Snake45 said:
resident said:
You like a .22 WMR because of ...exactly why? .
OP's admission that "I know it's not optimal" led me to believe that that's all he--or someone he's interested in--has available at this time.
That's kind of what I read into it, myself.
Like Bucks says, better'n a pointy stick.
resident said:
...She was in the PD to make a written complaint against the shooter, her husband...
Reminds me of the old joke about a .25AP...
"You shoot somebody with that thing, and they find out about it, they're going to be
really mad..." :wink:
Not to overstate the obvious (this topic has certainly been done to death), but a round's killing power vs. stopping power are two very different things.
I'm just trying to point out the irony in the above statement. Sure, the woman died. Eventually. But had the man been defending himself against a determined attacker (and perhaps she was just that), she would have had ample time to have long since beat him to death before her leisurely sojurn to the police officer's station!
Shot placement is a wonderful idea -- and by no means am I arguing against consistent, sustained practice! Developing muscle memory and placement is important -- but, under high stress (as when we are in fear for our very lives), aren't motor skills severely degraded?
Under these conditions, an eye shot with a .25 or a rimfire of some sort, seems a pretty shaky plan to me. And head shots? Really? For someone highly schooled in advanced technique maybe... But for the average shooter, the average gun owner, the average, everyday defense-minded citizen, I think it's extremely dangerous to condone the notion of
"Why I'll just take the perp out with a head shot!" What if they find, at the moment of truth, that their terror-laced, adrenaline-charged motor skills aren't up to the task? What next? Now their magazine has been emptied into the wall just above, and to the right (or left if they're left-handed) of the badguy's bobbing head (since defenders under stress tend to shoot high and jerk the trigger), and still the attacker charges on... Now what?
I think much better, several major caliber centerfire rounds (discuss amongst yourselves what constitutes "major caliber") directed to
Center Mass; that critical triangle betwixt shoulderblades and navel. Not stressing whether to "shoot to kill" or to not, but, rather shooting to
live, to
stop an oncoming danger and halt the threat.
In the context of firearms enthusiasts discussing firearms, a handgun is a rather pathetic defense tool; much better a shotgun or rifle. I'd say to the person who has a Single Six alone, and is defense minded, to load the Magnum cylinder for evening wear, but
you're not done. Take a look at Mossberg's economical Maveric line, or save for an affordable Ruger in the .38/9mm family, or even a .40SW or .45ACP. If you seriously want to defend your person, family and home, let's have a serious discussion.
-S