Terminal Ballistics as Viewed in a Morgue - very interesting!! - Page 3

Rusty Bouquett · August 28th, 2008, 08:47 PM

My thinking about killing power vis-a-vis handguns is evolving. I read recently that Wild Bill Hickock killed 5 men in 2 years using an 1851 Cold Navy cap and ball revolver that launches an eighty gr. bullet at about 925 fps. Now, that's a ballistic dead ringer for a .380ACP and the 9mm out performs it by a considerable margin (+P load delivers a 115 gr. bullet at 1300 fps). So, its hard for me to argue the 9mm can't deliver the killing power when properly loaded. I like my big and heavy .45 ACP bullets that clip along at a liesurely 850 fps but I'd just as quickly grab a 9 to decide a serious social situation.

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August 28th, 2008, 08:47 PM	#21
Rusty Bouquett Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lake Wobegon Posts: 410	My thinking about killing power vis-a-vis handguns is evolving. I read recently that Wild Bill Hickock killed 5 men in 2 years using an 1851 Cold Navy cap and ball revolver that launches an eighty gr. bullet at about 925 fps. Now, that's a ballistic dead ringer for a .380ACP and the 9mm out performs it by a considerable margin (+P load delivers a 115 gr. bullet at 1300 fps). So, its hard for me to argue the 9mm can't deliver the killing power when properly loaded. I like my big and heavy .45 ACP bullets that clip along at a liesurely 850 fps but I'd just as quickly grab a 9 to decide a serious social situation.