What happens when you press a gun into an attacker's body?

[Andrew Wiggin]

I've heard people say that when a handgun is fired against a person's body, that the expanding gases seriously complicate the wound. I tested the theory with a S&W 638.

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Spoiler:










BB: 586.5 fps, 3.2"

Impact velocity: approximately 900 fps
Penetration: 14.1"
Retained weight: 134.5gr
Max expansion: 0.554"
Min expansion: 0.426"


It definitely tore up the clothing pretty well and added a lot of powder particles to the wound, but it doesn't look like the wound is any worse than normal.

Would the results be different with a magnum? What about a rifle or shotgun? Were there just not enough gasses from the .38 spl to be a factor?

[JHC]

Ayoob used to write of .357 magnum loads creating a pretty devastating contact would from the explosion blasting into the body.

I hope you stay with this and expand the calibers. I've never seen anyone go there before with gel. Seems like many years ago I may have seen (in print media) someone do it to a roast and it seemed pretty ripped up.

[Andrew Wiggin]

Dead meat often gets a lot more torn up than gelatin or living tissue would in those sort of "tests".

I was definitely surprised by the results. I didn't expect anything crazy but I did expect the TSC to be a little larger. To my inexpert eye, it looks just the same as any other .38 spl or 9mm wound, but a lot dirtier.

[Chuck Haggard]

More gas=more wound. Higher pressure as well vs lower pressure.

Your muzzle has to be pressed in so that there is a gas seal and the gas follows the bullet in. I have seen a few contact shot shootings on the street, one was with a .357mag, that guy couldn't hit the ground fast enough, he was DIRT.

[Chuck Haggard]

Looking at the video, I don't think you pressed into the block hard enough for a gas seal into the block.

[Andrew Wiggin]

That's correct. I did not press very hard.

[Chuck Haggard]

That's correct. I did not press very hard.

In that case the gas exited via the path of least resistance, through the clothing sideways, and likely pushed the front of the block away from the gun as it came back in recoil, creating an even greater air gap.

[JHC]

Do it again do it again!

[Andrew Wiggin]

In that case the gas exited via the path of least resistance, through the clothing sideways, and likely pushed the front of the block away from the gun as it came back in recoil, creating an even greater air gap.

That is consistent with the tearing of the clothing.

[Byron]

Thanks for all the testing you do, Andrew!

If you decide to try this one again, pressing harder into the block, I'd be interested to see a trial without the clothing as well. Maybe one contact round through the denim, and another contact round on bare gel?

I make no guess as to whether or not it would make a difference... but I'm curious.