Oh, not that I think it has some massive ballistic advantage over either, but just the fact that the default FMJ load is a TMJ with something approaching a flattish meplat, plus it has more BBs in the tank than an equivalently-sized .45.Originally Posted by JHC
+1 and the excessive penetration tpd223 referred to has got to come in handy in their work.
“Remember, being healthy is basically just dying as slowly as possible,” Ricky Gervais
This would be similar in design ideation to the British .303 MkVII or the original 5.45x39 mm M74 FMJ. The problem with doing it in 9 mm is how short the bullet is."I always wondered how hard it would be to make a 9mm with a pointy front end (perhaps with a lightweight portion to the core up front like steel or aluminum) and a very sharp flat base. Design the bullet for early yaw in the manner many other bullets, such as Yugo 7.62X39, perform. Then you would get a bullet that feeds well, penetrates well, yaws early and when going backwards acts like a wadcutter. "
Flat point TMJ semi-wadcutter style pistol bullets do not demonstrate substantially better terminal performance than standard profile FMJ's.
Old time historically effective .38-40 offered very similar capability as .40 S&W--both seem to work as well as any other handgun caliber in actually shooting incidents. If I have to purchase my own ammo, then 9 mm makes the most sense. When not getting as much practice as ideal, many shooters seem better able to maintain acceptable shooting standards for a longer period of time when using 9 mm than other service calibers. Modern robust expanding 9 mm loads are approaching terminal performance capabilities of the .40. 9 mm pistols tend to last longer than .40's.
Ultimately ALL the service calibers work acceptably well when fed quality JHP loads and I would happily carry any of them if given free ammo to practice with.
Those guys don't always have to use FMJ. Just sayin.
Exactly, but... I couldn't help but think after the bullet does a 180 that passing through the target as basically a wadcutter is a more efficient wounding mechanism that a RN FMJ, that and sideways 9mm bullet > point forward 9mm RN bullet, as far as soft tissue wounding effect.
Wasn't necessarily talking about those guys, just going with "if you had to use FMJ" as a premise.
Gotcha.Wasn't necessarily talking about those guys, just going with "if you had to use FMJ" as a premise.
Yeah, if I absolutely *had* to use an FMJ and *had* to pick one caliber in this wholly artificial hypothetical - I'd take a .40. Still probably wouldn't lose much sleep if I had a 9mm instead.
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