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man1nboat
08-25-2013, 05:45 PM
Like many of you, I have read and discussed different bullet types and ran across a calculator that concludes with a power factor. The link is on the bottom of this post.

I loaded four bullets into the calculator:

1. Speer Gold Dot 9mm Lugar+P 124gr POWER FACTOR 148.5 (Base number)
2. Hornady Critical Duty 9mm Luger+P 135gr POWER FACTOR 149.85 (+.9%)
3. Federal HST 40 S&W 180 gr POWER FACTOR 181.8 (+18.52%)
4. Hornady Critical Duty 45 ACP 220 gr POWER FACTOR 214.5 (+30.77%)

What I found interesting is that there was little difference between the Speer and Hornady 9mm ammo; however there is a big difference between the Speer 9mm and Federal 40 (18.52%) and Hornady 45 (+30.77%)

This is not a discussion on shot placement, follow-on round, capacity, blah blah blah, and only demonstrates that there IS a BIG difference between 9, 40 and 45. Many have mentioned that with new ammo there is little difference between the new generation 9mm and 40 when in fact there is.

My only issue with 9mm is breast plate penetration which is well documented. Before anyone jumps on me here, I own all of this ammo and carry each caliber (though I have a new PM40 that is now my EDC).

http://www.firearmexpertwitness.com/customguns/calcnrg.html

muggsy
08-25-2013, 10:56 PM
I think that the argument is that there is little effective difference between the three calibers. Even Jocko knows that the .45 is still king. :)

AJBert
08-26-2013, 10:28 PM
When it comes to boolits at close range, mass usually prevails.

Barth
08-29-2013, 09:58 AM
I'm personally much more interested in FBI protocol testing
involving actual penetration, expansion and weight retention.
With ballistic gelatin, auto glass, steel, plywood...
Than any mathematical formula.

In these tests, and in actual shootings,
the difference between quality ammunition in service calibers/weapons has proven to be minimal.

IMHO - the real advantage of a large caliber bullet involves expansion.
No HP is guaranteed to expand all of the time.
In a worst case scenario a .45 that doesn't expand - is still a .45.