Have gotten myself into one of those debates in the “5.56 is bad for home defense because it over penetrates which is why handgun rnds are a better choice” type threads on another forum, and was hoping for the definitive thread would be a sticky here, but no luck.
Is there a definitive source to correct that fallacy, and can I make a suggestion it be made a sticky here or some other section? Or, due to lack of neurons, did I miss it?
This being M4C, and the above being one of the most common fallacies of the 5.56, a reference thread (as sticky?) would be helpful.
It’s funny how some guys claim that .223/5.56 is no good because it can’t penetrate barriers, and can only kill chipmunks then say that it will kill your neighbors 10 houses over.
That’s because at close range the bullet is still rising, so it has less power. When the bullet starts dropping again it picks up power and that’s when it can kill your neighbors just by passing within a foot of them.:lol:
I can’t remember which show it was on (Personal Defense, Guns and Ammo, etc.) but they shot .223/5.56 @ a piece of dry wall @ like 5 yrds. It fragmented through the first wall into 3-4 pieces and I think 1 or 2 of those might have made it through the second piece of dry wall that was placed like 5 yrds away from the first. I’m pretty sure they weren’t using a bonded softpoint.
I used this NAVSEA video when I was an instructor to explain the importance of building description for micro-IPB. It should answer your questions regarding military ball penetration.
The video is poorly done if you wish to assess terminal ballistics, as the testing FAILED to capture the projectiles in an adequate tissue simulant after they first penetrated through the intermediate barriers–without doing that, there is NO way to determine what kind of damage potential the projectiles retained.
On the M16 part, I would assume standard M855 since we don’t shoot anything else through M16s… generally. The video doesn’t say, so that’s just an assumption.
This is an old debate. I think it is impossible to know what will happen on the other side of a wall. There is entirely too many variables. Everything from 2x4 to wire to conduit could be in that wall. This inch may have little effect on the projectile and the next inch may stop a round cold.
Terminal velocity after penetration is a moot point when we are talking about people’s family on the other side. No one wants ANY projectile to penetrate in that case, but that is the choice one has to make when presented that situation. Just be safe and keep in mind whats behind your back stop… there are no guarantees. That goes for carbines, pistols, or shottys.
When the job calls for penetrating a wall to stop a target, shoot until you have good reason to believe the target is down. The first round might not penetrate, but you will likely get through there eventually.
Yeah, I found this interesting to say the least but there are too many variables. I still would like to know what the most probable round what used in the .308. Copper/lead FMJ or steel penetrator? The video gives the impression that a few well armed guys hosing down a building with the right ammo could turn the structure into a pile of rubble if they kept dumping mags/belts into it. And with a .50bmg +/- 40mm launcher it could happen…
my only argument against an AR for a home defense weapon (other than not owning one at the moment) is that i feel for me, at close ranges and around barriers i’m more proficient with a pistol. It’s just a much easier weapon to use indoors, and i think something you’d be more likely to grab when you just hear a noise, as it’s handier. ballistically the AR is obviously a much better platform.
