I would think. It makes a bigger hole. I know the frag rate and terminal ballistics of the .223 are impressive, but I can't argue with the force of mass.
Yeah, you'll blow the skin/muscle off of someone, but not necessarily penetrate to the vitals for stopping power. I'll take a .45.
Not true...Not even close really.
A good 5.56 round will penetrate about the same as any other round designed for defensive purposes worth its salt(a little over 12" in ballistics gel is what seems to be strived for.The yellow line below).It also has a much larger permanent and temporary wound cavity.
This is a pretty good representation of actual ballistic gel results(I believe it's actual results,just traced over).It doesn't show the .45 but you'd be surprised at how close it is to the 9mm shown.
The temporary cavity is the outer line.The permanent cavity is the dark sections.Look at that fragmentation with the 5.56 through both.It may not be as nasty as the 12ga...But it's not that far off with all of the other advantages that go along with.
Handgun service rounds have a small temporary wound cavity and the permanent cavity looks like a tunnel.Not the explosion you see with the fragmenting 5.56.Permanent wound cavity is obviously the most important factor(it's "the hole") next to penetration.
Not needed.
Better to have.
Ok.... true. But negligible, and not really prudent.
We must have different ideas of "negligible".
I wouldn't recommend a pistol grip only shotgun, that's for sure.
Agreed.