safeguarding the neighbors??

bwa

There's been a good bit of discussion here at various times re: what handgun cartridges are suitable for home defense. One of the criteria commonly agreed upon is that it must not be so potent as to penetrate walls and thus endanger a neighbor. Here, in the house in which I now reside, is what a bullet must penetrate, between studs, to reach outside air:

1/2" thick gypsum wallboard
3-1/2" unfaced fiberglass insulation
1/2" thick insulated sheathing(fiberboard)
vinyl siding

I'm wondering if a cartridge exists that wouldn't penetrate two or three walls like that and still have enough velocity/energy left to hurt someone.

This house is 30 years old. I work for a general contractor and know that the insulated sheathing is no longer used, as a rule, on new homes; rather 7/16" OSB(oriented strand board; wood shavings pressed together). This stuff is more stout; but not enough to provide that much more resistance to speeding bullets.

I'd be interested in your comments.

RugerNiner

Suppose you live in an apartment.
5/8" drywall, possible insulation 3 5/8", 5/8 drywall on other side of wall.

Even if you live in a house, more than likely you won't have any insulation between the rooms except for the bathroom, and the drywall is usually only 1/2" thick on both sides.

I can put my foot through both walls with absolutely no problem.
You wouldn't want to pull the trigger and have the round go through you Kids room.

Remember...Terrorist are attacking Civilians; Not the Government. Protect Yourself!

ccasey612

I agree. The point is to protect my kids not hurt them.

If you will blame gun makers for every shooting then blame car maker for every car accident.

idsman75

Just as important as velocity is the composition and make-up/design of the bullet itself. What happens to the bullet when it impacts such materials? I'd say that you'd be safe with a Glazer safety slug with the blue tip.

BoltactionMan

Use a 20 or 12 gauge with #6 or #7 1/2 birdshot.

KC

nunn

Or a .38 Special revolver with Glasers. They will NOT penetrate the wall but will wreak havoc on the target.

SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com, the best gun auction site on the Net! Email davidnunn@texoma.net

jdb123

shoot the * in the head, wont be much energy left after going through skull and brains-and probably a mullet haircut.

leeblackman

Maybe it wouldn't hurt to invest in some sheet metal. Put it up on the inside of the house on the walls that are exterior on the other side, and may strategically plased on other interior walls, floors, or roofs. And just put wallpaper or paint over it. Depending on the type and guage you get it could be pretty expensive, and ballistic preformance may varry. If nothing else it could at least help to slow the bullet down enough that even if it penetrates, it will not go thru the neighbors house wall.

I have access to a wide variety of various guages and types of sheet metals. I'm going to have to do some testing now. I figure galvanized would be the most economical and sutable just off the top of my head, but at what guage I don't know. I'll start collecting samples from work and will post a topic later down the line.

If I'm wrong please correct me, I won't be offended.

The sound of a 12 gauge pump clears a house fatser than Rosie O eats a Big Mac !

bwa

Some interesting responses. I agree that a shotgun is probably the best way to go -unless you're partly disabled like me. I don't know if my limitations would permit me to get the thing into position in time to eliminate the threat.

The only reservation I have about Glasers is if perchance the intruder fired at me through a door. Then, if I've understood correctly how a Glaser functions, I would be defenseless -unless the guy opened the door. Correct, or no?

A novel idea, Lee. I'll be interested in the results of your experiments. A couple of considerations: Would the wife accept the idea? -Would galvanized hold paint or wallpaper paste?

I have some 20 ga. galvanized I used to fabricate shields around the wheel wells of my pickup. It would slow things down, I would think, especially lead bullets.

twins

There was an excellent write up on this very topic quite a while back. The authors even built mock house walls, standard, not beefed up. They also tested this on dummies and I believe certain types of outer wear jackets. I do not recall if they used any ballistic compund. They used 6 or 7 bird shot. At a close range like that, six to ten feet, the suspect will be shot with the equivilent of a slug. The pellets don't have a chance to spread out and the wad doesn't have time to drop either. The round usually will not blow out the back side of the perp. The round if shot into a wall (by missing or in the odd event it does have complete penetration), will almost, if not entirely, be completely stopped. AND, you if you have to go to court, you did not have your shotgun loaded with man killin buck shot or slugs, just rounds for ity bity birds!

If I can find the article or site, I will post it.

96harley

I'm with nunn on this one. You could mount a bayonet attack if you have the proper mount of course.

v35

Rubber bullets and rubber buckshot are said to be lethal at short distances. I'm putting my faith in 38 Special Glasers out of an Airweight S&W with Laser Grip sight.

bwa

Thanks again, fellas.

twins: Again, I appreciate the advantages of a shotgun. But see my post just above yours.

Also, anyone want to address my reservation about the Glasers(see the same post as mentioned above)?