I'm starting this thread because of what I have read in the past versus what I've been reading in the CCW thread.
It's my understanding through reading over the recent years that most "defence" style hollow points are designed for about 11 1/2 inches of penetration through ballistic gellatin. This rule of thumb came about after the FBI shootings where a number of suspects were wounded from a number of different rounds, some not penetrating far enough to stop the perpetrator(s). Most of the hollowpoints (Federal, Gold Dot) energy is expended within this distance, and there just isn't a lot of oomph left in the round after that as long as it has entered a torso, or other semisolid or better mass. The frangible soft points like BeeSafe, and RBCD, and other names are designed for high velocity and explosive impact with minimal range and no lethality to others after impact upon a semisolid or solid mass.
Caliber of round determines knockdown, but not expecially penetration as they are all designed to about the same specs. for penetration. Ball ammo is a notable exception due to a good mass, almost non existent expansion, and was never intended for anything more than what it is.
This isn't meant to be an experts opinion, it's just what I imagine as being the truth after reading lots of articles.
I currently carry a .45 with RBCD Totally Frangible Soft Points that are advertised as not being able to penetrate both sides of a sheetrock wall intact. My backup magazine has Speer Gold Dots because if I have to change mags, I'm in a world of trouble and need all the distance and stopping power I can get. Plus, by that time all the innocents should have ducked, and probably the perp was after them anyway if recent events are any indicator.
I say let your ability to control, afford , and your desire to posess said caliber/firearm be the reasons.
It's my understanding through reading over the recent years that most "defence" style hollow points are designed for about 11 1/2 inches of penetration through ballistic gellatin. This rule of thumb came about after the FBI shootings where a number of suspects were wounded from a number of different rounds, some not penetrating far enough to stop the perpetrator(s). Most of the hollowpoints (Federal, Gold Dot) energy is expended within this distance, and there just isn't a lot of oomph left in the round after that as long as it has entered a torso, or other semisolid or better mass. The frangible soft points like BeeSafe, and RBCD, and other names are designed for high velocity and explosive impact with minimal range and no lethality to others after impact upon a semisolid or solid mass.
Caliber of round determines knockdown, but not expecially penetration as they are all designed to about the same specs. for penetration. Ball ammo is a notable exception due to a good mass, almost non existent expansion, and was never intended for anything more than what it is.
This isn't meant to be an experts opinion, it's just what I imagine as being the truth after reading lots of articles.
I currently carry a .45 with RBCD Totally Frangible Soft Points that are advertised as not being able to penetrate both sides of a sheetrock wall intact. My backup magazine has Speer Gold Dots because if I have to change mags, I'm in a world of trouble and need all the distance and stopping power I can get. Plus, by that time all the innocents should have ducked, and probably the perp was after them anyway if recent events are any indicator.
I say let your ability to control, afford , and your desire to posess said caliber/firearm be the reasons.