Takedown Power,

[Mason McDuffie]

Thanks Greg. I like the gel block tests. I dont know why I didnt look that one up. Appreciate the post man.

[8200rpm]

Thanks Greg. I like the gel block tests. I dont know why I didnt look that one up. Appreciate the post man.

The bottom line on that photo is that there is no significant difference between the pictured calibers. That's the point of the 12" line. In pistol calibers, penetration is the most important performance criteria. Therefore, shot placement is key.

Physical disruption to the central nervous system is the only guarantee to immediate incapacitation. Don't be mislead with "energy transfer", "stopping power", "one-shot stops", and "temporary cavitation". Those terms are nothing but hokus pokus in pistol calibers.

[JTROKS]

I think the 357 Sig has the largest ruptured area, I'd like to see what a 125 grain at 1450 fps will do. It's nice to have a round that will provide a big hydrostatic shocking power plus penetration with a projectile expansion of .65 or greater. If you want one shot stopping power you may have better luck relying on a 12 gauge #4 buckshot or a rifle loaded with soft point bullets.

[Sam]

I was watching the Best Defense the other day and they made mention of stopping power charts. Now I did a few searches and couldnt find a chart that actually made sense nor was consistent. I'm looking for the different takedown/stopping power figures for all handgun calibers. Any of you guys use a particular chart and trust its information to be accurate? Thanks.

I didn't google taylor knockdown power, but it seems like you could measure kinetic energy through these:

KE = 1/2 (M * (V * V))
M = KE / (V * V)
V = KE / (1/2 * M)

I'm not sure how you'd go about factoring in hollow point expansion.

[Max-the-Silent]

Marksmanship beats "Knock-Down" power or any other scientific measurement of muzzle energy.

[J-cat]

It's hard to be a marksman with bullets flying in your direstion.

[Sam]

But I have a laser on my gun and so will have perfect aim.

[CrippledPidgeon]

You shouldn't be looking for one shot stops. You should be shooting the caliber that you shoot most accurately, and take a class to learn how to use it most effectively.

As Louis Awerbuck told me, at any distance, you should be shooting the speed at which you can keep a 4 inch group. Any larger and you'll risk missing vital areas, and any smaller and you're shooting too slowly. And don't believe what anybody says about stopping power. You can shoot someone all you want, but when he goes down is entirely up to him.

[elSquid]

How does one get those kind of reports? I subscribe to alot of mags and most of the time I'm weeding through puff pieces.

Books?

http://www.amazon.com/Defense-Self-Others-Fallacies-Enforcements/dp/1594600546

-- Michael

[Mason McDuffie]

Thanks Squid.

I agree that marksmanship is key, I was just interested in the prowess of the different calibers. Thanks guy s for this valuable feedback.

[thefurball]

Worry about shot placement, not caliber. A miss with a 50BMG won't do much (other than possibly cause a wet spot).

If you are not sure about your aim, always have one of these handy.

[Mason McDuffie]

Worry about shot placement, not caliber. A miss with a 50BMG won't do much (other than possibly cause a wet spot).

If you are not sure about your aim, always have one of these handy.

Thats funny. I have the urban camo variant. I think I also got the seat warmer feature as a upgrade.

[B Strong]

Even .50 BMG is no guarantee:

"Beckwith commanded a Special Forces unit code-named Project Delta in Vietnam. He was critically wounded in early 1966 (he took a .50 caliber bullet through his abdomen), so badly that medical personnel initially triaged him as beyond help.[2] After recovery, he took over the Florida Phase of the US Army's Ranger School, transforming it from a scripted exercise based upon the Army's World War II experience, into a Vietnam-oriented training regimen."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Alvin_Beckwith

I don't remember who said it, but if you're in a gun fight, you have to be

"the firstest with the mostest."

[M. Sage]

Ahh yes the one shot stop stuff. Do some simple reading on basic research methods 101, and anyone reading should be able to come to the conclusion that those stats are meaningless.

There is no "measurable" statistic that measures "stopping power." Generally speaking handgun calibers are poor incapicitators in general and do not create a significant temporary cavity to cause additional permanent wounding. With rifle calibers that's a whole different story. Choose the caliber you're most comfortable with because I think most would agree that shot placement and accurate fire are the most important thing in a gunfight.

+1. In the real world, there will be little difference between .380, 10mm or anything in between as far as how quickly it puts a BG down.

I think the 357 Sig has the largest ruptured area, I'd like to see what a 125 grain at 1450 fps will do. It's nice to have a round that will provide a big hydrostatic shocking power plus penetration with a projectile expansion of .65 or greater. If you want one shot stopping power you may have better luck relying on a 12 gauge #4 buckshot or a rifle loaded with soft point bullets.

It smaller, yes, but not significantly.

Hydrostatic shock isn't a wound characteristic. Temporary cavity is caused by stretch, it's basically deep bruising.