Posted on 02/22/2003 8:34:22 PM PST by 2nd_Amendment_Defender
General Julian Hatcher, a noted forensic pathologist, in the early 1900’s developed a good formula to determine the theoretical stopping power of a firearm cartridge. His formula has withstood the test of time and validation from other studies and data related to stopping power.
You want a handgun cartridge that has a Hatcher value of over 50 for the most effective stopping power. Values over 55 have diminishing returns in that you don’t gain any significant increase in stopping power for the extra recoil and control you must cope with. Handgun cartridges that don’t make a value of at least 50, should not considered for self-defense. If the rating of your handgun cartridge is under 30, it only has about a 30% chance of producing a one shot stop. Hatcher Ratings of 30 to 49 raise a one shot stop to approximately a 50% chance. Ratings of 50 or higher produce a one shot stop about 90% of the time.
Handgun Cartridge Type ..................... Hatcher Rating
.45 ACP full metal jacket 230 grain .......... 49.1
.45 ACP jacketed hollow point 230 grain ...... 60.7
.44 Magnum full metal jacket 240 grain ....... 92.3
*.44 Magnum lead wad cutter 240 grain ......... 136.8
.44 Special full metal jacket 240 grain ...... 51.6
*.44 Special lead wad cutter 240 grain ............. 76.5
.41 Magnum full metal jacket 230 grain ............. 54
*.41 Magnum lead wad cutter 230 grain .............. 80
10 millimeter full metal jacket 180 grain .......... 50.3
10 millimeter jacketed hollow point 180 grain ..62.1
.40 S&W full metal jacket flat nose 180 grain ...... 53.4
.40 S&W jacketed hollow point 180 grain ....... 59.4
.38 Special full metal jacket 158 grain ...... 26.7
*.38 Special lead wad cutter 158 grain ............. 39.7
**.357 Magnum full metal jacket 158 grain ..... 32.7
**.357 Magnum lead wad cutter 158 grain ............ 48.5
.357 SIG full metal jacket 147 grain ................ 36.6
.357 SIG jacketed hollow point 147 grain ..... 45.2
9 millimeter full metal jacket 147 grain ............ 32.3
9 millimeter jacketed hollow point 147 grain ... 39.9
.380 Auto jacketed hollow point 95 grain ..... 18.3
.32 Auto jacketed hollow point 71 grain ...... 11.1
.25 Auto jacketed hollow point 50 grain ...... 3.7
.22 Long Rifle jacketed hollow point 40 grain ... 4.2
* Jacketed hollow points will have the same rating as wad cutter bullets if the bullet hollow tip is greater than 1/2 of the caliber of the bullet.
* .357 Magnum ratings are taken from a firearm with a 3 inch barrel. Longer barrels will raise the rating of the round.
I keep a minimum legal Remington 870 with 00 Buck. I don't have to worry about excessive penetration inside the house and the outer walls are brick.
So9
The pinky and the springs have been moved and changed but the problem persists......It's relegated to paperweight duty till I figure this out.
Stay Safe !
Handgun bullets expand in the human target only 60-70% of the time at best. I think that when one considers stopping power of a handgun round it is best to assume worst case scenario (your hollow point does not expand 40% of the time). I do not think that all Julian Hatcher's information is out of date. The point of this article is that bullet weights over 179 grain that are .40 caliber or larger will penetrate more tissue and cause damage thereby hopefully defeating your opponent more effectively than smaller caliber speedy rounds. Some of the information may be incorrect but there are things we can learn from Hatcher's work.
In khakis, or "relaxed fit" jeans, it's just fine. I think it would be uncomfortable in tight jeans, or on horseback or motorcycle. I would also stick to a small pistol or revolver. A 1911A1 will fit, but it's uncomfortable, makes you look like a pervert and carrying there "Cocked and Locked" would make me very very nervous.
So9
I'm carrying using the Smart Carry, a product almost identical to the Thunderwear. I usually forget I'm carrying. It is far more confortable than I ever would have believed had I not tried it. NOBODY knows you're carrying. And now I do carry at all times, instead of only sporadically like before I discovered the Smart Carry. Many US Air Marshalls are cerrying concealed using Smart Carry.
Try it.
Mine has the mag release at the rear of the mag well. I smoothed and rounded it a bit when I dehorned the pistol and have never had any problem.
By the way, "Actions by T" in Sugarland, Texas can do an action job on one that makes it a lot easier to hit with.
So9
Would a Colt Defender be small enough? I'm actually looking at the Para Ordnance PARA CARRY C6.45 LDA which is a single stack, measures 6.5" length by 5" height, I think its smaller than the Colt Defender.
My current KelTec P11 is easy to carry this way, but I want a .40 or .45. The SigSauer P229 is too big, I'm afraid, to carry this way.
I have a Para Carry that is gonna replace the AMT Backup. I really like it. It is the same size. I just haven't had enough time to put enough rounds through it to break it in and be sure it is 100% reliable.
So9
I don't think I'd be too concerned about the safety of that level of load any more than any other in a Glock, though I do see the .40 as a better choice in longer barrelled service weapons where it can develop every bit of power and velocity possible. Flash at night from the shorter barrels also becomes an interesting consideration. The 135-grain loadings, from Cor-Bon, Federal, Pro-Load and others might be a reasonable alternative [sort of reminiscent of the usually effective 125-grain .357 Magnum JHP loadings] in a .40 shorty, though again, some personal user testing at night should take place lest any surprises pop up. My experience with the cartridge has mostly been with a Glock 22 and a Daewoo DP-40 and a couple of developmental pieces, and from comments from Memphis PD officers using the .40 in their S&W autoloaders, who look longingly at the .45 Glocks issued by another nearby department. I'd guess I've got maybe 35,000 rounds of .40 sent downrange, about a third of that at 600 rpm or so.
Happily, when my boss suggested that our personnel upgrade to .40s, I asked him if a .400 Cor-Bon in my 1911 was okay, and he cheerily said sure- I could carry whatever I liked, but the practice ammo provided would be .40 S&W...or, I could continue using my Browning GP if I wished, so long as I bring my own ammo and keep my scores up, no problem since they're usually in the top 5 of 40 shooters or so.
So the .40 and concerns thereof aren't in my immediate future, though my old Glock went to an Arkansas deputy sheriff whose department switched from the 9mm, and he's a good pal, so I remain interested in it and how it serves him. But they're sure going to be around for a while, and seem to be an acceptable compromise for some happy users, to include yourself. FTI agrees with your thoughts about the 165-grain Gold Dot, though, so your experienced and informed opinion is certainly supported by others.
-archy-/-
Regards,
L
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