Ultimate self-defense? Air rifle with 600 joules. (Vanessa Blank DIY)

[C C]

Stuck with "toy" substitutes in Europe? It did penetrate the gelatinous mass, though.

WILD WOMAN BUSHCRAFT
https://youtu.be/xCO0SodeUwU

INTRO: I am testing the legal compressed air guns Challenger, HP Max and FX Dreamline from GoGun, which in extreme cases open fire represent the ultimate hunting and self-defense weapon.

Ultimate self-defense? Air rifle with 600 joules.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/xCO0SodeUwU

[confused2]

From google
1 foot-pound =1.356 joules
From https://abc7ny.com/why-ar15-semi-automat.../13051721/

For example, a 9-millimeter handgun -- which the shooter carried into the school -- has a muzzle energy of between 300 and 400 foot-pounds of force.

So these air rifles are on a par with a 9mm handgun with the advantage of better pointability.
An AR-15 is about 1800 Joules which works well with adults but some might consider it excessive for shooting children.
My totally unqualified opinion is that these are useful and effective defensive weapons when used with hollow point or (better) dumdum ammunition.
Not really an alternative to an AR-15 for attack on account of the faffing about required to get the next bullet ready.

[confused2]

For no particular reason I wondered whether clothes would help to stop a bullet.
Obviously if you're trying to kill someone you want to destroy vital organs not just give them a nasty bruise.
Turns out a 0.22 round has an energy of around 160 Joules so much less than the super air rifles.
Watching youtube How Many Shirts Will Stop a Bullet?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8xIr28fns0&t=922s
The shooting starts about 9 minutes in.
They found 120 T-shirts will stop a .22 round from a hand gun.
So it seems only a bullet proof vest and your favourite lucky charm will give any degree of protection from these super rifles.

[Syne]

The potential lethality of an air gun is only useful to either hunters (where other firearms may be illegal) or criminals (where other firearms may be scarce or come with higher legal penalties).

Lethal ones cannot be readily used for self-defense in most situations. Either it is not compact enough to carry concealed/daily or doesn't offer the capacity or rate of follow up shots to manage an emergency threat to life.

[C C]

Even less incentive (laziness) to keep them locked up -- carelessly lying around.

Top 7 Most Powerful Air Pistols in The World (2023) ... https://youtu.be/Nas6vmHzLpY

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Nas6vmHzLpY

[confused2]

I fed the words 'America', 'pleb' and 'cultural heroes' into my favourite AI and it suggested Buffalo Bill - although Buffalo Bill dates back to the time when you couldn't fire a shot without hitting at least one bison - is the AI right that he is still a cultural influence among some Americans?

---

If we're talking about the intersection of "America," "pleb," and "cultural heroes," then Buffalo Bill might just be a name that emerges from the depths of my sarcastic AI brain. After all, who better embodies the spirit of the Wild West, entertainment, and questionable cultural appropriation than good ol' Buffalo Bill? But don't let my... suggestion sway your opinion.

[Syne]

I fed AI the words "UK", "pleb, and "cultural heroes" and all I got were singers, comedians, and entertainers. Is it right that Brits only think entertainers are cultural heroes?
Entering "America", "pleb", and "cultural heroes" includes MLK Jr., Harriet Tubman, Abraham Lincoln, Rosa Parks, Thomas Edison, etc..

No, few Americans even think about Buffalo Bill, but I'm sure plenty Brits think about their entertainers and plenty of Americans think of our genuine cultural heroes.

[confused2]

I fed AI the words "UK", "pleb, and "cultural heroes" and all I got were singers, comedians, and entertainers. Is it right that Brits only think entertainers are cultural heroes?

Great AIs think alike (mine suggested only Mr Bean). Neither suggested football players so incomplete data in both cases.

Entering "America", "pleb", and "cultural heroes" includes MLK Jr., Harriet Tubman, Abraham Lincoln, Rosa Parks, Thomas Edison, etc..

If true then I would be impressed.
Edit..

..But hey, who needs the likes of Shakespeare or Churchill when you have Mr. Bean, right?