A study by Gregg Ella Fritz analyzed over 1,700 real-world shooting incidents to determine the effectiveness of different handgun calibers in stopping power. The study found that:
* Bullet size does not make a significant difference in stopping power or generating fatalities.
* The most common handgun calibers (9mm, 40 S&W, 45 ACP) have nearly identical incapacitation rates, with no significant difference between them.
* The 22 caliber and other "mouse calibers" have a higher failure rate and are not recommended for self-defense.
* The 380 caliber is surprisingly effective, with a low failure rate and high incapacitation rate.
* Rifles and shotguns are more effective at generating fatalities and stopping power due to their higher muzzle energy.
* The study suggests that a 410 handgun, which fires multiple projectiles, may be a good option for self-defense, potentially offering significant advantages over traditional handguns.
The study also highlights the importance of considering the type of threat and the environment when choosing a self-defense firearm. In a post-disaster scenario, a rifle may be a better option due to its ability to penetrate body armor, which can be a credible threat.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Gregg Ella Fritz studied over 1,700 real-world shootings to gather data on handgun calibers.
2. He collected data from real-world altercations, police reports, autopsies, and reliable accounts.
3. The study analyzed stopping power, incapacitation, and fatalities from different handgun calibers.
4. The data showed that bullet size does not make a significant difference in stopping power.
5. The study defined incapacitation as the immediate stop of an attacker's aggressive action.
6. Ella Fritz found that 36% of assailants give up the fight when hit anywhere on the body.
7. The caliber failure rate is the percentage of incidents when a handgun caliber failed to stop an attacker.
8. The data showed that smaller Mauser calibers fail almost twice as much as standard defensive calibers.
9. All standard defensive calibers have nearly identical incapacitation rates.
10. 14% of attackers fight through the pain and damage and keep on coming.
11. Handguns stop attackers with one shot to the head or torso about half the time.
12. Handguns stop attackers with one hit anywhere on the body about a third of the time.
13. Pistols completely fail to stop an attacker about one in five times.
14. Rifles are about 40% more effective at generating fatalities than handguns.
15. Shotguns are the most effective at generating one-shot stops to the head or torso.
16. The average number of hits needed to achieve incapacitation for each gun type is under two.
17. The 22 caliber has a high failure rate and is not an effective defensive round.
18. The 380 caliber is more effective than expected and beats handgun averages for lethality and one-shot stops.
19. The 357 Magnum has a slight advantage in one-shot stops to the head and torso.
20. Handguns that fire 410 shells may provide significant advantages in lethality and one-shot stops.
21. The incapacitation success rate for rifles, shotguns, and pistols has only a small spread.
22. Long guns weigh considerably more and have zero concealed ability.
23. Centerfire rifle rounds can penetrate level 3A body armor due to their high muzzle energy.
24. Rifles are the only choice for penetrating level 3A body armor, unless a handgun chambered cartridges as powerful as centerfire rifle rounds is found.