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I'm trying to keep this topics separated so that I don't cause confusion. For a background, please check the post labeled "CHL and RVs"

I picked a Sig 250 9mm loaded with 147g JHPs as my carry. One of my major concerns if I ever had to use it was how far the bullet might travel. It is one thing to visually check the area behind a BG in the open and I'm fine with that. It is another to have to deal with that same BG inside an RV. In case you are not familiar with them, RVs have very thin walls, usually made of fiberglass. There is not much in the way of insulation, etc. to even slow a bullet down. We generally are in State Parks where your RV neighbors could be 50 feet on any side of you.

Let's assume that if I shot inside the RV, I didn't miss. How much further is a JHP round likely to go?

Sorry if this is a stupid question.

That question is really unanswerable. The factors involved in the stopping of the bullet are too varied to be able to make it black and white.

Let's take worst case scenario though: You stated you didn't miss, but where the bullet hits the individual, what clothes they are wearing, etc. will influence the stopping of the projectile. If it is summer and you hit them in the side below the rib cage, their is not thick clothing or bone to help stop the bullet. The bullet will then potentially travel through the soft portion of the body, penetrate the thin aluminum or fiberglass walls of the RV, and into the next RV on the pad beside you. it then could hit a soft portion of the other RV and enter the living area and kill someone. So, close quarters like that are not good for pistols.

My thought, even though it is not as effective as a single handgun projectile is to use a shotgun like you have already with #2 or smaller shot, or a frangible bullet similar to these to reduce the possibility of over-travel.

Thanks for the reply, Keith. I feared that was the answer that I was going to get and one of the main reasons that I've stayed with just the shotgun this long. I've had #6 shot in it.

It is interesting in the link that you provided that air marshalls are issued a Sig .357s with JHPs. I would have guess that the .9mm had less punch for a confined area but I that shows how much I don't understand.

chasfm11 wrote:Thanks for the reply, Keith. I feared that was the answer that I was going to get and one of the main reasons that I've stayed with just the shotgun this long. I've had #6 shot in it.

It is interesting in the link that you provided that air marshalls are issued a Sig .357s with JHPs. I would have guess that the .9mm had less punch for a confined area but I that shows how much I don't understand.

Penetration of the outer hull of the aircraft is not a real problem, even at high altitude pressurization. The aircraft will not 'explode' form the pressure released through a bullet hole and the hull will not rip apart as many movies would lead you to believe. Their ultimate goal is to hit their target, hope the bullet stops and doesn't over-penetrate and hit someone else in the cabin. However, even if it does, the one or two other injured or killed is unfortunate collateral compared to loosing a whole plane of 150+ souls.