"Staggering mags" fmj then jhp?

[willbond]

When the adrenaline's flowing, only those with training and LOTS of experience could be expected to have a high percentage of "hits". It's one reason why they make high capacity mags.

And I alternate rounds in my .380 and my Makarov because those rounds are marginally powerful, and I'm trying to insure that at least some have adequate penetration. At around 200 - 250 lbs/ft penetration is an issue. I worked at a big jail for years, and saw several gangbangers with bullet hole scars. What was the round that made the hole? Every one of them answered ".380" except for one "9mm". Two different ones had been shot with a .380 and it hadn't gone through their arm (or hit bone).

And yes, I know that's not a Scientific Study, and yes I know my rationale may not be sound. I'm just not sure what is the best bullet type to get the job done when dealing with marginal power levels, calibers and barrel lengths, so I'm going to alternate hot JHP's and FMJ's. I agree that good JHP's are more likely the better choice, but...maybe a solid steel armor piercing round would be a good idea.

[Taj]

Originally Posted by willbond

When the adrenaline's flowing, only those with training and LOTS of experience could be expected to have a high percentage of "hits". It's one reason why they make high capacity mags.

I worked at a big jail for years, and saw several gang-bangers with bullet hole scars. What was the round that made the hole? Every one of them answered ".380" except for one "9mm". Two different ones had been shot with a .380 and it hadn't gone through their arm (or hit bone).

I'm just not sure what is the best bullet type to get the job done when dealing with marginal power levels, calibers and barrel lengths, so I'm going to alternate hot JHP's and FMJ's. I agree that good JHP's are more likely the better choice, but...maybe a solid steel armor piercing round would be a good idea.

I agree about the adrenaline flowing being a big factor in accuracy. Not many law enforcement people have much experience in being in shoot outs (except for on TV and in the movies). I was on the job for 33 years and never needed to use my gun. Yet I read posts on this and other forums and it seems that many civilians who never were under fire have a very high opinion of their ability to do something under stress they never did in their lives. I have to wonder if this over-confidence is more dangerous to them, or to innocent bystanders. Both for sure. I would worry more about the bystanders though. They have no control. A shooter does.

As for the guys you saw in jail with bullet wounds, remember; these are the ones that lived to get to jail.

Certainly in "one shot stops" the large caliber guns are more effective. But
it is my understanding that the majority of handgun deaths in the country are caused by .22s.

As for the best round, (caliber and type; FMJ or JHP), the better rounds are far more expensive. A high quality 9mm round costs ten times as much as a cheap target round. Which do you think the street thugs are more likely to buy?

In my later years of service on protective duty I used 9mm almost exclusively. We often used carbines that were possible to conceal. All chambered in 9mm.

I liked my .357 magnum, but as a CCW gun I would not consider carrying one now as a concealed weapon, which is what I have to do by law as a private citizen with a CCW permit.

My earlier years, when I was mostly at a desk or chasing down leads in investigations of generally non violent criminals I carried what was small and comfortable. It was all I needed. I carried a .380 for a long time. In those days the ammunition available was nowhere near as effective as what is available today. Today a .380 with "top shelf" ammo can be very effective. Same with 9mm. But in my day even 9mm guns were generally quite large. My 9mm XD Sub with today's high quality JHP cartridges is probably as effective, and possibly more effective than the FMJ rounds that were used in .45s when I first went into law enforcement.

As has been said plenty of times; the caliber is always a factor. The quality of the round is always a factor. But shot placement will always be the biggest factor. The infamous Dadeland Miami shootout was certainly a great example of that.

As a private citizen now my preference is to carry as small a gun as possible with reasonable stopping power. That give us all quite a large selection.

Taj

[The Knight Of Light]

alternating ammo is also asking for trouble from the legal side as well. They might say stupid **** like "He was using HOT Ball ammo like the military uses!!!" They have done it before and they will continue to do evil things like that.