Tens of millions of Americans own a firearm for home defense. That sense of security comes with a high level of responsibility. In the event of a situation that warrants the use of a firearm, every shot matters—not only to stop the threat but for ensuring the safety of everyone nearby. In the scenario of a self-defense encounter inside your home or apartment, “over penetration” through drywall is a very real risk.

This blog covers the important issue of drywall penetration, ammunition recommendations to minimize risks and why having a legal defense plan, like Second Call Defense, is invaluable.

Drywall Penetration and Why it Matters

Drywall Penetration

Drywall does not stop bullets or shotgun pellets. It is intentionally made with light materials to facilitate transportation and installation. Many tests and simulations proved that drywall is no match for bullets and shotgun pellets, and while some bullet types and loads may stop after hitting one or two sheets of drywall, many others don’t and will pass through multiple layers of drywall.

Why That Matters

Understanding that drywall doesn’t stop bullets is critical for the safety of the people on the other side. When a gun is fired in a self-defense scenario, it can easily penetrate multiple walls, meaning that anyone on the other side; your family members, a neighbor or a neighbor’s child in an adjoining apartment, or even someone in the next house, could be at risk. It is critical that you understand this now, before a bad situation may present itself. Know what is on the other side of your walls.

You are responsible for every bullet or shotgun pellet that comes out of your firearm. Recognizing this reality helps underscore the importance of choosing the right ammunition and knowing the layout of your home or apartment, so you’re fully aware of what lies beyond every wall.

Recommended Types of Ammo to Minimize Drywall Over Penetration

There is extensive research and testing on the effects of various calibers, gauges, bullet types, and shotgun loads when fired at drywall. With so much information already available, we will focus on what we believe is the best recommended rounds for the most common firearm calibers.

Shotgun

Many people, including President Joe Biden, recommend using a shotgun for home defense. Pump action shotguns are affordable and are not as heavily regulated as semiautomatic firearms, so they are commonly used for home defense. While 00 (double ought) buckshot is frequently chosen for home defense, it’s known to penetrate multiple layers of drywall while retaining significant energy. Slugs too, will easily pass through several walls and pose a significant risk to people and property on the other side.

High brass birdshot in #2 – #6 shot provides a good compromise between lethality and over-penetration of drywall. Research indicates that without hitting anything first, #2 – #6 birdshot will still penetrate 2-3+ layers of drywall, although each wall will significantly reduce the kinetic energy of the pellets.

Rifle

The AR-15 is the most popular rifle in the U.S. It is highly valued for its modularity and ability to accommodate many different calibers. However, the most common version is chambered in 5.56/.223, and the most common type of ammunition in 5.56/2.23 is the 55-grain full metal jacket (FMJ) followed by the 62-grain FMJ (penetrator). Given the popularity of the AR-15 in this caliber, it’s likely that many people favor this combination for home defense.

Research has found that upon passing through a layer of drywall, the 55-grain bullet frequently changes trajectory and begins to tumble, which can slow it down and reduce some of its energy. However, it still poses a significant risk of penetrating multiple layers of drywall.

Hollow-point bullets expand on impact, reducing some penetration but may still pass through several layers of drywall. Soft-point rounds are slightly better but still present penetration risks.

Frangible bullets, which are designed to disintegrate upon impact with hard surfaces, are probably the best choice for home defense with an AR-15. The bullet will split into small particles upon hitting mass, which will neutralize threats effectively while minimizing the risk of unintended harm to others in your home or in an apartment next to you or your next-door neighbor.

Handgun

Handguns are likely the most common firearm type used for home defense. They are light, easy to maneuver and compact, allowing for discreet storage in accessible locations. While handguns come in a variety of calibers, the 9mm is especially favored due to its balance of stopping power, manageable recoil, compact size, and magazine capacity. There are many bullet types and loads for the 9mm and many options that are specific for self-defense, such as hollow points.

Research suggests that the common 9mm FMJ bullet (115 or 124 grain) will easily penetrate multiple layers of drywall and unlike the 55 grain 5.56/2.23, it does not tend to tumble upon hitting a target. This is likely due to the fact it weighs more and has less velocity.

Hollow point bullets, which are common in 9mm, will slow down significantly after hitting a wall but still can over penetrate multiple layers, especially if the drywall material fills up the hollow portion of the bullet, effectively turning it into a standard round nose jacketed bullet. Soft tip 9mm bullets are usually better because they do not fill up with material and are designed to expand more readily on impacting a solid object.

Similar to recommendations for AR-15 frangible rounds, research has shown that 9mm frangible bullets are a solid choice for minimizing the risk of over-penetration in home defense situations.

Other Considerations

Training will better prepare you for a home self-defense situation. But just going to the range is not enough. You should also consider various scenarios of a home invasion – you should have a home defense plan. You can learn more from our blog on a home defense plan here.

The Importance of Self-Defense Legal Protection

What you don’t know can incarcerate you. Not every District Attorney, or law enforcement officer believes you have the right to self-defense, and an ideological prosecutor may choose to bring criminal charges against you. Even if you successfully defend yourself in court on criminal charges, an unscrupulous lawyer can bring a civil suit against you from the aggrieved family of your attacker.

These aren’t hypotheticals, people just like you have faced these situations. Ask yourself these questions, and if the answer is “no” to any of them, chances are you need self-defense legal protection:

• Do you have an attorney on retainer skilled in defending against criminal charges?
• Do you have an unlimited budget to pay out-of-pocket for your legal defense bills?
• Do you have at least $100,000 in cash to pay a bail bondsman that you can afford not to get back?
• Do you have ready access to professional psychological counseling for post-incident treatment?
• Do you have legal protection against civil damages that could force you to sell your home, cars, guns, and other assets to pay a judgment?

 

Join Second Call Defense Today

Second Call Defense has a 100% success rate defending our Members. We ensure that you’re never alone in the aftermath of a self-defense incident and we will never ask you to pay us back for your legal defense.

Conclusion

It is critical to understand that bullets and pellets fired from a gun can and will penetrate drywall. It is your responsibility to know what is on the other side – your children, spouse, next door neighbors, etc. Selecting ammunition that minimizes risks to others can significantly enhance safety in a self-defense situation. We provided ammunition recommendations, but they may not suit your needs. There are a lot of resources out there to help you decide what is best for you. Keep in mind, even if you are justified in a self-defense situation, you still may face legal challenges, especially if rounds from your firearm harm someone outside your home. That’s where the protection offered by Second Call Defense, becomes invaluable.