AMMUNITION:
SELF DEFENSE
The
purpose of this guide is to relay information which may assist the law
abiding citizen select the best ammunition for a defensive firearm.
"Best" is a very subjective attribute, and any recommendations given
should be viewed in the context of the gun owner's personal knowledge and
experience.
Empirical
data regarding one shot stopping capability of a particular cartridge have
contributed to the formulation of the following ammunition performance
recommendations. This information is derived
primarily from the real world shooting experiences of law enforcement
agencies.
"One shot stop" refers to a cartridge's ability to
make an aggressor immediately cease their threatening behavior when shot once in
the torso. Head,
neck, and multiple shootings are not considered in the data. "One shot stop" does not necessarily infer that a mortal wound was
inflicted. It merely means that the shooting created physical injury or
psychological trauma sufficient
to result in cessation of aggressive or violent behavior. Death may or may
not have resulted.
In
addition to "one shot stop" statistics, keep in mind that a bullet
striking the torso of one's adversary ideally must penetrate deeply enough to
encounter and disrupt vital organs, arteries and blood vessels.
Penetration, indeed, is paramount.
You
will find that the penetration characteristics of various bullet calibers
complement the "stopping" information obtained from actual shootings.
Penetration data are largely developed from shots fired into a ballistic gelatin
designed to approximate bodily tissue. Such data also serve as the basis
for the recommendations which follow regarding ammunition for personal
protection.
It cannot
be overstated that proper shot placement under stress is the single most important skill brought to
bear in a self defense situation. Proper shot placement involves shooting
the attacker in the head, the cervical spine, or the torso.
A head or
spinal neck shot will immediately incapacitate. The goal of a torso shot
is to produce hemorrhage by rupturing the heart or any of the major blood
vessels. This will result in relatively quick cessation of
hostilities. Forced collapse from blood loss will take several seconds to
occur, even when primary blood vessels such as the aorta or vena cava have been
destroyed. When the blood supply is disrupted in this manner, the brain of
one's assailant is deprived of oxygen needed for conscious
function.
Vital
organs and cardiovascular structures reside deep within the human body.
Hence, in addition to proper shot placement, one must possess a caliber of
bullet capable of reaching them. Under favorable conditions, 6 to 8 inches of
penetration will incapacitate an assailant. As a degree of
insurance, the bullet should be capable of plowing through tissue into the
attacker's bodily core from any angle of engagement, considering that vitals may
be obstructed by an arm, extremely heavy clothing, or large body mass.
For this
reason, ten to twelve inches of penetration potential is regarded to be the
acceptable minimum for a caliber chosen for self defense. Eighteen is the
maximum, considering the danger to innocent bystanders represented by a stray
bullet which exits the assailant's body. "Over kill" is
unnecessary. One gains little from enduring the blast , recoil, and
potential loss of control necessary for accurate follow up shots that are
associated with excessively large "hunting" calibers.
Under
identical conditions of shot placement, a larger caliber bullet with a
penetration of 10 to 12 inches will inflict more damage to an attacker's vital
organs and structures than will a smaller caliber bullet capable of the same
penetration.
Keep in
mind, however, that disabling hits from a small caliber
firearm, inflicted with deliberate accuracy by the intended victim, will
devastate an unskilled, erratic attacker possessing a more powerful weapon.
Mentally review and practice the "double tap" drill: two quick shots to the
chest in rapid succession. Follow up with a shot to the head if
hostilities haven't abated.
Be aware that people can move very quickly, covering in excess of twenty feet within
one and one-half seconds. In any event, be sure to fire multiple shots at
your
attacker.
Tactics and marksmanship will save lives of potential victims
and diffuse or terminate violent encounters. Using the "best"
cartridge for one's caliber of firearm merely gives the armed citizen a
technological edge in any defensive situation.
When
compared to rifles and shotguns, handguns are not the most potent form of self
protection. In fact, the vast majority of people shot with handguns, in
excess of 80 percent, survive. Hence, seek to incapacitate an attacker
with a combination of skilled shot placement and proven ammunition.
You are encouraged to visit the Armory munitions room "Self
Defense" to review the physiology and psychology involved when an assailant is shot with
a bullet. Follow the links on this page for recommendations regarding the
"best" make and model of ammunition to use for self defense and
hunting for any
given handgun, rifle, or shotgun caliber.
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