.40 S&W and Overpenetration

[Snow Blind]

Hello fellows,

I notice that .40 S&W is utilized by many police forces in North America. With regard to ballistics, will this type of cartridge cause the bullet to stay in the body cavity to avoid collateral damage? Of will it still pass through the body cavity?

In addition, are Canadian police using hollow points?

Thank you

 

[Richard Cranium]

they use hollow points

 

[MaDgamEr]

they use hollow points

Bingo... Lots more stopping power than 9mm, cheaper than .45 and hollows minimize through and through.

 

[slicknick]

All duty ammunition is HP and designed around the FBI standards for penetration. These tests include shooting through glass, clothing and wall material while seeing that the bullet consistently expands as well as penetrates between 12-18 inches. This is to ensure that no matter the clothing worn, presence of light cover, or angle of the shot, the bullet will still reach vitals.

Long story short, if it meets the minimums, it will most likely exit the person shot with it.

 

[mmattockx]

Long story short, if it meets the minimums, it will most likely exit the person shot with it.

This ^^^

If it has enough power to be useful as a self-defense cartridge then it will have enough power to pass through a person, hollow point bullets or not.


Mark

 

[hoochie]

All duty ammo for law enforcement and armoured car is hollow point. It is meant to incapacitate, not over penetrate.

 

[Snow Blind]

Hi fellows,

Thank you kindly for your informative and on-topic responses.

The reason I ask is; I am going to have to make a decision on an HD firearm.

1. If a handgun, which calibre; OR

2. If a shotgun, which shell.

Essentially, I do not want the bullet/pellet to pass through the body cavity, if possible OR at least minimize that possibility.

Any help would be appreciated. Any trustworthy websites would also be appreciated.

Thank you in advance

 

[RSA1]

Hi, Some notes of personal use of 40 S&W before moving to Canada. I have been told that we are not allowed to prepare for home defence here in Canada, so I shall not comment on that for Canadian application.

I culled baboons on the campus where I worked. Carried a concealed Glock 23 in summer, a concealed Glock 35 in winter. Carry ammo was 165gr Hornady HydraShok and later 165gr Speer Gold Dot. Baboons shot at ranges averagign possibly 10-12 yards, longest shot 35 yards. ALL shots had full penetration, front to back, or sideways throught the shoulders, and showed full expansion, and once had a shot penetrate 2" pine beam behind the baboon and into a brick wall. Most baboons would still move around for a few seconds after a solid hit in the torso, even through the heart; usually no Hollywood style instant death.

I shot (euthanased) one small antelope (about 12kg) that had been hit by a vehicle and had both front legs broken. Shot it sideways through both shoulders at about 12 yards (165gr Speer Gold Dot) and the bullet went flying away behind the poor little guy. I carried 180 gr Eldorado Starfire in my G23 as back-up while bushpig hunting with a rifle at night.

The CorBon 135gr in 40 S&W might give best stopping power factor with least over penetration. Accuracy slightly wider than Speer Dold Dot. My son in the South African police believed in the 135gr CorBon for off duty carry before upgrading to 45 ACP.

I was told that the Toronto police use 180gr Winchester Ranger HP, as sold by Wolverine. Works well in my Glocks.