.22 has more stopping power than a .45?

The answer is surprisingly true, and false at the same time. It is false because a .45 has more kinetic energy than a .22, and it is true because statistically a .45 has an incapacitation rate of 51% with one shot to the torso. And the .22 has 60% incapacitation rate with a one shot to the torso. Based on a ten year study in shootings and the calibers used.

How can this be? First off like all statistics the outcome can very by how the input was collected and sorted. For example the people shooting the .22,s could be better marksmen than the people with the .45’s. these results were collect as they were reported in the real world. Not in a vacuum of a lab. But the results are very telling none the less.

My take is no mater what caliber you are shot with, when you get shot, half the time you will decide to call it quits. Whether the wound is fatal or not.

Now we couple this information with the fact that most confrontations are ended with the brandishing of a weapon, I don’t have the stats on this but I will challenge it is between ninety and ninety five percent, when a weapon is drawn to stop aggression, and never fired. If you have facts to dispute this claim please share them.

Back to my point if we assume that 90% (totally my made up number) of the time you draw your weapon in self defense you don’t have to fire it and you add the fact that half the time any caliber will do, we are left with a 2.5% window where caliber makes a difference. Perhaps a vital life and death difference I will concede that.

97.5% chance that a .22 will get the job done is good enough for me.

CTHorner.

 

A .22 or a .45 to a vital organ will most likely kill you. Unfortunately, a .22 (even to the heart) is likely to give you opponent enough time to shoot you back (or even beat you to death) before it does it's work. The final outcome for the guy you shoot is the same, but it might not be for you.

JMO (based on a pretty fair amount of experience), YMMV

 

Fascinating.

 

The 2.5% chance that my family is killed because I chose a weapon not suited for self defense is not good enough for me.

ETA: If you are drawing your weapon, then not using it, why did you draw in the first place?

 

These are the things that try men's souls.

WAY too many variables in statements like that. As was stated above, if and when you get around to needing to use a defensive handgun, your going to want it to work RIGHT NOW! How many of those shot with a .22 ended up dead later? While no round is the mythical "one shot stop", a bigger hole is always better. At least in my humble opinion.

 

Ah yes, one must always remember the purpose of a handgun is to fight your way to a proper rifle (or shotgun).

 

Winner winner chicken dinner. The 12 gage scored 80% stopping power. Hence it is the most effective defensive round. However my point is anything is better than nothing.
CTHorner

 

I'll stick to my .45 & my 3 shot Failure To Stop Drill of two to the chest one to the head. If whatever is still living after that, I'll throw the gun at it, scream like a lil girl, & run like my arse is on fire!

 

Techsar,
“ETA: If you are drawing your weapon, then not using it, why did you draw in the first place? “

In the real world where these statistics were gathered, most firearms related confrontations were ended without firing a single round.
Just watch an episode of cops and count the number of guns drawn and the perp surrenders without a fight armed or unarmed. This carries on into civilian confrontations, burglar is held at gun point until the cops arrive, or flees far more than burglar shot.
It is just a fact of life, most people surrender rather than engage in a gun fight.
CTHorner.

 

Bruce, if he pulls his he better not blink cuz if he drawing, he dieing

 

I wanted to start this debate because the general consensus is this caliber or that caliber is the best. They may be right or they may be wrong, the fact is before their choice is proven, the odds are far greater they will choke to death on a hotdog before they will be proven right. For those who don’t eat hotdogs, the odds are far greater you will die of malpractice from your doctor. For those who don’t go to the doctor, the odds are fare greater you will………I give up. I hope you get my point. Any caliber gun is better than nothing if you feel comfortable carrying a .22 it will statistically serve you 97.5% of the time. So if that’s all you can afford or are comfortable shooting, I will venture to say it’s OK!
CTHorner.

 

Trick question, the one in your head!

 

Well prolly not my mind but I get your point. LOL