Placement
Bullet placement is the single most important factor contributing to both
killing, and stopping power. This is pretty much undisputed, and may be
the only factor about which there is no controversy. This is clearly demonstrated
as the number one assassin tool and technique is the classic .22 to the
back of the head. This is virtually a guaranteed kill, and has been the
preferred "execution style" method for generations. This despite the .22's
low power and pip-squeak reputation. Brain/spine shots will instantly stop,
and generally kill, a subject no matter the physical or psychological condition.
This is always the ideal, but not always the most practical method. Most
police and military courses do not teach head shots, partially because
this seems a little bit like murder to most people. There is still an unfortunate
attitude, even among some pros, that a firearm is something other than
a killing tool. An individual with this attitude may be a fine marksman
and a competitive shooter, but should not go armed for self defense. The
method most taught is the center mass method, where the student is directed
to aim for the center of the body. One advantage of this method is that
it makes hits more certain, as the head is very difficult to hit even at
close range. A center mass hit will wound and may kill, though it may not
cause an instant stop. Even a heart shot will not guarantee an instant
stop, although death is nearly certain. Lung shots do little damage, as
lung tissue is very porous, and does not transmit energy well. Most of
these shots will kill eventually, but they will not cause an instant stop
which, in a defensive situation, is the ultimate goal. Often a shooting
victim will die much later from bleeding or infection, but will still be
dangerous enough to plant his adversary. The center mass aim, as taught
by the military and most police, is not a bad way to go. Besides the heart,
the aorta, the liver, the spine (if you have the good luck to hit it) and
the stomach are here. The liver, being solid, and rather inelastic, is
particularly suseptical to damage from a bullet. The lungs, intestines,
and limbs will not cause instant stops, though gutshots (intestinal wounds)
are notoriously painful. What I am hoping to get across here is that bullet
placement is very much a matter of luck, though there are things that can
even up the odds a bit. The center mass hold gives the greatest chance
of inflicting a lethal wound. Even if the subject moves or your aim is
off a bit, the likely result will still be a gut, or chest shot. Different
parts of the body sustain damage differently, As was mentioned, lung tissue
does not transmit energy well, so added velocity will have little additional
effect. Liver tissue, on the other hand is greatly affected by added velocity.
There is little the shooter can do against a moving, barricaded, or distant
target, in regards to bullet placement, but a couple of things about the
way different parts of the body are damaged by bullets should be kept in
mind. Number one is that a hole is a hole, and a big hole is more traumatic
to the body, and has a better chance of nicking something vital, than a
little hole. Number two is that all of the vital organs are protected by
overlying tissues, and must be reached before they can be damaged. A knife
is considered to be a lethal weapon, in most jurisdictions, when the blade
is at or over 3 inches. This is considered to be the depth that must be
penetrated before vital organs are reached. Of course people vary, and
this is a rule of thumb, but it is a start. There is some argument over
how far a bullet must penetrate in order to reach vital organs with enough
energy to do lethal damage. A nice round, even twelve inches is considered
to be the minimum. This is considered to give enough penetration to go
through clothes, skin, muscle, and still have enough left over to do damage
to vital tissues. There are two schools of thought regarding this. One
says that in order to be effective, a bullet needs much more penetration
than this, the other argues that too much penetration just wastes energy
and endangers innocent people who may be hit by the bullet after it exits
the target. Both arguments have a point, particularly with pistol rounds.
Penetration is measured in many ways. Some shoot at telephone books, others
see how many pine boards a bullet can go through, but the best tool for
this measurement is ballistic gelatin. In the lab, this can be precisely
formulated and kept at a consistent density and temperature. It is supposed
to mimic the density and reaction of human flesh, but it is, at best, only
a rough indicator. Not all tissues are of the same density, or resistance,
also the effects of bones, air pockets, etc. can not really be duplicated.
What ballistic gelatin will do, when properly prepared, is give a consistent
medium for comparison. It will also show both types of injury which a bullet
can cause, the permanent wound cavity, and the temporary wound cavity.
The permanent wound cavity is simply the hole that the bullet leaves behind
as it plows through tissue. this hole is generally about the size of the
projectile itself, or maybe a bit bigger. The temporary wound cavity is
caused by the shock wave of the bullet passing through tissues, and in
ballistic gelatin it shows up as a cloudy or cracked look in the gel surrounding
the permanent wound channel. This temporary channel has a great effect
on the brain, heart liver kidneys, and bladder, but very little effect
on muscle, skin, blood vessels (other then the major ones), and most other
tissues.
Conclusion
Use a bullet which will reliably penetrate to at least 12". Some experts
say that 18 to 36 inches is better because of cover, clothing, energy loss
at distance, and the variability of the human body. Aim for the center
of the body. this gives the greatest possibility for hitting the largest
number of vital areas; head shots, though very lethal, are difficult with
a rifle and an unaware subject, but with a hand gun against a forewarned
opponent are nearly impossible.A large caliber will be more likely to hit
something vital as it passes through the body, then a small one, simply
because it is bigger.