Boom Vang
Member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2003
- Messages
- 232
The typical #4 lead shot 12 gauge 1-1/4 oz HV load will penetrate over 10" of ballistic gelatin at 4 yards. The #2 steel load although individual pellets are larger, weigh approximately the same, and penetration at that distance will be similar.
The idea that 10" of penetration with 150+ projectiles is neither lethal nor effective and will get you killed, is mall-ninja level ignorance, based on internet regurgitation. Numerous studies over decades have shown that penetration of 8" into the torso is sufficient to cause sufficient wounding for incapacitation. If you have to penetrate something else to get there, that is another story, hence the "FBI Minimum" of 12 inches. But there are no free lunches and excessive penetrating power is not necessarily a good thing inside your home. Having said that, penetration of even the larger birdshot sizes falls off quickly, and only you know your own circumstances. In a townhouse or apartment situation inside 20 feet I'd be A-OK with it. Having to shoot much beyond 30 feet, not so much.
Regarding offender behavior after being shot... nothing is guaranteed, ever. No matter what you shoot them with. Dramatic renderings in movies and television grossly exaggerate average human tenacity after suffering serious injury. The vast majority of criminal offenders retreat when confronted with lethal resistance, much less actually shot with that lethal resistance. Are there hardcore offenders that enjoy fighting, have been shot before and survived, and will actively attack until physically compromised? Absolutely. But in most cases, physically compromising these latter types of attackers has far less to do with what projectiles you shoot them with, than it does making good hits, and often, and taking cover until they fall over.
More powerful projectiles (define that as you wish) do increase wounding, and can reduce that timeframe. Don't expect miracles.
The idea that 10" of penetration with 150+ projectiles is neither lethal nor effective and will get you killed, is mall-ninja level ignorance, based on internet regurgitation. Numerous studies over decades have shown that penetration of 8" into the torso is sufficient to cause sufficient wounding for incapacitation. If you have to penetrate something else to get there, that is another story, hence the "FBI Minimum" of 12 inches. But there are no free lunches and excessive penetrating power is not necessarily a good thing inside your home. Having said that, penetration of even the larger birdshot sizes falls off quickly, and only you know your own circumstances. In a townhouse or apartment situation inside 20 feet I'd be A-OK with it. Having to shoot much beyond 30 feet, not so much.
Regarding offender behavior after being shot... nothing is guaranteed, ever. No matter what you shoot them with. Dramatic renderings in movies and television grossly exaggerate average human tenacity after suffering serious injury. The vast majority of criminal offenders retreat when confronted with lethal resistance, much less actually shot with that lethal resistance. Are there hardcore offenders that enjoy fighting, have been shot before and survived, and will actively attack until physically compromised? Absolutely. But in most cases, physically compromising these latter types of attackers has far less to do with what projectiles you shoot them with, than it does making good hits, and often, and taking cover until they fall over.
More powerful projectiles (define that as you wish) do increase wounding, and can reduce that timeframe. Don't expect miracles.
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