If the human body were a steel plate, and absorbing the energy of the round was the only factor, then “knock down power” and the resulting calculations would be the end of it.
But taking a person down is more about placement and the resulting organ, CNS or bleed out than the mass of the larger/slower projectile.
IIRC, the one-shot-stop statistics between .45ACP and 9mm were within 5% of eachother, with the .45ACP getting the edge.
The adoption of the SAW and the M955 preceded the M-16A2. We got the additional range for the SAW, then the USMC project team came up with a revised rifle to chamber and accurately fire the 62gr bullet. What we lost was the fragmentation (and the larger permanant would canal) that the thin-cannalured M193 provided (upon initial yaw/tumbling).
Agreed, logistics are what keeps any new cartridge in the “wishful thinking” stage, but logistics is also what ensures that we have a shitload of ordnance.
And, disagreeing isn’t necessarily “disagreeable”. We haven’t resorted to name-calling.
yet ;)
We seem to have similar backgrounds - my point is simply that a slower larger round will do more damage to people than a smaller faster round. All things equal in size (9mm to 45 cal) the slower speed of the bullet will cause greater flesh damage (wound channel) and will communicate more energy to the victim if a bone is contacted. If you want range, you need greater speed, this is a given, but most killing done by grunts with individual weapons occurs inside of 300m, and most of it inside 100m. Given that, I would prefer a rifle that shoots a good size (mass) round barely over supersonic speed. Lets not go into shooting through auto glass and concrete block, this is where the services get hijacked by the belly shooters. Give me a round that will hit hard within 200m against a human being. I want big sucking chest wounds at that range. If I can knock them down fast, I can do double tap to the head to finish things after I have neutralized the threat.
Just between the two of us, if you could carry a .45 or 9mm pistol in combat, which one would you choose?