Human Shields

[JohnL]

Something else that hasn't been mentioned; There are large caliber bullets available that are a hollow container filled with (I believe) a material like buckshot. They're specifically designed NOT to penetrate all the way through a body. They also do a lot more damage internally.

[ulthar]

An example of the general class of round called 'frangible'?  Also, a friend of mine who runs an ammunition manufacturing business recently told me of a relatively new bullet design in which the bullet cores are made of compressed powdered metal.  They are specifically designed for defense/LE.  These bullets essentially disintegrate upon impact.

[Flangepart]

JohnL : Your thinkin' Magsafe or Glaser safty slug. Thin copper jacket, liquid teflon to prevent the lead shot filler from clumping together.
Hits right, the jacket sheds, and the shot delivers almost all the energy potential to the target, and causes massive bleeding.
And as they fracture on hitting anything solid or thick enough, they lost all momentum in a very short didtance, as seperated, the shot is too small to retail energy.
Neat.
If the round dosen't loose all its momentum on the first thing it hits, its goin' through.