[GODHOOD]

I really don't know much about ammunition and I'm looking for advice on what bullets to buy that doesn't over penetrates but still stops someone in their tracks. My fear at the moment is a bullet going through someones body and hitting an innocent bystander.

"Extreme Shock" ammunition seems like a good choice for defense, but I'm too sure about that manufacturer.

I will be buying a .38 Special revolver if that helps, would appreciate any advice on the subject.

[willfully armed]

Overpenetration and .38 have never been used in the same sentence before

You should use Hornady Critical Defense or Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel.

Both perform well.



The 38 travels much slower, and with less energy than even a 9mm.

Not saying pass through shots are impossible. You hit them in the hand, arm, fatty tissue: there is always that chance.

No center mass shots will though.

[jpattersonnh]

My wife uses 158gr RNL in her .38sp snubnose.

[robocop10mm]

There is a delicate balancing act between the need for sufficient penetration and the need to eliminate dangerous overpenetration. The bullet must penetrate deeply enough to reach vital organs. It must get through muscle, bone, fat, clothing, etc. The FBI protocol calls for 12-18" of penetration. While very few people are 18" thick from sternum to spine, many are that thick from arm to opposite ribs.

Your bullet should be able to go through a thick, muscular bicep, a thick, tough humerus, the lat muscle, a rib, a lung and a heart (muscle) at the least. Better to add to that another lung, another rib, another lat muscle and at least half of an upper arm.

If you are using a bullet that is capable of that, it probably will pass through a body if the hit is just below the Xyphoid process and exit is between two ribs. You should not incur any excessive liability from a round passing through an individual so long as the shot was necessary and you otherwise exercised due caution. Sh!t happens. You cannot be expected to prepare for EVERY possible outcome, just a resonable one.

WTS, Speer Gold Dot 125 gr +P all the way.

[GODHOOD]

Thanks Robocop, Jpattersonnh and Willfully Armed.

[willfully armed]

Originally Posted by GODHOOD

Thanks Robocop, Jpattersonnh and Willfully Armed.

Word. Your welcome.

[JonM]

Originally Posted by GODHOOD

I will be buying a .38 Special revolver if that helps, would appreciate any advice on the subject.

buy a .357 magnum pistol. you can safely shoot .38 special from a 357. you may decide you want more gun later. a .357 magnum is like 2 guns in one. 38special is pretty anemic sorta like a 9mm on steroids

anyway a .357 will give you far more ammo choices and room to experiment with different loadings especially once you get some trigger time on the .38 special loads you may decide you want more boom and you already got it.

[gadrooning]

.38 Special Snubnose Ballistics

hope this helps

[SHAMUSPI]

Have you looked into MagSafe and/or Glasers? MagSafe was the number one performer in the Strausberg (sic) tests. In all of my small caliber back up guns, all I load/carry is the MagSafe.

[GODHOOD]

Originally Posted by SHAMUSPI

Have you looked into MagSafe and/or Glasers? MagSafe was the number one performer in the Strausberg (sic) tests. In all of my small caliber back up guns, all I load/carry is the MagSafe.

I have checked out the MagSafe website and I like what I've seen and read. So far I've decided to use Hornady and Speer Gold ammunition but it looks like MagSafe will be my number one choice for everyday concealed carry ammunition.