BEST Handgun Caliber For POLICE Duty? (9 vs 40 vs 45)

Published on September 16, 2019
Duration: 11:46

This video explores the effectiveness of 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP calibers for police duty, focusing on rapid fire accuracy and barrier penetration. The presenter uses Hornady Critical Duty ammunition for testing through a car door into ballistic gel. While all calibers performed well, the .40 S&W demonstrated impressive penetration from a compact pistol, and all rounds showed good integrity after barrier impact.

Quick Summary

For police duty, handgun calibers must balance rapid fire accuracy with barrier penetration. Tests with Hornady Critical Duty ammo showed 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP all performed well through a car door into ballistic gel, with .40 S&W and .45 ACP achieving greater penetration.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: Best Handgun Caliber for Police?
  2. 00:43Ammunition: Hornady Critical Duty
  3. 01:12Rapid Fire Accuracy Test: 9mm
  4. 01:43Rapid Fire Accuracy Test: .40 S&W
  5. 02:42Rapid Fire Accuracy Test: .45 ACP
  6. 03:36Importance of Barrier Penetration for Police
  7. 04:25Barrier Penetration Test Setup
  8. 04:54Barrier Test: 9mm
  9. 06:20Barrier Test: .40 S&W
  10. 07:43Barrier Test: .45 ACP
  11. 09:23Bullet Recovery and Analysis
  12. 10:10Conclusion: All Calibers Performed Well

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key considerations for police handgun calibers?

Police handgun calibers must excel in rapid fire accuracy to maintain control during engagements and possess sufficient power to penetrate common barriers like car doors and windshields while still performing effectively on target.

How did the 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP perform in barrier penetration tests?

Using Hornady Critical Duty ammo and shooting through a car door into ballistic gel, the 9mm penetrated about 15.5 inches, while both the .40 S&W and .45 ACP reached approximately 18.5 inches, demonstrating significant barrier-defeating capability.

Which caliber showed the best bullet integrity after barrier penetration?

The .40 S&W round was the only one that maintained complete integrity with no jacket separation after penetrating the car door and ballistic gel, suggesting superior structural performance under stress.

Is there a clear 'best' caliber for police duty based on this test?

The test showed all three calibers performed well, with no single caliber definitively outperforming the others across all metrics. The .40 S&W's penetration and integrity were notable, but the 9mm and .45 ACP also delivered strong results.

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