Quote: (02-23-2017 01:45 AM)Leonard D Neubache Wrote:
There's a whole lot of mythology involved with that. You'll find that there's no relevant benefit for using pistols over carbines when considering over-penetration unless you're using ammunition designed to defeat armour, which would be pointless unless you're planning on shooting a SWAT team.
Taking into account having to use more shots from a pistol than a rifle in any case (both in accuracy and stopping power) then the supposed benefit of pistols indoors becomes inverted.
There's a website with all sorts of real world ballistic tests called "box o truth". I highly recommend it.
http://www.theboxotruth.com/
Some fascinating and amusing reading here. Based on some of his empirical tests,, it seems that:
dick gun measuring contests aside, with most standard calibers and ammo, you have more to worry about over penetration than under penetration. Most indoor walls won't hold a round, nor will doors, for that matter. Always be aware what's behind your target.
A corollary then seems to be that accuracy is more important than caliber.
Books are good for stopping bullets. Even a rifle only penetrates about 15 inches, and handguns around 7 inches.
Doors, including metal covered doors, don't stop anything bigger than 22 or birdshot.
Body armor may stop a round, but you're still going to feel a hell of a blunt impact.
Hollow points may not expand as well when penetrating heavy clothing.
Shotguns do big damage at small distance. Beyond 25 yards, more pellets will be off target than on target - you're still responsible for where they end up.
If you're taking fire while inside a car, you're fucked unless you speed off into the distance, run the fucker over, or get out and hit the ground. Shooting back while doing all of the above doesn't hurt.