Cosmoline
Member
The more I learn about good hunting ballistics, the more I question the self-defense theory that a bullet should "dump" its energy in a target rather than penetrate through. Both the physics and biology of this theory seem HIGHLY suspect.
To kill any living thing with a bullet quickly, you have two main choices. A central nervous system hit will kill almost instantly, but is extremely difficult and risky. The only game I know of where it's done on a regular basis are elephants, which move slowly and have (relatively) large brains.
The other option, used in 99% of kills, is to send an expanding bullet through the heart and lungs of the animal. The animal dies from the shock caused by massive blood loss, primarily through the LARGE EXIT WOUND resulting from the expanding round.
Now, there is no reason these same principles should not apply to humans. Yet instead of proper hunting ballistics, the self-defense crowd advocates bullets that DO NOT penetrate all the way. The seem to think it's preferable to use SP bullets with low sectional densities fired at low velocities. When they hit the target, the noses expand, and then promptly stop the bullet like an air-brake. It does not cut a large exit wound, and in fact it is seen as dangerous if it does go through. The target consequently may not be incapacitated by massive shock. Internal bleeding will occurr, but unless the heart or a major artery is hit, it may take some time to stop the person.
The notion that the dumped "energy" of a big fat slug is going to do anything to the target is absurd. The level of ft. lbs. may look high, but in reality the human body can take a lot more raw energy than that. Bullets do not do thier damage because of "energy."
I am willing to bet whatever money you care to put down that any of my hunting rifles, even my antiquated 1891 Argentine Mauser, loaded properly, will work far, far better at self-defense than of the "energy dump" handguns or carbines. Get hit with a proper bullet from a full-size centerfire hunting cartridge in the torso or head and you will never, ever get up again. The same cannot be said for typical self defense pistol rounds.
To kill any living thing with a bullet quickly, you have two main choices. A central nervous system hit will kill almost instantly, but is extremely difficult and risky. The only game I know of where it's done on a regular basis are elephants, which move slowly and have (relatively) large brains.
The other option, used in 99% of kills, is to send an expanding bullet through the heart and lungs of the animal. The animal dies from the shock caused by massive blood loss, primarily through the LARGE EXIT WOUND resulting from the expanding round.
Now, there is no reason these same principles should not apply to humans. Yet instead of proper hunting ballistics, the self-defense crowd advocates bullets that DO NOT penetrate all the way. The seem to think it's preferable to use SP bullets with low sectional densities fired at low velocities. When they hit the target, the noses expand, and then promptly stop the bullet like an air-brake. It does not cut a large exit wound, and in fact it is seen as dangerous if it does go through. The target consequently may not be incapacitated by massive shock. Internal bleeding will occurr, but unless the heart or a major artery is hit, it may take some time to stop the person.
The notion that the dumped "energy" of a big fat slug is going to do anything to the target is absurd. The level of ft. lbs. may look high, but in reality the human body can take a lot more raw energy than that. Bullets do not do thier damage because of "energy."
I am willing to bet whatever money you care to put down that any of my hunting rifles, even my antiquated 1891 Argentine Mauser, loaded properly, will work far, far better at self-defense than of the "energy dump" handguns or carbines. Get hit with a proper bullet from a full-size centerfire hunting cartridge in the torso or head and you will never, ever get up again. The same cannot be said for typical self defense pistol rounds.