Zorros
Ultimate Member
Looking at some defensive ammo in the ammo safe this am. 357 sig vs .45 critical duty. Stated 1350 fps v. 990. Guessing in a defensive situation, 300 fps+- faster can be a life saver?
This rapid incapacitation is a factor of shot placement combined with velocity, kinetic energy, projectile weight, projectile shape and construction, caliber, and range to target as well as the nature of the target itself.
Looking at some defensive ammo in the ammo safe this am. 357 sig vs .45 critical duty. Stated 1350 fps v. 990. Guessing in a defensive situation, 300 fps+- faster can be a life saver?
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Google Terminal ballistics and start reading. Here are a couple to get you started:
http://aegisacademy.com/terminal-ballistics-part-i/
http://aegisacademy.com/terminal-ballistics-part-ii/
Looking at some defensive ammo in the ammo safe this am. 357 sig vs .45 critical duty. Stated 1350 fps v. 990. Guessing in a defensive situation, 300 fps+- faster can be a life saver?
I think the 2900-3000 threshold sounds more like the velocity needed for 5.56 fmj to fragment reliably as it tumbles. Depending on the exact load, generally 2,000 fps is where tissue stretches enough from the temporary cavitation to start tearing(especially if fragments are in the cavity to act on the tissue under tension). This changes, depending on the tissue though. Something like the liver or brain will be more prone to tearing and being damaged from its radial projection than something like muscle.Also, it's my understanding that speed REALLY starts to matter at about 2900 fps where it creates a huge shock wave that turns muscle into jello. Below that, the extra speed does more damage/has more penetration, but not exponential damage lie you get when you break that 2900-3000 fps threshold.
And how much penetration do you need in a home defense situation?