Super_Hunter54,

Lord knows, since I've gotten in to the bad guy chasing business, there have been many "perfect bullet" marketed to shooters. The ones that have stuck around are the ones with proven efficacy.

I've always have gone with the FBI load for .38 Special self-defense. I prefer the SWC design to the SWCHP design. But either will bring out the best that the .38 Special can offer. If I have a .357 Mag revolver near me and it's intended for bad guy self-defense, it's loaded with the FBI load.

If you were to read Street Survival, penetration will make complete sense to you. Superficial wounds have little benefit. Unless you hit a bad guy's CNS, he'll probably take a whole lot of lead before he stops ticking. Double that if he's under the influence of drugs including alcohol. Triple it if he's under the influence of PCP (dusted). Hence, you'll have to reduce his blood pressure to zero yesterday before he is able to kill you. That is why I like heavy for caliber bullets. If one hole is good, two have to be twice as good. And keep in mind that there's a real possibility that the bad guy will have at least one buddy lingering in the area. Therefore, the longer your attention is focused on one bad guy, the greater the danger you're in.

I'm good with guys who believe accuracy is the key to gunfights. That belief was around since the beginning of gun fighting. Some beliefs die a very slow death. The wise, the experienced, the professionals know that not getting shot is 2nd most important, superseded only by gunfight avoidance. Therefore, it's wise to keep in mind that a bad guy with is heart destroyed (assuming a good guy is so lucky) he'll still live long enough to be able to kill you. If you want to remain upright, you must never make yourself an easy target.

If you remember the two dominant rules of gun fighting, you'll live a long and happy life.

Rule 1: The only certain way of surviving a gunfight is to not get in one

Rule 2: If Rule 1 is unavoidable, don't get shot.

Cops have to engage. It's their job. Civilians do not have to engage if escape is an option. Always take the escape option if it's available.

Read Street Survival. It might help you save your life.


Stay safe, hombre