Blast Off Mondays: 9mm vs. .45 Through Dry Wall - Which Will Penetrate Further?

Published on May 9, 2022
Duration: 4:28

This "Blast Off Mondays" episode from Tactical Hyve compares the drywall penetration capabilities of 9mm Luger and .45 ACP ammunition. Both calibers, using common ball rounds (9mm 124gr and .45 ACP 230gr), successfully penetrated 12 layers of drywall, simulating multiple interior walls. The test concluded that both rounds retained significant energy, posing an over-penetration risk in a home defense scenario, with neither caliber showing a clear advantage in this specific test.

Quick Summary

In a test comparing 9mm Luger (124gr ball) and .45 ACP (230gr ball) through 12 layers of drywall, both calibers successfully penetrated all barriers. This demonstrates a significant over-penetration risk in home defense scenarios, as both rounds retained substantial energy after passing through multiple interior walls.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: 9mm vs .45 Drywall Test
  2. 00:48Test Setup: 12 Layers of Drywall
  3. 01:13Ammunition Selection: 9mm vs .45 Ball
  4. 01:32Test Firing at 7 Yards
  5. 01:599mm Penetration Results
  6. 02:22.45 ACP Penetration Results
  7. 02:47Comparison: Both Calibers Penetrate Drywall
  8. 03:12Next Week's Test: Adding a Stud
  9. 03:30Over-penetration Risk in Homes
  10. 03:51Viewer Question: Next Week's Performance

Frequently Asked Questions

Which caliber, 9mm or .45 ACP, penetrates drywall better?

In a test involving 12 layers of drywall, both 9mm Luger (124gr ball) and .45 ACP (230gr ball) successfully penetrated all layers. Neither caliber showed a significant advantage in penetration depth through drywall in this specific test setup.

What are the home defense implications of 9mm and .45 ACP drywall penetration?

Both 9mm and .45 ACP ball ammunition demonstrated the ability to penetrate multiple interior walls in a home. This means both calibers retain significant energy after passing through drywall, posing an over-penetration risk to unintended targets or structures beyond the immediate threat.

How many layers of drywall were used in the 9mm vs .45 ACP penetration test?

The test utilized 12 layers of drywall, arranged to simulate multiple interior walls of a structure. A witness panel was placed behind the drywall to confirm penetration and assess the rounds' terminal effects.

What type of ammunition was used for the drywall penetration test?

The test used common ball ammunition for both calibers. Specifically, a 124-grain ball round for 9mm Luger and a 230-grain ball round for .45 ACP were fired through the drywall barriers.

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