There’s a difference between hitting something and actually stopping it. Some calibers just don’t have the power, penetration, or performance to drop game, end threats, or do what they were intended to do. Whether it’s bad ballistics, weak energy, or poor track records in the field, these calibers have a reputation for coming up short when it matters most.
.22 Long Rifle (for anything bigger than varmints)
The .22 LR is great for plinking, but it’s not built to stop anything with size or weight. It lacks the energy and penetration for reliable results on larger game.
People have taken deer or even dropped bad guys with it, sure—but that’s the exception, not the rule. For anything that might shoot back or run far, the .22 LR isn’t the round you want.
.25 ACP
This little pocket caliber has been around forever, but it’s barely better than nothing. It’s often underpowered and doesn’t penetrate well, especially through clothing.
Plenty of folks carried it in tiny autos back in the day, but most who’ve used it in real-world situations walked away unimpressed. If you need to stop a threat, .25 ACP probably won’t get it done fast.
.30 Carbine (in soft point loads)
The .30 Carbine was fine in WWII with FMJ against lightly clothed targets, but soft point civilian loads don’t do much to larger animals. It tends to punch through without expanding much.
It can drop smaller deer with a perfect shot, but it’s far from reliable. Compared to modern options, it’s outdated and too soft for serious hunting or defense.
.17 HMR (on anything larger than a rabbit)
The .17 HMR is fast and flat, but it lacks weight and punch. It fragments quickly and doesn’t penetrate deep, making it a poor choice for anything with thick hide or muscle.
It’s excellent for prairie dogs and other pests, but hunters who try to stretch it out past its limits usually end up tracking wounded animals too far.
.32 ACP
The .32 ACP is another caliber that’s barely serviceable for defense. It doesn’t hit hard, it doesn’t expand much, and it’s known for failing to stop threats quickly.
Some European pistols were built around it, but it never earned much of a following in the U.S. for a reason—it just doesn’t stop much without perfect placement.
.223 Remington (in poor bullet choices)
The .223 can be effective, but only with the right bullet. Soft varmint loads often fail on bigger animals, breaking apart before reaching vital organs.
If you’re hunting hogs or deer, using the wrong .223 load is asking for trouble. Stick to bonded or controlled expansion rounds—or better yet, step up to something with more weight.
5.7x28mm
This caliber was designed for high velocity and armor penetration, but with civilian loads, it’s not nearly as effective. It zips through soft tissue without doing much damage.
It looks cool on paper, but real-world performance has been hit or miss. It lacks the stopping power of even a 9mm, especially in non-expanding loads.
.410 Bore (out of a handgun)
Out of a full-size shotgun, the .410 can be fine for pests and small game. But in a short-barreled revolver? It just doesn’t have the pattern or energy to be effective.
The spread is inconsistent, and the pellet count is too low to reliably stop anything in a self-defense scenario. It looks intimidating, but it’s mostly bark.
.380 ACP (with low-quality ammo)
The .380 can be marginally effective with premium loads, but with cheap FMJs or poorly made hollow points, it becomes unreliable. Penetration is borderline, and expansion is iffy.
A lot of people carry .380 because of the small guns it fits, but they don’t always realize just how close they need to be—and how well they need to place that shot—for it to work.
7.62x39mm (in soft point hunting loads)
This round is usually fine for close-range hunting, but some soft point loads underperform—failing to expand or breaking up too soon. That’s a bad combo for deer or hogs.
It’s popular in AKs and SKSs, but the hunting ammo market is hit or miss. Without the right bullet, the 7.62×39 can leave you with a long track job and a wounded animal.
9mm FMJ (for self-defense)
The 9mm has earned its place, but not with full metal jackets. FMJs tend to overpenetrate and underperform in tissue, which means they can fail to stop threats quickly.
Hollow points changed the game, but folks still carrying FMJ for defense are relying on placement alone. In a real fight, that’s not enough.
.45 ACP (at long range)
The .45 hits hard up close, but it bleeds velocity fast. At extended ranges, it drops quick and loses the punch that makes it effective in tight quarters.
It’s a close-combat round. Try stretching it too far, and it starts to feel more like throwing a rock than firing a serious stopper.
.300 Blackout (with subsonics on game)
Subsonic .300 Blackout rounds are great for suppressors, but they often lack expansion and energy on game animals. Unless it’s a headshot, don’t expect quick drops.
The round has potential—but with slow-moving bullets that don’t expand well, it can act more like a heavy .22 than a hunting cartridge.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
