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The Mystery of the Bullet: Why Do Different Calibers of Ammunition Affect Lethality and Stopping Power?
In the field of weapon design and use, "stopping force" is defined as the ability of a weapon to immobilize or paralyze a target. This is not limited to impacts on humans, but also includes impacts on animals. Stopping force differs from lethality in that it focuses on the weapon's ability to stop a target, regardless of whether the end result is death. This makes the topic of which of various ammunition or calibers has the greatest stopping power a lively discussion.
The stopping force is closely related to multi-factor physical properties, biological factors and wound location. However, the complexity of this topic makes it difficult to study.
In general, larger caliber ammunition has greater muzzle velocity and momentum, and therefore is traditionally considered to have higher stopping power. Although this view has its merits, the factors that affect the stopping force are diverse, including caliber, warhead speed, warhead mass, shape and material. Most experts believe that the real cause of the stopping force is related to the injurious effects of the bullet, specifically circulatory collapse caused by acute blood loss, which in turn leads to impaired motor function and/or loss of consciousness.
The "Big Hole School" theory believes that large bullet holes will cause more permanent tissue damage, while other theories pay more attention to the kinetic energy of the bullet and its impact on the nervous system, including hydrodynamic impact and energy transfer. .
Historical background
The concept of stopping power emerged in the late 19th century, when colonial armies found that their pistols were ineffective in stopping the enemy when facing charging Aboriginals, so they began to introduce larger caliber weapons such as the old .45 Colt and The newly developed .45 ACP, etc., can effectively stop the opponent after a single hit. During the Seymour Expedition in China, British soldiers who participated in the Eight-Nation Allied Forces fought against the Chinese Boxers and discovered that a single .303 Lee-Metford bullet was unable to stop the enemy's charge. A British soldier even needed to fire four times to stop the enemy's charge. Causes a Boxer to stop attacking. Only machine guns can effectively stop the enemy in the short term.
In this context, shooting techniques and exercises aimed at enhancing stopping power began to be developed, such as the "Mozambique Shooting Method", in order to maximize the possibility of quickly paralyzing the target.
Bullet dynamics
After the bullet penetrates the tissue, it will cause damage to the tissue it invades, forming a wound channel, and will also cause nearby tissues to be stretched and expanded when it penetrates. These two effects are often referred to as permanent cavity and temporary cavity. The permanent cavity refers to the scar left by the bullet during penetration, while the temporary cavity refers to the instantaneous tissue displacement, which is usually much larger than the diameter of the bullet itself.
The degree of permanent and temporary cavity formation depends on factors such as the bullet's mass, diameter, material, design and speed. Different types of bullets are designed for different purposes, from not expanding to expanding based on speed, or even breaking or disintegrating upon impact, which all affect their "stopping force" performance on the target.
Damage effect
Physiological effects
The physiological damage caused by bullets is related to the location of the wound. Penetrating the heart, for example, can cause the blood to pump less efficiently, eventually causing the heart to stop. Penetrating the brain can cause instantaneous loss of consciousness and is almost immediately fatal. Typically, an injury to the arm or leg, while painful, is not fatal unless a major blood vessel is severed.
Although psychological factors play a role in stopping power, physiological factors are usually more important.
Neurological effects
Momentary paralysis or loss of consciousness usually requires damage to the central nervous system (CNS). Bullets can cause such damage directly or indirectly. Moments of paralysis or unconsciousness usually require direct damage to the brain or spinal cord, or depriving the brain of adequate oxygen by causing massive blood loss.
The role of firearm penetration
According to medical authorities, legal self-defense ammunition needs to have appropriate penetration. Typically, in the target being tested, the penetration depth of the bullet should be between 320 and 360 millimeters. Such a depth not only ensures that the bullet can reach key parts, but also maintains sufficient speed during penetration to cause a wide range of damage in the tissue.
Conclusion
In short, the factors that affect stopping force are complex and diverse. In different situations, the design and use of ammunition will be directly related to the impact on the target. Among these factors, the selection of ammunition of different calibers is even more crucial. Today, in the context of confrontation and self-defense, the discussion on the most effective types of ammunition is still inconclusive. How do you think the most suitable ammunition should be selected to meet various needs?
