Pistol Ballistics

[DocM]

PLEASE - don't turn this into a guns good/guns bad thread!

Also: this is my $0.02 and analysis, based on teaching anatomy & physiology and years as a hunter/shooter.

A lot of arguing has gone on over "stopping power" of various handgun cartridges, most of it centered around the notion of hydrostatic shock, remote damage to tissues caused by a shock wave generated by the bullet.

Some have argued that damage was limited to a few inches from the bullet track, while others claimed that the damage from a torso hit could extend into the brain due to hydraulic effects in the circulatory system - the blood in major vessels is compressed, causing dangerously high pressures in the cerebral blood vessels.

Now we have some answers thanks to instrumented tests done in the UK and Europe. The tests were done on various large critters of human masses. The animals had pressure sensors implanted in their blood vessels, tissues etc., then after being shot necropsies were done that included microscopic analysis of the brain tissues.

Results: damage to the brain from a torso gunshot wound is very real, and potentially lethal. The degree of this damage done depends on the cartridge, velocity and bullet construction, of course. Some of the induced brain damage was equivalent to a mild concussion, and it intensified in severity with the intensity of the bullets pressure wave to the point that it actually caused a cerebral haemorrage - a stroke - and near immediate incapacitation. Again, this from a torso hit.

The below graphic shows how likely various compression wave intensities were to transmit enough energy to the brain to cause damage. Pressures below 500 psi caused little or moderate damage, while those above 1,000 psi were likely to cause serious brain damage.

The below graph from a different study shows the pressure wave intensities for three common hangun loads; the 9 mm Parabellum, the .357 SIG and the .40 S&W. Note that the 9 mm peaks at just under 500 psi; the .357 SIG at 1.100 psi; and the .40 S&W at almost 1,700 psi.

The 9mm is widely used, but given these tests one wonders about its real vs. perceived effectiveness. The .357 SIG is used by the US Air Marshals, and the .40 S&W was developed for the FBI, and it is the cartridge most used by US law enforcement. Their confidence in both of these cartridges seems very justified. For the record, I use the .40 S&W.

And to give a visual impression of what the wound tracks would look like for these and the workhorse .45 ACP, the below pic shows shots fired into ballistic gelatine - which accurately simulates human tissue. A wider track is indicative of a more intense pressure wave, and a shorter track indicates that all the bullets energy will be expended within the target. More penetration is, however, better if there is heavy clothing etc. It's all compromise. For reference; the speed of sound at 68?F and in dry air is 1,126?ft/s.

[Shock Doc]

I've actually just seen this in med school. Hollow point bullets are amazingly destructive compared to regular ammo. They told us that modern ammunition is designed to create a shock wave as big as possible, creating a very big area of dead tissue that all needs to be removed... It's a mess...

[Subject Delta]

Although I will admit the science behind this is actually really interesting, guns are weapons designed to cause harm. Is any of this really that surprising? The simple lesson here is there is no such thing as a safe takedown shot. If you don't want to kill someone, don't shoot them!

[DocM]

I've been testing .40 S&W JHP (copper jacketed hollow point) loads from 135 grains to 165 grans. At first I was going to use the Remington Golden Sabre 165 gr, but after seeing for myself what the supersonic Federal 135 gr JHP can do in ballistig gel at the range (not this pic) I may switch. That round has a HUGE, deep hollow point and just tears things to hell. I can easily see it throwing a 1,700 psi shock wave up the aorta, into the carotids and popping a cerebral bleed. A big one.

[Konstanov]

I have a .357 Taurus on my ankle, and a .40 S&W concealed on my hip. And to those who want to condemn me for carrying such firearms on my person. I also happen to trained in Systema since I was 18 from when I was in the military, and would only resort to using my firearms as a last resort. However, if I'm forced to use Systema in a fight, my opponent is probably dying anyway but that's just how I was trained. You fight to survive, not for the thrill, at least that's the way I was taught, other Rotas were taught differently.

Back on topic, while I own a .45 SA 1911, it is full size and much too bulky to carry as a personal defense weapon. Although at my house, I made custom rock salt 12 gauge shells for a Model 870 I keep in a wall safe in the master closet. I hate killing people outside of combat. No sport in it.

Also, while I know members of the military, current and former visit this site, they are a few in number and I doubt even fewer of those few have engaged in combat. So I am one of the very few people who frequent this site who have killed another man. And honestly there is no psychological repercussions to it, you aim down the sight, you pull the trigger, your target dies, you kill the next person shooting at you. Although the adrenaline that rushes through your body when you are engaged in combat and getting shot at is rather addictive, at least for me.

[DocM]

I've unfortunately had to fire on someone in defense of another, as a civilian, and I've had to hold intruders at bay twice while waiting for the cops to arrive. Firefights are no fun, especially when you've trained for years to save others. That said, I could and would do it again. In a flash.

[Hum]

He who lives by the sword, shall perish by the sword ;)