Don Foreman wrote:

Skin and leather are surprisingly resistant to penetration by bullets.
If you frequent places where attack by drugged or drunk bikers in
leathers is even conceivable then Gunner's guidance is correct: leave
the .380 in your senior gentleman's desk next to the fine fountain pen
and the 20-year-old LaPhroig singlemalt, carry something more
appropriately heavy without regard for discomfort. It must be heavy
enough for you to shoot well in rapid fire, one-handed if necessary
with either hand, under stress in low light against multiple moving
targets intent on wasting your gentle civilian self.



But that's not self defense (as you correctly pointed out).

That's hunting things that hunt back.

Even a .45 would be a bad choice there (except in the movies).

7.62 with an M1A launcher would be my first choice.

Second choice would be a L.A.W.

But that's just me.

Brute force works exceptionally well - IF you use enough of it...


--

Richard Lamb