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About GCH
Expertise
I CAN answer questions related to defensive use of firearms, tactics, prudent modifications of firearms, utility of certain types of firearms. My greatest knowledge is in the area of handguns.
PLEASE READ BEFORE SENDING QUESTIONS:
I CAN NOT identify antique guns or those that are old and out-of-production. I CAN NOT tell you the value of your firearms. I CAN NOT tell you the history of your guns. I CAN NOT supply information about cheap, inherently unsafe firearms (e.g. Jimenez, Jennings, Lorcin).
Experience
Primary Instructor, F2v (armed and unarmed self-defense); NRA Certified Instructor; NRA Distinguished Expert, Handgun; International Defensive Pistol Association certified Safety Officer; IDPA classified Expert, Stock Service Pistol Division; Multiple graduate, Practical Firearms Training, Tactical Carbine and Advanced Defensive Handgun; Blackwater Training Center, Advanced Skills Handgun; Insights Training Center, Defensive Folding Knife; Integrated Defensive Fighting Systems, Unarmed Defense and Fixed Blade Knife; Range qualified with local police department, handgun and shotgun; Kukkiwon Ildan Black Belt, ETS certified Self-Defense Instructor
Organizations
National Rifle Association, International Defensive Pistol Association, Virginia Citizens' Defense League; Integrated Defensive Fighting Systems; Personal Defense Group
Publications
Tactical Journal
Education/Credentials
Bachelor's and Master's degrees; Graduate Practical Firearms Training, Handgun levels 1, 2, and 3, and Tactical Carbine; Kukiwan certified Ildan black belt.
Awards and Honors
Multiple trophies from various tactical pistol competitions.
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You are here: Experts > Recreation/Outdoors > Paintball > Guns, Firearms, Projectile Weapon Sports > home and hand gun safety
Expert: GCH - 10/30/2009
Question
Hi,
I would like to know about penetration depth of various caliber bullets (regular over the counter type bullets) ie 38, 357, 45 auto, and 44 magnum. What do you recommend for home protection? Is there a type of bullet I can buy that would protect inside the house but not go through walls and shoot the neighbors? I realize that is a difficult question but if there was a standard sheetrock wall behind a person and not a window (which would have no stopping ability), what would you recommend?
Thanks!
Answer
Your question is an interesting one with a lot of variables.
The question really is, how much penetration do you need? The FBI, for example, will not consider a round that does not have at least 12" of penetration in ballistic gelatin. Many cartridge companies, however, are making rounds that penetrate less but expand more for the concealed carry market.
Likewise, some police department require bonded bullets to that the projectile will maintain its integrity through auto glass or body panels. Does the average person carrying a gun for self-defense need this?
You've mentioned cartridges that are for auto pistol, and that are for revolvers. That would be the first place to start. What kind of gun do you want? A revolver has limitations but is simpler to learn and use. And autopistol has more advantages, but requires dedication to the initial learning curve to learn.
For home defense, if I were to have revolver, it would be one with a 3 to 4 inch barrel, and would be chambered in .357 Magnum, but loaded with .38 Special +P rounds, 125 grain projectiles. This would give you the best combination of penetration, expansion, and recoil control allowing fast follow-up shots (it is a bad idea to think one round from any handgun will stop anyone). .44 Magnum would be out of the question - it's really a hunting handgun, but one chambered in .44 Special would be a very good choice for home defense.
In auto cartridges, you do not mention the 9mm or .40 S&W, the two most popular cartridges. Either of these (or the .45 ACP) would be a good choice with proper ammunition. Without going through the litany of reasons, my choices would be: for the 9mm - Speer Gold Dot SB 124 grain; for .40 - Federal Hydrashock, 155 grain; For .45 ACP - Remington Golden Saber, 230 grain.
There are companies that make frangible ammunition, which will break up when hitting hard objects and penetrate less (though it will all penetrate sheet rock). The two most well-known are Glasser Safety Slugs and MagSafe. These can help lessen collateral damage, but you should not count on them to eliminate it.
Both of these, because of rapid expansion will not penetrate deeply, but will break up quickly and cause an extensive if shallow (e.g. 4-8 inches) wound cavity. Frangible ammunition, however, can be defeated or at least impeded with heavy or layered clothing, and criminals know this, so it is a trade-off.
I would pick your gun first (though not a short barreled revolver). Once you pick the gun, you've narrowed the field down to which ammunition to choose. .38 Special (non +P) is a poor stopper (poorer than most handguns), but bullet technology has come so far that caliber in auto pistols hardly matters any more. Pick the gun first. You'll be able to find ammunition to do what you want it to do within reason.
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