Greg Ellifritz's exhaustive study on stopping power

I've seen this data pop up all over the place. Here's what I make of the findings:

"Between the most common defensive calibers (.38, 9mm, .40, and .45) there was a spread of only eight percentage points. No matter what gun you are shooting, you can only expect a little more than half of the people you shoot to be immediately incapacitated by your first hit."

Yeah. Timers and Switches. Practice with what you carry, a lot. Carry something that expands, aim for COM, and fire as many rounds as it takes for the threat to stop, drop, and cease to be a threat.

I agree with him partially that caliber isn't really important. I disagree when it comes to all PROJECTILES in all calibers work equally well. A 9mm 115 FMJ simply just doesn't work as well as a 165gr HST .40S*W or a 200gr Lead SWC from a .45 auto at least when it comes to humans not wearing body armor.
 
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It tells me that if the SHTF to grab a shotgun or a rifle if at all possible..... Handguns, regardless of caliber, suck as a man stopper.
 
I read this article a while back and it really just reinforced that shot placement > all else. Caliber, bullet type, capacity, all that stuff is important...but absolutely meaningless if you don't hit someone.

Another point that was brought up was that some of the "rounds to incapacitation" was difficult to count/rely on because often people shot til the gun goes click. As an example, most .38/357 pistols are 6 shot...while 9mm are going to be 10-15. So just based on averages there will be more 9mm's flying around.
 
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That's from 2012. It pretty much concurs with other studies that find caliber doesn't matter that much, within reason. That handguns in general, are relatively poor stoppers and shot placement has the most effect in handguns. Handguns are a convenience tool. Ease of portability and concealment
 
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I read this article a while back and it really just reinforced that shot placement > all else. Caliber, bullet type, capacity, all that stuff is important...but absolutely meaningless if you don't hit someone.

Another point that was brought up was that some of the "rounds to incapacitation" was difficult to count/rely on because often people shot til the gun goes click. As an example, most .38/357 pistols are 6 shot...while 9mm are going to be 10-15. So just based on averages there will be more 9mm's flying around.
10 to 15 is light weight. My xdm and cz hold 19+1.
 
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It tells me that if the SHTF to grab a shotgun or a rifle if at all possible..... Handguns, regardless of caliber, suck as a man stopper.
It's a whole different thread, but I'm a pistol for SHTF person (at least when not in a dwelling). Carrying a long gun in the open during SHTF is like carrying a sign that says "shoot me first".
 
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It's a whole different thread, but I'm a pistol for SHTF person (at least when not in a dwelling). Carrying a long gun in the open during SHTF is like carrying a sign that says "shoot me first".
I don't plan on being in the open. Lol
 
Where does a .300blk AR pistol with an 8" barrel shooting 110gr Barnes TACTX at 2200fps fall into this test I wonder? :rolleyes::D:cool:

it holds more rounds than any CZ
 
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ALL of my conclusions are based on real life experiences. Limited as it may be my results are what matter to me since I only carry 2 calibers, 357 and .45. My shooting of "things" with either caliber is why I choose the 2 that I have.

I haven't read the article but I'm sure that shot placement was among the top criteria in stopping power and that's why I always preach ACCURACY over all else. I will admit that projectile design is also equally important and given that I have chosen the 2 carry loads that I use. Both are expanding hollow points but again, accuracy is my top priority. I will occasionally carry a SWC load based on what I intend to do harm to, either will suffice and have been proven in MY guns and in MY hands....
 
This canā€™t be right. I was watching Death Wish 2 just the other night and when Charles Bronson shoot someone with his 380 they were knocked off their feet or folded like a sack of potatoes. Except for the guy he shot in the ass.


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