The central hole does not appear to be very big. The large dent could result from the smaller projectile impacting the metal frame and spreading the metal apart. A .45 calibre bullet is 11 mm in diameter or about 7/16 of an inch - almost half an inch. I have a feeling that a .45 bullet striking that frame would do much more damage than that.
Here's a question: if there was an elaborate conspiracy, why would the plan be to use a handgun - and then have such a poor shooter miss by so much?
I have a feeling that a .45 bullet striking that frame would do much more damage than that.Mr Mason...You are ill prepared to evaluate and dis cuss the dent in the chrome molding....
A 45 ACP cartridge was designed to STOP a foe or enemy... It was NOT designed to penetrate .....the heavy ( 230 grains) soft lead bullet traveling at subsonic velocity of 850 fps has a walloping 400 ft pounds of energy.
The cartridge was not designed to penetrate Thus it merely dented the steel molding .....
PS.... It was NOT fired from a handgun....
Nobody said anything about a hand gun....