Comments on: Is there a problem with the lethality of the 5.56 NATO caliber?

By: Isegoria

Isegoria — Sat, 23 Nov 2013 16:02:32 +0000

While it's true that stopping a threat isn't all a matter of shot placement, that is the single most important factor, and differences in handgun stopping power appear to be small. Rifles are in a different category from handguns, of course, but all rifles have tremendous stopping power. The difference between 90 percent and 99 percent stops is dwarfed by any improvement in accuracy or number of rounds carried. A 13,000 foot-pound .50-caliber round does not have ten times the stopping power of a 1,300 foot-pound 5.56 round. Also, I wouldn't be surprised by some serious confirmation bias. When you shoot a burst of .50-caliber rounds at a target in the distance, and he doesn't go down, you conclude, I must've missed. When you shoot a round of 5.56 mm at a target, and he doesn't go down, you think, if only I had a round with more stopping power!

By: Isegoria

Isegoria — Sat, 23 Nov 2013 15:43:30 +0000

I've definitely mentioned the gun that aims itself a few times.

By: Bob Sykes

Bob Sykes — Sat, 23 Nov 2013 12:37:57 +0000

A while ago over at Buckeye Fires blog, some one posted a study on the results of a few thousand gun fights with pistols. While large calibers and magnums caused the most damage and often killed outright, small calibers like the 22 LR and 32 were about equally effective as the large calibers in warding off attackers. The extreme pain of even a 22 dissuaded any but the most determined or drugged up attacker.

The other point about shot placement was also emphasized. Grazing shots in the arms or legs don’t scare any one regardless of caliber. Head shots generally kill regardless of caliber.

By: Borepatch

Borepatch — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 23:54:46 +0000

I find this unconvincing. We get repeated reports of Tangos not going down when they get hit the first (or second, or third) time. You never hear that about .50 BMG, so it's obviously not all shot placement.

By: Dan Kurt

Dan Kurt — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 22:07:55 +0000

The future in military rifles is here. What remains is engineering development to bring down the price. It is a marriage of micro electronics, laser, optics and a human user. Look up TrackingPoint a manufacturer of “Intelligent Digital Tracking Scopes” and “Precision Guided Firearms” for hunting and tactical shooting. Watch some videos.