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Old October 19th, 2007
TonyF TonyF is offline
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Default Re: Is .38 Special Enough For Self Defense?

Quote:
Originally Posted by LastManOut View Post
I read info on a website (I can't find it now) from the FBI ballistics and gun shot wounding.
Basically "stopping power" is somewhat a myth, anyone ever in combat can attest to this. Being hit with a 7.62mm, .223, .45 or .38 caliber will not knock a person off his feet like in the movies. (Maybe a .50 cal?) If a person drops after being shot, it is normally psychological ("Oh crap! I've been shot!") not physiological. Even a shot directly through the heart won't drop someone for a few minutes/seconds. (Time enough for them to finish their attack.) Only if the hit "turns off the switch" severs the nervous system, i.e. brain stem, spinal cord will they physically be sure to drop.

The study was about tissue destroyed, tissue pushed out of the way and bouncing back into position and impact shock waves effect on surrounding tissues.
I carry a 5 shot .38 snubby that I have trained with using a simple wadcutter or jacketed ball projectile.
One instructor we know says that if it doesn't hang off the wing of an aircraft or isn't launched from the deck of a ship, don't count on it having much stopping power.
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