imported post
Looking at the article, I'd say part of the inadequate stopping performance was due to the officer's shooting through the vehicle for the first couple hits.. Going through automotive glass or sheet metal has to take some of the horsepower out of the bullet.
After the first volley of shots exchanged, the villain approaches and the officer scores two center mass hits. When that happens, the villain seems to change his intent from aggression to escape. No, he wasn't dead or incapable of motion but it seems he was out of the fight in reality.
There are more shots fired after this, but this seems to be the turning point. I have to wonder about the actual location of the prior 'center mass' hits. I'd be willing to bet none of those hits hit the spine directly. Had the heart or aorta been hit, the villain would have bled out in less time than 'four minutes'. The article mentions the officer fired at the villain's head when exposed. I can't believe the officer scored any serious head hits. Even a glancing blow will normally distract one's attention. On the other hand, the villain had a small level of alcohol in his system; perhaps that was enough to prevent any serious discomfort? Hard to say from here.
I keep reminding my colleagues "Anyone worth shooting is worth shooting well". COM shots are taught simply because that's the biggest target available. I frankly do not think a belly hit is as useful as a high center chest hit. Read up some on how the body is assembled; find out where the heart, aorta, lungs and brain are actually located. Know where they are in the body when the villain is standing at an angle or sideways, not just from front dead center.
It is interesting to note the officer almost talked himself into losing this encounter. He was concerned about blood loss. If he was thinking about blood loss, obviously he wasn't in so much pain he couldn't function. However, he almost allowed his fear to overcome his knowledge he was still functional. The woman screaming reminded him of his duty and responsibility. Odd but crucial timing, don't you think?
Back to firearms. Yes, he would have been better served with a rifle or shotgun. However, rifles and shotguns are clumsy things to carry while doing traffic or DUI stops. Life is just like that, sometimes. To denigrate the round involved is just a bit premature. .40 S&W has given good results in other instances. Picking a defense caliber is somewhat like Quantum Mechanics; we cannot solve for each particle or charge, but we can predict in bulk the normal responses. I'm a .45 ACP supporter, but I have an affinity for .357 Magnum as well. A well loaded .40 S&W fits into my criteria very well.
If that doesn't seem positive enough, remember everyone is going to die sometime. That's just the way it is.
