View Full Version : Self defense load characteristics
michael_aos
02-02-2006, 17:36
Disregarding caliber specifics. Not the "9mm -vs- .45 ACP" discussion.
What you you suggest as a good self-defense (people) load, expressed as bullet-weight x velocity / power-factor / ft-lbs of energy?
Examples:
125gr x 1000fps = 125 PF = 277.5 fp/e
170gr x 900fps = 153 PF = 305.69 fp/e
200gr x 1000fps = 200 PF = 444.0 fp/e
230gr x 800fps = 184 PF = 326.78 fp/e
I'm kind of thinking anything around 300 fp/e would be fine.
What do you feel would make an ideal self-defense combination?
Mike
Colorado Osprey
02-02-2006, 23:33
I'm a believer in Massad Ayoob teachings in self defense.
Largest caliber in the heaviest lead faced bullet you can handle in a given firearm under stress.
To some that is a .22lr to some that is a .500S&W.
My personal is a 200 grain at 1300ft/sec. More and I become recoil sensative. Less and I feel it's not enough from me.
michael_aos
02-03-2006, 12:26
My personal is a 200 grain at 1300ft/sec.
Now we're talking ~750 ft/lbs of mechanical energy.
Maybe for the outdoors, but isn't that a bit much for a typical urban encounter that takes place at "conversation" distance?
What about overpentration? Followup shots? Flash?
Mike
Zak Smith
02-03-2006, 15:04
Wrong algorithm. There is no necessary correlation between terminal effects and momentum. Within the same bullet type/construction, it might be true, but it means nothing on its own.
A good JHP out of 9x19 or larger is good to go.
Worry less about load/caliber bullshit and more about mindset, tactics, and skill.
Colorado Osprey
02-03-2006, 15:36
Yes, what I shoot is overkill. I admit it. I've been shot by a 9x19 and I'm still here. In fact it didn't even penetrate the leather jacket I was wearing. Speaking of leather jackets, you need to keep in mind everyone isn't always walking around in a t-shirt and if some one is wearing heavy clothing, it really slows down pistol bullets.
Remember shot placement, and do shooting drills until the target is no longer a threat. It's amazing how many people will shoot, get a hit and stop. Keep shooting until a threat no longer is a threat. To an untrained civilian defending themselves this usually means empty your weapon into the target. This also helps substantiate the fact that they were a threat and you were in fear for your life.
Having recieved and I am trained for CQB and defensive shooting I could not get away with emptying my gun. This is why my personal gun might be a little overkill.
Overpenetration: Colorado Law protects those who are in law enforcement from prosecution from discharging their firearm in the line of duty. The burdon of a miss or a pass through falls on the perpatrator because they caused the law enforcement officer to discharge their weapon.
Follow up shots:Like I said before, it's what you can handle. I have no problem shooting a 10mm or a .357 mag. Some do, and they need to choose something lighter. Some can handle something bigger. I can't.
Flash: Anyone who shoots in selfdefense is not worried about muzzle flash...your not a sniper. Muzzle flash at night can actually aid you in your target picture to help line up the sites if you don't have night sites.
michael_aos
02-03-2006, 15:52
A good JHP out of 9x19 or larger is good to go.
Worry less about load/caliber bulletshit and more about mindset, tactics, and skill.
I agree with you.
I bought a lightweight .41 Magnum for hiking. The conventional "Internet wisdom" was that the .41 was the right minimum defensive cartridge for bear & lion.
I've also read of issues with crimp-jump on heavy .44 mag loads in lightweight revolvers.
So I figure if you've got to download .44 anyway, might as well go with a .41.
Now the question becomes, what's the "minimum" .41 load for outdoors?
And as long as I've got it, why not use it as a "car gun" when I'm not hiking?
So the next question, it's what's a minimum self-defense load in .41? I suspect even the lightest factory loads are more than I need.
Mike
Zak Smith
02-03-2006, 15:54
[quote=Zak Smith]
Now the question becomes, what's the "minimum" .41 load for outdoors?
3" magnum slugs, or 308 or 3006 FMJ for large things that want to eat you, a 9x19 for bad people.
michael_aos
02-03-2006, 15:58
3" magnum slugs, or 308 or 3006 FMJ for large things that want to eat you, a 9x19 for bad people.
And again. I agree. That's the correct answer.
But it seems like the whole PURPOSE of a handgun is for when a rifle isn't practical or available.
Honestly, I've never even SEEN anything camping or hiking to indicate bears or lions would be a problem.
Psychologically though, there's something reassuring about a large-caliber double-action revolver in the woods.
So if we say ~700 fp/e gets us to .357 / 10mm. And that's "not enough".
And we say the ~1200 fp/e of of .44 is too much.
We're probably looking at ~800+ fp/e minimum for .41. Any less, and you forfeit the advantage of .41.
Although perhaps the perceived recoil of a 180gr @ 1400fps is different than the perceived recoil of a 265gr @ 1150 fps?
Mike
michael_aos
02-03-2006, 20:17
I've read that when the .41 Magnum was first conceptualized, it was a 210gr @ 950 fps = 420 fp/e.
That reminds me of a .44 Special round.
Mike
michael_aos
02-05-2006, 12:07
I've found I really like the CCI Blazer 200gr GDHP .44 Special in my S&W Mountain Gun. I haven't run them over my chrono, but I'd expect ~850fps.
There's a Speer Gold Dot 210gr JHP in .41 Magnum, but the reviews suggest it's a LOT hotter than a .44 Special.
I bought a box of the Winchester 175gr Silvertip HP's in .41 Magnum but I haven't shot them yet.
Mike
I bought a box of the Winchester 175gr Silvertip HP's in .41 Magnum but I haven't shot them yet.
Mike
If they are on par with, or a little hotter than the ones I shoot out of the 10MM You'll be quite happy I think. :D
michael_aos
02-05-2006, 13:01
I think the appeal of 9mm are the factors of bullet weight, construction, velocity and capacity, combined to form a very "shootable" platform.
I expect factory .41 Magnum loads have me "covered" with regard to self-defense in the woods.
What I'm really after are the characteristics that comprise a good self-defense (people) load. I'd like to use that information to roll-my-own .41 load so this revolver could double as a "car gun".
Mike
michael_aos
02-05-2006, 13:25
Any thoughts on how these 2 compare?
Hornady 210gr XTP JHP ($12.99/100)
Speer Gold Dot 210gr JHP ($15.99/100)
I'm initially hoping to drive these around ~850fps.
Mike
I have tried the XTP's, in The 10MM, .45 Colt and .454 Casull, I have been very pleased with the result for all of them. I don't have any personal experiance with the Gold Dots, But I have relly heard or read anything negitive about them.
michael_aos
09-15-2006, 15:05
FYI, it seems lately I carry a Glock 34 w/124gr TAP in a thigh holster when camping. Especially at night.
That .41 Magnum really does carry great, but being on my belt makes layering a pain as the weather changes, or when donning a backpack with a waist-belt.
Mike
in my glock 32c I load my own, its a .357sig I use 7.6 grains of hodgdon hs-6 powder, 147 grain xtp hp's, for a velocity of around 1175 fps. as far as power factor, I dont know the math to get it, but I would not want to be on the recieving end of it :cool:
michael_aos
09-15-2006, 20:16
in my glock 32c I load my own, its a .357sig I use 7.6 grains of hodgdon hs-6 powder, 147 grain xtp hp's, for a velocity of around 1175 fps. as far as power factor, I dont know the math to get it, but I would not want to be on the recieving end of it :cool:
I get 450 fp/e.
That reminds me though. I've read that the original blackpowder lever-action designs were based on bottleneck cartridges. Seems like .357 Sig would be pretty cool in a lever-gun.
Mike
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