[Klassic]

was at the range and talking w/ the one of the guys at the range somehow we got into a discussion over 9mm vs .40cal and he made a very legit and interesting point...

he said it doesn't matter what caliber the gun is, the shot placement is what matters?

meaning a 9mm can be just as effective as a 40 or 45 depending on where you hit your attacker?

what do you guys think of this...

 

[Brian Lee]

Placement matters AND size matters.

 

[arushus]

It is correct! If you hit somebody in the brain, it really isnt going to matter AT ALL what size the bullet is!

 

[LSUAdman]

I fall into the shot placement corner. If you see the "Are BB Guns Dangerous Weapons" thread, a few people mention people (granted, they are children) having died from head shots with BBs.

 

[LSglock89]

You mean this is the first time you've heard that line?

Shot placement is key...if you can place the shot. A self defense situation doesn't go down like a range session.

Practice with what you have, so that if that day comes you might be able to place that shot.

I carry a 9mm, I have the most range time with it and I feel confident that I can follow up with my shots.

 

[tonyparson]

There is nothing at all wrong with a 9mm. But what you have to remember is, if your being attacked its going to be hard to have good shot placement in the heat of the moment.

 

[9mm +p+]

BOTH are important but placement is in 1st place IMO. Nothing wrong with a 9 or a 40 for that matter but what be understood is that ANY handgun is no instant deathray. Shoot the threat to the ground,period.

 

[JBP55]

Shot placement with as many rounds as possible until you stop the threat because you feared for your life or the life of others.

 

[3000fps]

Placement matters AND size matters.

Wrong

I was very close friends with Richard Kuklinski, his weapon of choice was a silenced .22lr

 

[DannyR]

Shot placement is paramount. Always has been.

On bad hits, bigger holes cause bigger leaks.:whistling:

 

[tonyparson]

Wrong

I was very close friends with Richard Kuklinski, his weapon of choice was a silenced .22lr

Walking up behind someone and putting a gun to their head is alot different then trying to shoot a bad guy coming at you.

 

[GTS197]

Accuracy is final.

 

[Brian Lee]

Wrong

I was very close friends with Richard Kuklinski, his weapon of choice was a silenced .22lr

Choice for what?

If shooting someone in the head point blank, OK. But for shooting large burly men in the chest from 20 yards away, I suspect an increased likely hood that the caliber might possibly matter in the second example.

If size never mattered, people could hunt bears with a .22, but they don't, because nobody's that stupid.

 

[NDcent]

Shot placement, but bigger holes in the right place is even better.

 

[3000fps]

Walking up behind someone and putting a gun to their head is alot different then trying to shoot a bad guy coming at you.

He still confronted his target with two small caliber derringers in each pocket, a knife, and a .357 on his ankle (just in case)

He'd often walk up and put the barrel of a .22 behind the ear and squeeze one off.

It would kill the person, not make as much noise, and not as much mess.

 

[Bruce M]

I agree that placement trumps caliber and in my limited experience, often a fair amount of luck becomes the deciding factor also. If you have ever heard an emergency room physician say "if the bullet had been a centimeter up/down/left/right" it would have been fatal, and if you can picture a bullet's path not always being straightafter it enters, then you can begin to see how luck may play in this. Of course with a handgun we are looking to stop an aggressor's actions not specifically kill him. I have seen people shot in the buttocks up walking around when the first first responder arrived at least twice and have seen others shot in the buttocks on the ground in agony. Some give up the fight easier than others and a few seem to able to keep fighting with mortal wounds for a while. My guess is that if one could predict exactly what an attacker's reaction would be in advance, the incident itself ought to be easily predicted and avoided.

 

[Nestor]

You can kill a grizzly bear with 22 lr to his ear, so yes shot placement is important. Most of the handguns calibers are joke anyway comparing to the long guns. Something to think about when You have a choice. Good luck.

 

[eracer]

I'll take a .50 BMG over a 9mm any time.

Get my bullet weight and velocity closer to 150 grains and 1200 fps and I'll worry more about bullet design and impact location.

 

[TreyG-20]

it doesnt matter where you hit someone with a 10mm because they will just explode:supergrin:

 

[samurairabbi]

A combat shooting has casino-type probability attached. The A and B hits can have a superb chance of ending the engagement with any combat caliber. On the C and D hits, energy and momentum increases boost the incapacitation probability. Judge the odds accordingly.

The FIRST defensive shot can be placed irrespective of caliber; only mental anticipation problems about recoil would reduce first-shot accuracy. Followup shots are where recovery from recoil becomes a consideration. Again, casino odds consideration: easier followup shots become more important if energy/momentum considerations make followup shots more probable.