DRYWALL PENATRATION TEST: WHICH CALIBER IS SAFEST

Published on September 26, 2024
Duration: 16:12

This video conducts a practical drywall penetration test to evaluate the over-penetration risks of various handgun and rifle calibers commonly considered for home defense. The experiment simulates interior walls, testing different ammunition types like hollow points, full metal jackets, and specialized defensive rounds. Key findings suggest that certain defensive loads in calibers like .223 Remington can be safer than some 9mm options due to controlled expansion and fragmentation, significantly reducing penetration depth.

Quick Summary

When choosing ammunition for home defense, a drywall penetration test revealed that specialized defensive loads in .223 Remington, such as Varmint V-Max, can be safer than many 9mm options by expanding and fragmenting to limit penetration. Conversely, standard FMJ rounds in both calibers, as well as 12 gauge slugs and buckshot, demonstrated significant over-penetration capabilities.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: 9mm vs 5.56 Home Defense Test
  2. 00:179mm FMJ 115 Grain Test
  3. 00:509mm Gold Dot 147 Grain G2 Hollow Point Test
  4. 01:219mm Federal HST 124 Grain +P Test
  5. 01:529mm 100 Grain Frangible Test
  6. 02:099mm 115 Grain Federal Plus P+ Test
  7. 02:285.56 55 Grain FMJ Test
  8. 03:055.56 65 Grain M855 Green Tip Test
  9. 03:395.56 55 Grain Federal True Soft Point Test
  10. 04:205.56 Federal Premium Vital-Shok Varmint V-Max Test
  11. 06:09Side-by-Side: 9mm Gold Dot vs 5.56 Varmint V-Max
  12. 07:157.62x51mm NATO (.308) 145 Grain Test
  13. 07:43.308 168 Grain Gold Dot Soft Point Test
  14. 08:15300 Blackout 124 Grain FMJ Test
  15. 08:47300 Blackout 147 Grain Subsonic Hollow Point Test
  16. 09:16300 Blackout Sig Sauer Elite Performance Test
  17. 09:4922 Long Rifle Standard Velocity Test
  18. 10:2222 Long Rifle Subsonic Test
  19. 10:47JC Higgins Model 88 .22 LR Test
  20. 11:2440 Smith & Wesson Test
  21. 12:0240 Smith & Wesson 180 Grain Gold Dot JHP Test
  22. 12:3545 ACP 230 Grain FMJ Test
  23. 13:0345 ACP 230 Grain UMC JHP Test
  24. 13:39410 Number 9 Shot Test
  25. 14:1612 Gauge Birdshot Test
  26. 14:4812 Gauge 1oz Rifled Slug Test
  27. 15:1612 Gauge Double-Ought Buckshot Test
  28. 15:58Conclusion & Discount Code

Frequently Asked Questions

Which 9mm ammunition is safest for home defense based on drywall penetration?

The Gold Dot 147 grain G2 hollow points showed zero penetration through 16 layers of drywall, making it a potentially safer option for home defense by minimizing over-penetration risks compared to FMJ or some other hollow point designs.

Does 5.56/.223 Remington pose a higher over-penetration risk than 9mm in home defense?

With standard FMJ loads, 5.56/.223 can be more dangerous due to fragmentation and keyholing. However, specialized defensive loads like the Varmint V-Max demonstrated significantly less penetration than many 9mm options, suggesting .223 with the right load can be safer.

What are the penetration characteristics of 12 gauge shotgun loads in drywall?

12 gauge birdshot barely penetrated two layers of drywall. A rifled slug went through all 16 layers, and double-aught buckshot also penetrated all 16 layers, indicating significant penetration potential for slugs and buckshot.

Are handguns generally more dangerous than AR-15s for home defense regarding over-penetration?

Based on this drywall penetration test, handguns like 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP generally showed more consistent and deeper penetration than specialized defensive loads in .223 Remington, suggesting handguns may pose a greater over-penetration risk in typical home defense scenarios.

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