Go Glock

This is just some of the interesting and informative information from this website: http://www.ammo-oracle.com/

Q. Isn't 5.56 too dangerous to use indoors? Shouldn't I use a pistol or shotgun instead?

Virtually any kind of ammo, with the exception of light bird shot, will easily penetrate typical wall construction (two layers of wall-board separated by 3 to 4 inches of space). Testing has shown, however, that after penetrating a typical interior wall, a 5.56mm projectile will have less wounding potential than most common handgun or buckshot loads. This is true because the low mass of the bullet sheds velocity quickly, and velocity is its key wounding component. This doesn't mean that 5.56mm ammo isn't still potentially deadly, but that the severity of an injury is likely to be less from a 5.56mm bullet than from a 9mm, .40, .45, or #00 buckshot round. What is important is not the degree to which these rounds penetrate, but their "ex post lethality" or their lethality AFTER encountering wallboard or other cover/concealment.

The difference is so significant that the FBI and other ballistic experts recommend that law enforcement transition to handguns to "dig suspects out" of cover because of the superior penetration and wounding ability of handgun rounds over 5.56 or .223.

This, along with the increasing number of lawsuits from "friendly fire" submachine gun victims and 5.56mm's ability to penetrate ballistic vests, are some of the reasons that many SWAT teams are transitioning away from the 9mm MP5 and selecting 5.56mm carbines instead.

This is understandable given the longer barrel length and therefore higher velocity and consequently higher penetration of handgun rounds in submachine guns.

If our experience on the forums are accurate, most shot gunners and submachine gun fans receive this news poorly. It does seem counterintuitive since 5.56mm is a "high powered round." All we can say to this is that the FBI FTU fired hundreds of rounds through carefully constructed wall sections and then into gel. Ignore these results at your own peril.

Blackeagle

This is why my favored home defense weapon is a .223 rifle loaded with the Hornady TAP rounds.

sjp2452

That's very interesting...hadn't considered that at all. Makes sense though...

OPFOR

This is one reason I've been pushing (with what tiny clout I have) to swap out all (or at least most) of our Colt SMGs for M4s.

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"It makes no difference what men think of war, said the judge. War endures. As well ask men what they think of stone. War was always here. Before man was, war waited for him. The ultimate trade awaiting its ultimate practitioner. That is the way it was and will be. That way and not some other way."

MattLarson

Mine as well.

Matt

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fed_wif_a_sig

I spoke in a previous post about SWAT units nation wide switching from handgun rounds in SMGs to M4 design with 223 ammo. My agency did and we found in our research and test that the FBI, NTOA ect.

We carried our mags loaded with 55 gr Hornady TAP ammo for entrys and 55gr Siera Match JHP for standard and two mags of speciality ammo (one ball and one armor piercing) to use in special situations.

I put my shotgun into the gun safe and its the M4 with a throw over vest carrier and my civilian M4 that has become my house go to gun.

__________________
Steve
"Respect all ... Fear none!!!

SIXTO

Yup, we switch over to M4's too. The MP5 was fun, but the M4 gets the job done.

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Rolex Dr.

i have heard rumors (dont know how true) of the .223 actually tumbles after impact decreasing over penatration


i have never shot anything but paper with mine

jd

Go Glock

I think most rifle rounds will tumble at some point, but I believe it is mainly with FMJ. This is because most of the weight is to the rear of the bullet and when it impacts that weight wants to do the leading. HP tend to not tumble becuase when they mushroom the weight is being somewhat compiled in the front rather than the rear.

echo5tango

worth reading:
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot1_2.htm