Posted: 10/24/2007 9:02:20 AM EDT
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I'm working on a research project for a class I'm taking in Criminal Justice. Basically, my research proposal is testing the effectivness of popular types of LE handgun rounds (9mm, 40 S&W, .357 SIG, and .45 Auto) in close range, vehicle shootings. The point of the research is to determine which of those four rounds are most effective at stopping a subject who is firing on an officer from inside a car. So what I'm looking at is penetration of sheet metal (car doors) and window glass and its effect on the terminal ballistics of the projectile. I know its a bit techincal, but if anybody has any resources or links to resources related to this subject, I would greatly appreciate any help. This is a scientific method based class, so what I really need are primary resources such as journal publications (peer reviewed, etc) and articles and not textbooks or similar type materials. Thanks a bunch guys, if I can pass this class I'm one step closer to by BS degree and to joining the ranks of the LEO's on this board! |
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This is but one small one from Federal ammo. Google federal ammunition test and check some of the catalogs. The rifle book has gel tests including windshield glass. http://www.le.atk.com/pdf/Pierce%20County%20Workshop.pdf I doubt there is much difference between the different calibers anymore. With the advances in bullet technology any of the major players are about the same. Windshield glass is very hard on bullets of all kinds. I did a similar project years ago when the .40 was just becoming popular. For scientific method you could dive into how ballistic gel is calibrated to keep the results legit. Also maybe the correlation between gelatin results and results in tissue. That should be available by searching for something by Dr. Fackler. Just have to add I laugh every time I read BS degree. Joe |
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I have some data but it is now older. If you check thecurmudgeon.freesevers.com, in the "AR-15 Advocacy" section you'll see some windshield data. FWIW, all handgun rounds perform poorly on vehicles. There are "zones" of doors that can be penetrated but there are also distinct areas that won't be penetrated. The areas at the top and bottom of the doors, where the metal is doubled won't be penetrated by any handgun round. The area where the crash reinforcement bar runs through is also bulletproof to handgun rounds. Even .223 doesn't do that well. Bonded tactical rounds will do a little better. 12 gauge slugs and .308 will puch through those obstacles. Bigger bullets have an advantage as often rounds will often hit an obstacle in the door and "shear off" sending a portion of the round into the car. A 230 gr 45 might send a 115 grain fragment into the car. A 115gr 9mm will only send 58 gr frament. There have been successful stops with 1/2 of a 45, not so with 1/2 of a 9mm. This info is from Scottie Reitz, a LAPD trainer, who shot 2 vehicles a month for training purposes over multiple years. We shot hundreds of rounds into and out of vehicles in the class I took with him and saw the same things he reported. |