energy shedding

[1000meterstare]

Ballistics tables are everywhere, so as informed smart preppers on this site (as you are) do this research for yourself.  This thread is just a springboard idea for you guys to look this up.  Muzzle energy is a deceiving figure.  I'll explain.  The .357 mag and 9mm+p are great calibers until you factor in distance.  The average 357 mag load gives up over 70 foot-pounds of energy at the 50-yard mark.  Calibers that rely overly on velocity with light bullets are generally the worst energy shedders.  At 50 yards most 230-grain .45acp hollows only shed 30-35 foot-pounds of energy.  The .45acp starts at low velocity and doesn't rely soley on velocity for its effectiveness.  I practice pistol up to 50 yards so retained energy is important to me.  Given a .45acp (slower) and a 9mm (lighter and faster) impacts at that magic break-even distance where energy is equal the .45 still carries greater momentum.  I know I'm all scientific and philosophical on this one but I would love to hear your thoughts!

P.S.  Don't get me wrong, I love the 9mm, .38+p, and .357 mag.  The only bias of handgun caliber I really have against is the .40 S & W; it was a solution to a problem which never existed. [url=http://www.freesmileys.or   

[RS762]

I certainly can't argue with your thoughts on the .40SW

[Kentactic]

The only ballistics i pay attention to are rifle calibers as far as trajectory goes...but... a faster lighter bullet should retain the same energy as a heavier slower bullet because its moving faster and yes slowing down at a faster rate because of less momentum but when you factor it all in any weight bullet can do well within a given caliber as long as you retain a good BC. when you reduce the weight of a bullet you lose momentum..but what ever you lose in momentum from weight your seemingly gaining back through increased velocity. now wind is another story.. a lighter bullet some times dosent do QUITE as well in the wind because if you factor in the overall mass of the bullet vs its "profile" if you will... the increased weight dosent parrallel its increased profile so theres less area per mass for the wind to make contact with. kind of like how a golf ball might be 1/4 the size of a tennis ball but that tennis balls area is probably more like 10 times that of the golf ball. so the area for wind to push on it went up 4 times but the weight potential went up 10 times so now its twice as resistant to wind pushing it.   

in my opinion what it all comes down to is what your rifle shoots accuratly or in a pistols case, reliably. assuming youve selected from a choice list of bullets within your caliber you cant go wrong.

[Reaver]

I would love to stock .45 but I can't its to expensive.

9mm is in my price range.

And though I do love terminal ballistics. If I cant stock it, I cant shoot it if I cant shoot it the only terminal ballistics I'll be seeing are the ones in me, and IMO that's a No-GO 

[Outonowhere]

I would love to stock .45 but I can't its to expensive.

9mm is in my price range.

And though I do love terminal ballistics. If I cant stock it, I cant shoot it if I cant shoot it the only terminal ballistics I'll be seeing are the ones in me, and IMO that's a No-GO 

 [URL=http://www.smileyvault.co