Gun Myths 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Today is Day 7 of the 12 Days of Christmas. This week, in light of it being in the middle of the 12 Days of Christmas, this blog will concentrate on the 12 gun myths of Christmas (or really, of all time).


Today's topics:

"Knockdown Power"

"A .22 will bounce all around inside you"

"You don't have to aim a shotgun"

"The shockwave from a .50 BMG can kill you" (even if the bullet doesn't hit)

"The AR15 was designed to wound, not kill"

"Knockdown Power"

Often used by "Boomers" who are debating online the efficacy of a .45 ACP vs. 9mm. Once in a Blue Moon, this person can actually shoot straight... usually not. And they have never actually seen a wound channel comparison up close. On the other side of this coin, a good friend is a Critical Care Paramedic for Nashville Fire Dept. - often crew on the busiest ambulance route in the entire nation. He tells me that unless the wound is from a .22, they cannot distinguish pistol wounds. He can often surmise when it is a .380, because the overall damage is less, but that's about it. 

"A .22 will bounce all around inside you"

This is a myth that descends from truth. A .22 round that hits a large human bone such as the skull, femur, etc., at an angle, may deflect instead of punching through. This fact became "bounces off of bones." Then that mis-stated concept became the myth of the .22 bouncing off of bones and shredding internal organs. The truth is, a .22 has great difficulty getting to the magical 12" of penetration deemed necessary by the FBI. 

"You don't have to aim a shotgun"

Seems this has been tested quite a bit. Most evaluations have come to the same conclusion: you must aim your shotgun. Box O Truth has one of the better entries. To get to 30+ inches of spread, the shotgun must be fired from a distance of 40+ yards. When shot from 12 feet and closer, the largest group was 4 inches. Still has to be aimed. 

"The shockwave from a .50 BMG can kill you."

Even Demolition Ranch has done a video debunking this one. Not sure why this myth is still floating around. 

"The AR15 was designed to wound, not kill"

Nobody who has ever seen a wound created by an AR15 has ever said this. The author has seen a couple. Nasty wounds in flesh. Not one I want to experience any time soon. If it was not lethal, the military would have found something that was lethal. But still, this myth persists. 

Thoughts?