I have seen a shift from faith in experience toward questioning of values we have held for years. Some feel the "big bore" crowd is full of self interest. Misconceptions concerning handgun calibers may cause a person to make the wrong choice, and end up dead. I have no problem finding the bad guys gone or incarcerated, but do not wish to hear of the good guys and girls among the enumeration of the dead. My approach may not be scientific, but I think of it as empirical observation. After two decades as a peace officer, I realize that when a cop says has seen something, he means he arrived just as the fight ended and he "saw" the aftermath; the flesh warm and the victim still screaming. We state that the assailant who took five 9mms was still mobile. The fellow with one .45 in his chest remained mobile and decided to die just before we arrived. These are observations on the state of weaponcraft.
I have applied my education, and observational powers to many areas. I have written extensively on liability and training issues and dealing with the mentally ill. I am working to pass legislation to limit access by sex offenders to certain public areas. In general, I like to make the miserable lives of criminals more difficult. Some research is unpleasant. Police journals are not eager to publish articles on wound ballistics because the debate is one of uncertainty. Information must be verifiable, and any experiment must be repeatable. This is not the case with books and articles on handgun caliber effectiveness. We have a desire to learn. I suspect there is a yearning to hear that our pet caliber--a .32 or a .45--is just great. I have studied gun battles for the better part of thirty years and listened to anyone who has been in combat. I have looked over both ends of the gun barrel to defend the public and myself. There have been difficulties and permanent injuries and scars gained along the way.
As for what I have learned, take this with what you have learned elsewhere and apply it to your situation. Most importantly, the slacker will not get anywhere. There are more in uniform than among civilian shooters. The officer at risk often regards qualification as a chore. If you work in an occupation that requires certification in haz/mat or other boring subjects you feel you know well, then you understand. Officers do not regard qualification as a learning experience, but a chore. The cop who practices on his own time and on his own dime is rare.
Civilians enjoy shooting more, and often become proficient. The civilian usually has a broad choice of handguns while the cop goes with the company gun. What I know about bullet performance is learned from real world experience. Some has been gained from shooting game animals. I shoot animals only to eat or to feed others. A deer approaches the size of an adult human male. Either is about as hard to put down although man is much more susceptible to shock. I do not hunt deer or boar with a 9mm. We stalk and kill cleanly. If we need a weapon to defend ourselves against an attacking animal the weapons would be more powerful than we use for defense against people. Those who sneak up on humans and rob them get by with .32s and the like. When attempting to stop a motivated attacker we need more power. There are several types of attackers. There is the fellow who falls into a swoon at the sight of an armed victim, and runs. He may lose his composure when he realizes the victim is armed and he will run away if possible. The second is the most common type: he is dangerous but will fight only when cornered or when there is a profit in it. The man who takes punishment and keeps coming, his only mission that of murder and mayhem, is a rare breed--but he exists. Among peace officers, the ratio is the same; with the average fellow keeping the peace. I once accepted the resignation of a young man who had his first run in with a burglar. The civilian will have no choice when the bad guys choose him or her as the victim.
We need a handgun that is reliable above all else, and in a suitable caliber to face such warped men. Modern handguns are more reliable than ever. But in some cases, Technical has taken precedent over Tactical. Questions centering upon handgun caliber performance are the most common. Testing is difficult. Flesh is not translucent like gelatin, and even harvesting an animal doesn't tell us much if the bullet exits. But we can make generalizations. We want penetration to vital organs, and a bullet that is not deflected by bone. Our bone structure supports our body and protects the vital organs. Bone can deflect projectiles. High velocity bullets may fragment. Bone does funny things to bullets. I have seen a hollowpoint bullet that flattened out on a skull; the victim lived. Other hollowpoints did not expand at all, but hardball rounds sometimes deform.
The old saying that something is better than nothing is true. But we have some good choices and we would not be very bright if we did not take advantage of them. I would not feel uncomfortable with .45 caliber hardball, but I deploy hollowpoint loads to take advantage of their properties.
Bullet placement is very important. We do not need to obliterate the heart or annihilate the liver to stop a felon. We only need to hit and damage these organs. Let's relate the big bore to the small bore. We have all heard stories of a . 2 caliber bullet slipping into the chest cavity and severing an aorta, immediately stopping an attack. I am certain it has happened, but I am equally certain there have been many failures to stop with the .22 (and larger cartridges as well). But the advantage of the big bore is present in literature and confirmed events for over one hundred and fifty years.
I recently studied a feature on aerial shooting. I did so mainly for enjoyment but I was struck by the recommendation of using a big bore for exhibition shooting. The author was successful in shooting moving silver dollar size targets with the .44 and .45 caliber double action revolver. He found hitting with the .38 was much more difficult. While super human ability may play a part, hard work is required. Hard work is something defensive shooters should get acquainted with. The 1.6 inch frontal diameter of the .45 gave a much better chance of hitting a small target. The same is true when vital organs are the target. When we are firing at a moving target far removed from the one dimensional stationary target on the range, I want every advantage. The big bore gives us a better chance of damaging tissue as the bullet travels through the body. Bullet placement is vital as there are parts of the body that, if damaged, will cause an immediate shutdown. These areas include the brain case and the spine. These targets are difficult to hit quickly and are not high on my list of aiming points. The center mass hold works. When you are fighting, your hands shake and your vision is blurred, so a fine bead on the cerebral cortex is not possible. Concentrate on marksmanship and rapid [gun]handling. If there is any shortcoming universal among students it is a lack of familiarity with the handgun.
There is an argument that those who are not able to practice regularly should deploy the 9mm. Handgun skills are perishable, and the small bore is easier to shoot well. If you cannot practice monthly with the semi- automatic pistol you need to be using a revolver. A full size .45 is controllable by men and women of average height and build. Caliber is as important as hand fit and feel. There is a certain amount of prejudice toward one weapon or the other that is easily dispelled at the range. I have enjoyed range sessions with men and women of varying ability. You do not have to be well heeled to be well armed. Being well armed is a product of proficiency not the price of the handgun. During a recent class I found that shooters of modest means did not have to be modest concerning their ability. Most of my students had chosen their firearm based upon their likes and perceptions. I discovered that Highpoint pistols will outshoot the Smith and Wesson SIGMA every time. The inexpensive FEG 9 x 18 has a better feeling grip than the Walther PPK. A couple of students had Glocks, but the Ruger 9mm shooter present had practiced with his handgun.
While we all have our preferences, the person behind the pistol is the real weapon.
Shooters swear by a certain caliber of load and sometimes I am dubious of their recommendation. Those who have real experience in the field recommend powerful cartridges that have worked for themselves and others. The .357 Magnum revolver has a tremendous reputation. I have seen the effect over my own sights. An acquaintance hunts with a four inch barrel .357 Magnum. He swears by the Federal 180 grain JHP. This is a heavier load than many would recommend for self defense but this gentleman often carries his Smith and Wesson concealed on his "town" trips loaded with the 180 grain JHP. He has complete confidence in his choice. Do you have the same in yours?
I own many handguns. I would not have gotten this far in the game if I did not enjoy firing different types. The realist in me knows to carry the proven Colt 1911 when the situation warrants. Old, worn, and reliable I am familiar with the zero with the chosen load and I know exactly how the piece handles in all situations. Some feel that if the .45 is good then the .44 Magnum is better. I have respect for this caliber. I have seen two .44 Magnum wounds just after the fact, and each was immediately effective. In one case the bullet entered the kneecap and traveled through the muscle of the leg exiting the ball of the foot. This was an unintentional self inflicted wound. In another incident a homeowner fired at a person he was arguing with. The 240 grain bullet pulped the victim's liver but exited and struck the homeowner's wife in the shoulder, crippling her for life. The .44 Magnum doesn't strike me for personal defense, and the factory loaded .44 Special is less effective than the .45 ACP.
The size and shape of the handgun mean much. A 9mm may be small and light while the .45 needs weight for good control. I often deploy a light weight frame Springfield .45 but I am under no illusions that I will fire it as accurately as a steel frame pistol. I feel that many of the super light weight handguns available today are too light; while I enjoy big bores, I do not enjoy guns that hurt.
The final word is: choose a handgun that fits your hand size, and then practice often. Choose a load that is completely reliable (good quality control), demonstrates a full powder burn, and offers a good balance between expansion and penetration. The caliber is your choice, but the big bore is proven. Old wisdom really is the best.
R.K. Campbell is a writer with twenty years police experience. He holds a degree in criminal justice and has studied firearms and their use for nearly forty years. He is the author of three books and over six hundred articles, columns, and reviews.
miamiair wrote:Bullet placement is very important. We do not need to obliterate the heart or annihilate the liver to stop a felon. We only need to hit and damage these organs.
Click Click D'oh wrote:Given the way it's written, I'd bet that Miami's article comes from something like a cop journal magazine, a shooting sports magazine or other such insider publication where people are familiar with the terms.
