Which bullet size has the best stopping power?

Question

I'm looking for a self defense gun but with so many bullet sizes, I need to know which has the best stopping power? And what is the difference between a .45 cal and a .45 GAP?

Answer 1

the .45 gap is shorter.

.50 has the best stopping power if you are talking pistols.

Answer 2

the bullet size really not that meaningful when your talking about stopping a human. I have a .45 win mag pistol that is great for hunting, and I'm sure if I put one into another person it would stop them as quick as anything else... BUT then if I shoot someone with it I'm also fairly certain that the bullet would also pass through the person with enough residual energy that it could stop someone that might be standing behind them. The key to stopping a person is not just the size of the bullet; it is the placement of the bullet... The best gun for self defense is the gun that you can shoot most accurately and isn't overkill. A lot of people will go with the biggest gun they can hold, they will shoot it a few times and realize that it actually hurts to shoot.... then they will have a sub-conscious flinch every time they shoot... bottom line, they might have a gun that could stop a grizzly but if they can't hit the side of a barn with it what’s the point.

As for the overkill, if you like there are hunting pistols that shoot shells as large as a .444 Marlin but what would be the point if your potential target is going to be another human. Yes it would stop whoever you happened to shoot, but would also have the potential to take out 1 or 2 other people that were behind your target. To avoid that problem you can use special bullets that expand... but again I've shot a deer head on with a 30.06 that was designed to expand... the end result was the bullet passed through the front of the deer and exited somewhere near its flank, where it ended up I haven't a clue... the bottom line is you can't depend on the bullets, even the expanding bullets to work as you might expect.

For most people a 9mm with frangible rounds would probably be best.... If you want to make up for some lacking in your pant go for the .50 ACP, but when you’re trying to hold that things steady don't be surprised if the bad guy starts laughing.

Answer 3

As it has already been stated stopping power isn't the same thing as knock down power as it has been said if a gun is fired that is strong enought to knock down the person being hit the person shooting it would feel almost the same force. I say almost because the length of barrel affects how long force is applied to the bullet and depending on the amount of penetration will determine how long the bullet applies force to the person being hit. Imagine a 24 inch rifle firing a round that hits someone wearing body armor that stops the round the person being hit would feel more force than the person shooting the round. That being said as it has already been stated that a round traveling faster will hit harder than one going slower, would you rather be hit by a baseball thrown by a little leager or a major leager. Also a larger round is capable of weighing more which would make it harder to stop and also leaving a bigger hole. So enought ranting back to the 9mm vs 357 the 9mm has relatively little energy compared to the 357 the 357 goes faster and weights more. The 308 for simplicity sake is just a civilian version of the 7.62x51 and we shall say they are basically identical in ballistics sense but both of those rounds are usually shot from rifles meaning they go much faster and rifle rounds cause hydroatstic shock to bodies they hit picture throwing a rock really hard into mud and seeing the amount of mud that is moved and the size of hole compared to the rock. That being a factor rifles are almost always considered more powerful than handguns. So a little long winded but there it is.

Answer 4

Size isn't as important as placement. Find what you can comfortably fire. Typically, most shooters can handle a 9mm, which is considered large enough to be a self-defense cartridge. Many old-timers will tell you that a .45 is the only way to go. Hollow points, when they work correctly, are very effective. Watch out for high-tech rounds that claim to have unrealistic stopping power.
The .45ACP is a proven round that's been around for a very long time; the .45GAP stands for Glock Auto Pistol, and it's a slightly shorter, less popular cartridge that was recently introduced. It's supposed to have more penetration and less recoil, but lab results are different from real life situations.

Answer 5

You are going to get as many different answers as their area caliber's and bullet types. I remember I believe it was a Marksmanship Instructor I had in Tech school who told me once that it is the.45 ACP that is the better man stopper and the 9mm is the more efficient killer.

Since I love both rounds and the weapons that use them I have always been torn. One day my wife said what is the real purpose you have the self defense handgun and when I answered honestly, it was because I wanted to stop and intruder, not kill him necessarily.

I now carry exclusively, .45 ACP loaded up with a light to medium load with lead tip hollow points to stop the intruder and hopefully not pass through the intruder, the wall, the car door of someone driving by and hit them too as you could with so many hot pistol rounds.

One of the other posters suggested going to a local range and that is a great idea to see what you handle well, are comfortable with and confident that if you ever had to you could not only pull up the weapon, but fire and hit your target in a high stress situation. Believe me it is a lot easier said than done.

Good luck.

Answer 6

Look at the type of bullet you will use. Hollow points are designed to spread after impact, thus causing greater damage than a projectile that merely penetrates until it is stopped. Caliber size also makes a difference, a .45 cal will stop quicker than a .22 but then, you put that .22 bullet in the right spot and it will stop what it hits.

Answer 7

.357 and the other magnums are powerful but can over penetrate. As in going thru perpetrator, the wall, across the street and a so forth. My wife carries a .44 mag with an 4 inch barrel but with .44 special ammo (silver tip hollow point) in it for home protection, then the .44 mag rounds when we are around bears and such.

I would suggest the .45 auto with any of the home defense rounds available or the .38 special revolver.

Or as another has already suggested a .357 mag as you can have home defense rounds in .38 special and then the full .357 mag rounds if you are around dangerous animals.

Remember to never use home reloaded ammo for home defense. Because if you shoot some one with reloaded ammo it can make your case worse in court.

Too bad JD hasn’t answered this yet, as he's the expert in this area.

Answer 8

Ruger GP100 in .357 with the 125gr. federal hollowpoint. This round holds the FBI record for 90% one-shot stops, and defies all the proven logic of the big-bullet at low-velocity school. Although I would never feel under-gunned with a .45ACP, I just like the feel of an old-fashioned wheel-gun. The venerable .44 Special is another I would trust with my life.
The 9mm is fun if you like to keep shooting all day, you may have to.

Answer 9

.45 ACP or Automatic Colt Pistol

.45 GAP 45 caliber round created by CCI/Speer for Glock.

GAP is much more costly and can only be found in gun shops and some sporting good stores.

.45 Caliber is an awesome stopper, .40 caliber works but I do not like the snap recoil it has. The .45 is much smoother.
.357 Mags are great too.

My two favorite calibers are 9mm and .45ACP.

Answer 10

Contact the National Rifleman's Association and get the name and contact information of an instructor in your area. You'll learn loads, ballistics, gun handling, and target practice. Go to a gun club or join a shooters organization (Cowboy Shooting, Skeet Group, paintball group) and take the time to learn about weapons, their use and their care. Go to a Hunter's Safety Course - they usually cost very, very little and will give you tons of valuable information plus practice handling firearms.

A weapon for personal protection isn't worth much if you don't practice on a regular (read daily then weekly) basis. If you're not familiar with your weapon to the point you handle it almost subconsciously, you'll never be able to use it in a hurry under pressure for self defense.

Answer 11

Go with a 45..the ACP - Automatic Colt Pistol...... has more stopping power than the smaller GAP which is Glock Automatic pistol, a smaller round that was designed to be as powerful as the ACP but ended up short in deliverence when compared to the ACP...... go with a 45 ACP.