Hatcher's Notebook

denis · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 6:32 pm Post subject: Hatcher's Notebook

I've studied ballistics as a special topic as a grad student in the 1970s and as a personal hobby over the years. One name that popped up often was that of General Julian Hatcher whose career spanned the early years of the 30-06 on through the development of the M1 Garand rifle.

I was browsing at Barnes & Noble last week and saw a reprint of his second edition completed not long before his death in 1963. I picked it up, took it to the checkout, and started reading it.

Very interesting stuff, and much of it in the category of "don't try this at home, children". The chapter on barrel obstructions was enough to shrivel my.... well whatever.

It was fairly pricey, but well worth it in my opinion.

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 7:31 pm Post subject: Re: Hatcher's Notebook

Thanks Denis! I was looking at that the other day but put off buying it because I was saving some money for vacation. Another good book is "Understanding Firearm Ballistics" by Rinker.

denis · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:32 am Post subject: Re: Hatcher's Notebook

Pumpkinslinger wrote:

Thanks Denis! I was looking at that the other day but put off buying it because I was saving some money for vacation. Another good book is "Understanding Firearm Ballistics" by Rinker.

I have the Rinker book as well. It's an entertaining read, but a little awkward in spots.

I also have Ballistic Science for the Law Enforcement Officer, which was written by C.G. Wilber (who was my major professor when I earned my M.S. degree.)

All of them are excellent resources, but I'd have to give the nod to Hatcher for its sheer scope. I took courses in physics and never could quite get the concept of orbital velocity and escape velocity, but when I read Hatcher's explanation the light came on. Of course I'm approaching 40 years since I took college physics, and I might have learned something in the meantime...

Handloader · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:37 am Post subject: Re: Hatcher's Notebook

denis: a side question. Have you read the Marshall/Sanow index of one shot stops? If so, your opinion of the data please.

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 1:32 pm Post subject: Re: Hatcher's Notebook

I know that there is a lot of controversy about the "one shot stop" stuff. Regardless of what you read (Disregarding "gun shop gossip") I see that NO defensive handgun cartridge or load is 100% effective with just one shot so, as they say, anything worth shooting is worth shooting at least twice!

denis · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 2:24 pm Post subject: Re: Hatcher's Notebook

Handloader wrote:

denis: a side question. Have you read the Marshall/Sanow index of one shot stops? If so, your opinion of the data please.

Disclaimer -- I have heard much about the Marshall/Sanow experiments, but I have not read their book.

The problem with any data related to "stopping power" is that there is no way to legally or ethically design an experiment that will allow all the variables to be controlled. So what you are left with is a lot of opinion.

A lot of good people are on opposite sides of the debate so I am not inclined to criticize either side. I will say that in my opinion, familiarity and comfort with the firearm is of greater importance than either caliber or velocity. To a point, that is... There are cartridges that are too small to be of any use, as well as ones that are too large for the average person to manage. And this applies to hunting, home defense, law enforcement, and military.