"Nope. If you use penetrators, the first shot does the work just fine.
If engaging a Terminator, you don't want to be using rounds that mushroom out in flesh or clothing, you want every round to dent the endo, work harden and fracture it."

"Actually, if the writers wanted to get really sophisticated, they could copy this thing where each bullet is extremely rapid-fired from the same barrel, each bullet about 6 inches behind the other, often entering the same hole the first one starts to make. Don't ask me how I know that."

"OK, not secret anymore. I worked on a Gladiator bot proposal several years ago that used that."

"XUBU,
We've also seen Cromartie miss John when he really shouldn't have.

Sarah might be carrying a 9mm for the same reason that many choose that caliber in real life: it's the most power the individual shooter can reliably control and recover for repeated follow-up shots.

Cameron should be able to control a .45 ACP, but perhaps chose the Glock 9mm for greater magazine capacity. If one can accurately place one's shots, a single round of 9mm can do the job, and there's room for more rounds in the mag.

On the other hand, Summer Glau isn't a very big girl, and perhaps SHE can't handle the .45 or any of the other big ones.

I would like to see John and / or Derek carrying something like an Olympic Arms OA93 .223 pistol, or .357 SIG (high velocity) with penetrator ammo (banned, but I'm sure Law Enforcement or military have them) Something like this should do sufficient damage to stop a terminator, with the right shot placement."

"When engaging a Terminator, you need maximum penetration.
Hollow points are "going the wrong way". They're designed NOT to overpenetrate.

If Kyle Reese were around, I'll bet he could construct some EFP (explosively formed projectile) rounds, using common household cleaning products. (grin)."

"XUBU,
We've also seen Cromartie miss John when he really shouldn't have.

Sarah might be carrying a 9mm for the same reason that many choose that caliber in real life: it's the most power the individual shooter can reliably control and recover for repeated follow-up shots.

Cameron should be able to control a .45 ACP, but perhaps chose the Glock 9mm for greater magazine capacity. If one can accurately place one's shots, a single round of 9mm can do the job, and there's room for more rounds in the mag.

On the other hand, Summer Glau isn't a very big girl, and perhaps SHE can't handle the .45 or any of the other big ones.

I would like to see John and / or Derek carrying something like an Olympic Arms OA93 .223 pistol, or .357 SIG (high velocity) with penetrator ammo (banned, but I'm sure Law Enforcement or military have them) Something like this should do sufficient damage to stop a terminator, with the right shot placement."