GUNS/BARMS

[walknmannv]

Wow. If you like extremely technical discussions with charts and details at great length, this is for you. What is the best weapon, and the load for that weapon, for home defense? All about penetration. Very detailed, and to me very interesting. Enough info and links to much more info to keep you reading all day.

This is the last time I'll mention it, but it also cements my belief that if I am suddenly faced with that bear, I will want my four inch revolver to be a .45 LC loaded with low velocity 300 grain lead loads for maximum penetration through fur, fat and muscle and into the heart of the beastie. I'll quote briefly from this article: "An extremely important point to address is the question of velocity. Many people are obsessed with using the highest-velocity ammunition possible. This is a bad choice as penetration is usually DECREASED with increased velocity. Several topics in the FAQ address this issue, but it's important to reiterate that point here. Bullets are designed to perform properly within a certain velocity range. Too low of a velocity will cause the bullet not to expand and can lead to overpenetration. Too high a velocity, and the bullet's additional impact energy will lead to violent expansion and/or fragmentation and result in a large loss of momentum; in these cases, the bullet can actually UNDERPENETRATE." Nuff said, bullet design and velocity will determine the penetration and effectiveness of the round. If I don't carry a .458 Weatherby Magnum while fishing, I hope I have a pistol that will penetrate, and I don't believe I want any expansion at all under those specific circumstances. Just my opinion. That's between me and the bear.
http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Self_Defense_Ammo_FAQ/index.htm#.45ACP
Walk