being whisked away to a hospital. He died the following day. Technically the .22 killed him, but it certainly wasn't instantaneous as a close range/larger caliber head wound might have been.

That is true, but the shot instantly incapacitated him.

Most of the self defense ammo hype is just a gimmick by the manufacturers to get you to buy their ammo. Some of the gelatin tests are interesting to watch, but does it really matter if one penetrates an inch farther than the other? Just saying these surveys really don't serve a useful purpose with the quality of the ammo available today.

 

[fdw]

Corbon DPX... In 380, 9 and 45...


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[harmavoidance0]

Some of the gelatin tests are interesting to watch, but does it really matter if one penetrates an inch farther than the other?

for a point of reference, there's a great channel on the tubes comparing as much as possible, using the FBI standard 12inch min.
Yes, I know, the FBI standard is flawed, but nonetheless, it is a great set of data.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgNSGOEQko_M90AMdRCDMgd-w4Yozc27i

 

[shouldazagged]

These polls are a waste of my time. I pay no attention to them.

Real-world shooting results are another matter; but still I have to use what I trust, based on its track record, and what I can shoot.

Don't need gun-rag gimmickry, which is about all they seem to print anymore.

 

[venomballistics]

for a point of reference, there's a great channel on the tubes comparing as much as possible, using the FBI standard 12inch min.
Yes, I know, the FBI standard is flawed, but nonetheless, it is a great set of data.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgNSGOEQko_M90AMdRCDMgd-w4Yozc27i

Even if it was not flawed, I would still take the 50 foot pounds per inch of penitration over the 4 of a 22, assuming that they both made 12 inches.
Energy deposit means something.

 

[PastureOfMuppets]

Damn it! I thought someone had finally found a way to get the definitive answer.


Back to randomly picking out one I recognize the name of in my calibre.

But have I got the best calibre?


GUNS ARE COMPLICATED!

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

When I see information like Gregg Ellifritz compiled, Alternative Look at Handgun Stopping Power, I'm inclined to agree with Lee in Quartzsite. Carry what ya want... .380ACP to .45ACP. It don't matter that much.

 

[Llando88]

120mm HEAT round, out of an M256 gun.

One shot stop, virtually assured.

I like the way you think.

 

[hangnoose]

AGREE A WASTE OF TIME

The unpredictable nature of how a bullet will travel/expand/what it hits/ if it cuts or moves a vein/artery aside, make it difficult/impossible to say which is better. Using the same gun/load & placed in the same spot by 2 different shooters of drasticly different heights, will give different angles and wound channels. IMO the skill and calm under pressure of the shooter would make MUCH MORE DIFFERENCE, than the choice of caliber and bullet.

 

[forrestinmathews]

The poll didn't seem that diverse. The old .45 ACP reigned supreme. Lena is sponsored by S&W so no big shocker on the Shield and Bodyguard plug. I wasn't aware that the forty was so superior to the jammamatic 9mm. The Python lady gave me a laugh...

 

[Arik]

That is true, but the shot instantly incapacitated him.

Most of the self defense ammo hype is just a gimmick by the manufacturers to get you to buy their ammo. Some of the gelatin tests are interesting to watch, but does it really matter if one penetrates an inch farther than the other? Just saying these surveys really don't serve a useful purpose with the quality of the ammo available today.

Yes but that was just him. That's not really an argument for carrying a 22lr. There was a guy who was shot in the head with a 30 cal 7.62x54 and lived. Does that mean all 30 cal are weak? No just a lucky guy. In the case of Kennedy it's and unlucky guy.

Of course it matters if the bullet penetrates an extra inch. ALL of your vital organs are protected by skin, fat, bone and muscle. You want it to get as far as possible into the vital areas. Wouldn't do much if the bullet just barely made it through the fat layer and stopped by bone. On the same token that gimmicky hollow point of yours opens up and creates a bigger cavity and does more damage to the vital organs. The term "knock down power" is used so often that people begin to take it literally. If the bullet doesn't knock someone down then it must be weak. When in fact the bullet's job is to disrupt the central nervous system as fast as possible.

However you are right about these surveys not meaning much. It's not based on anything except people's feeling of bigger is better or shinier is better.

I love the one guy's statement. "I carry a 40 because they don't jam up like the 9 will" what is he talking about?

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[Old cop]

I was a cop for 30 yrs. & had to use my gun to defend myself more than once. I still carry a revolver loaded w/the old lead FBI +P round b/c it worked when I had to use it.

 

[Protected One]

Ah yes...a good ol' caliber war!

I was wondering when we could get it started again

 

[venomballistics]

Yes but that was just him. That's not really an argument for carrying a 22lr. There was a guy who was shot in the head with a 30 cal 7.62x54 and lived. Does that mean all 30 cal are weak? No just a lucky guy. In the case of Kennedy it's and unlucky guy.

Of course it matters if the bullet penetrates an extra inch. ALL of your vital organs are protected by skin, fat, bone and muscle. You want it to get as far as possible into the vital areas. Wouldn't do much if the bullet just barely made it through the fat layer and stopped by bone. On the same token that gimmicky hollow point of yours opens up and creates a bigger cavity and does more damage to the vital organs. The term "knock down power" is used so often that people begin to take it literally. If the bullet doesn't knock someone down then it must be weak. When in fact the bullet's job is to disrupt the central nervous system as fast as possible.

However you are right about these surveys not meaning much. It's not based on anything except people's feeling of bigger is better or shinier is better.

I love the one guy's statement. "I carry a 40 because they don't jam up like the 9 will" what is he talking about?

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good god man ... your starting to make sense.