‘Penetration’. A likely minor issue compared to ‘hydrostatic shock’, which is probably what initially discourages aggression (universal organ disruption). Of course, when major organs ARE penetrated, perpetrator recovery may be hindered/suppressed (?). But, even when the aorta or cardiac chambers are punctured, the time it takes to shut down the cerebral blood supply is still plenty enough to swing a blade or empty a clip (not impossible with those shot 17 times with over-penetrating 9mm hardball).
One of the old time outlaws was shot in the heart and managed to shoot 11 times afterwards. Not unusual at all for them to fire two or three rounds, potential to kill one to three people, maybe more. Hydrostatic shock stops people faster, penetration might eventually kill more people. That is why I prefer a forty or forty-five with the right bullet. More likely to stop a person than most rounds. That is what gets you and your family through the night. I had a peeping tom look in my bedroom one night. I wasn't sure that the wife had seen something, the dachshund had the hair from the base of her skull to out on her tail sticking up and wider than I had ever seen it.
I grabbed my 870 riot gun and put it close to hand. My wife didn't know much about guns and asked what good that would do with the peeping tom outside and us inside. I laughed a bit then told my her that if they made it to the emergency room the doctor would be spending hours trying to get glass, asbestos, and wood out besides the 00 pellets which are about 35 caliber best I recall.
Same thing with the gun under my sales counter. I had to explain to my wife that the thin plywood the counter was made out of wasn't going to slow a 357 enough to talk about.
The wonders of medicine. Nowadays, .22 is treated nothing more than a child's plaything. We mainly use it for target practice and hunting small game.
The child's plaything is used in seven percent of crimes, ahead of many more deadly calibers. US numbers, 2022:
Ahead of every single pistol bullet except the 9mm and 40. Ahead of the twelve gauge too.
In 2024, the .22 is the bullet that kills the most people in Australia and New Zealand.
People use what they have handy and that is often a .22. I suspect that if crimes or kills are considered over the lifetime of the bullet 22's would rank quite a bit higher.
I have never seen somebody that didn't respect a 22 when it was pointed at them.
Hu
