The realities of gunfights

Here's a link to a page with some interesting info about bullet stopping power:

http://www.handloads.com/misc/stoppingpower.asp?Caliber=0

It continues to surprise me how many gun hobbyists seem to refuse to accept the realities of a live gunfight, such as:

• Your assailant can easily keep moving for at least 30 seconds after being fatally shot (even with a so-called "one shot stop"). People usually don't fall down and stop like in the movies.

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• Depending on where you're shot and with what kind of bullet, it may not actually hurt that much, at least at first (unless the bullet hits a bone or some other tender area). I had friend who got shot in the leg and didn't even know it for many minutes afterwards.


• Aiming at a moving target when you're under life-or-death pressure isn't something you can learn at the range. Most weekend hobbyists will have terrible aim in a gunfight, at be lucky if they hit anything at all.


• Most gunfights are over fast. Assuming you're actually aiming (as you should), you'll be lucky to get off 2 or 3 rounds, much less a whole clip.

Those are a few of the reasons why I would only carry a 45 or a 357, and never a 9mm. The chart from the page above says 91% one-shot stop for 9mm vs. 96% for 45. If I'm probably only going to get one hit to start with, why not make it count?

And here's a big one you won't hear from anyone except those who have been through it: what's one of the most important pieces of backup gear you can bring to a gunfight? A knife. Contrary to the old saw about not bringing a knife to a gunfight, that's the most effective weapon during the 30 seconds between when your assailant has been shot and when he falls.