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Thread: Is a rifle round always better than a pistol round?

  1. #1

    Is a rifle round always better than a pistol round?

    Just wondering, assuming a typical 5.56/.223 FMJ round does NOT upset, is it still a better round, in terms of terminal ballistics, than a standard service pistol caliber JHP that does expand? Does the higher velocity of the rifle round cause more disruption to the target than an expanded pistol JHP?

  2. #2
    Site Supporter rob_s's Avatar
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    I've wondered about this for a bit myself, specifically as relates to sub-sonic in a post-300 BLK world. My question has been whether a non-expanding sub-sonic 7.62 rifle projectile is more devastating than an expanding 9mm.

  3. #3
    I've witnessed a gut shot by a self inflicted wound to the gut with an M4. I was unimpressed and it was a through and through shot. He walked to the aid station unassisted.

  4. #4
    The same type of thing has happened with many people shot with pistol caliber JHP's...

  5. #5
    Site Supporter DocGKR's Avatar
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    A rifle projectile that does not upset in tissue is less damaging than an expanding handgun projectile the performs as designed.
    Facts matter...Feelings Can Lie

  6. #6
    Site Supporter Jay Cunningham's Avatar
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    Several posts in this thread were deleted after Staff discussion; we'd prefer to avoid technical "how-to" discussions on certain topics. Thanks for your understanding.

  7. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by DocGKR View Post
    A rifle projectile that does not upset in tissue is less damaging than an expanding handgun projectile the performs as designed.
    Thanks Doc, and I assume that the converse is true, that a rifle round that does upset in tissure is far more damaging than a properly performing pistol round?

  8. #8
    Site Supporter DocGKR's Avatar
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    Generally correct.
    Facts matter...Feelings Can Lie

  9. #9
    OK one last question. Not trying to be pesky, just get all the details. What about a rifle round that YAWs without fragmenting? A properly performing pistol round still better?

  10. #10
    Member olstyn's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by j.d.allen View Post
    What about a rifle round that YAWs without fragmenting?
    What distinction is there between a bullet "upsetting" and "yawing?" (Forgive my lack of knowledge, but I thought that in this context, at least, those two terms were interchangeable.)

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