Personal Defense ammo question...

I will say this, once you choose a carry ammo that you feel comfortable with and your gun eats well, I wouldn't go switching around and have a box of this and a box of that. Just a suggestion for once you make this decision.

As for me, I don't shoot 40, but I really like Winchester Rangers. They are a great price and work perfectly for me. Mostly, though, all of the top-shelf HP rounds will work well (Hydrashok, Ranger, XTP, Gold Dot, Golden Saber) so the decision should be made at the range with a box of all these and then a few boxes of the one you like best.

 

I love Hornady for SD. I keep mine loaded with the Critical Defense and my brother likes the XTP. I'm a fan of the Federal Classic JHP mainly due to the value, but haven't had much experience with the other Federal models.

 

Oh yeah! Until you decide on which kind of ammo you like, you may go through four or five different kinds. Then maybe 2 or 3 more boxes of your favorite kind. If all goes well, then you're good to go.

I suppose you could measure groupings, but that could be over-thinking it. If a particular ammo feeds and fires without problems, that's my measurement. Reliability is much more important than a group that is an 1" smaller.

 

i have to agree with CHLChris on this. find something that feeds well and shoots it with no problems. reliable is much more important than accuracy or how well an ammo expands. the most accurate or best expanding ammo is useless unless it feeds well. most of the major ammo makers make fine SD ammo, and most have made huge improvements in the last several years. my personal choice as of now are the Hornady XTP's, and the XTP bullets i use for reloads for practice. just my personal preference.

 

Don't get hyped up on hype & advertisement-
Get some good HP's & be sure they are accurate & reliable in your weapon -
Just my 2 bits-

 

Critical Defense gets my vote.

 

There was a thread, I believe in the Bunker, where the S/M's put a bunch of HP Defense rounds to the test. I can't find it at the moment, but I know someone will know the thread and post the link.

The most important characteristic is finding a round your weapon will cycle and a round/caliber that YOU shoot well. It doesn't matter what any of us shoot well if you are not us & if you can't hit a barn with our round of choice.

Having said that.....

I carry Winchester Ranger +P hollow points. A full mag of them in the summer, but I alternate them with ball ammo in the fall and winter months in case someone is wearing a Carhartt, heavy denim covering or the like. I want to be able to hit hard, penetrate and follow up with a massive wound channel that causes extensive bleeding.

The Rangers, in my opinion, star out in a perfect pattern that will slice, sever, nick or otherwise invade with the intent to cause significant bodily harm.

Remember the "Black Talon" controversy? The Winchester Rangers are the "modified" version of those exact bullets. They still do a tremendous amount of physical "meat" trauma.

Pick a round that feeds well, then test it on wet newspaper and see the results for yourself.

Good luck!

JD

 

I believe in efficiency, and I load all my handguns with Kieth semi wadcutters. They do the job, no matter what the task.

 

I use federal hydro shoks, Winchester Black Talons and SXT's because I was able to buy two cases each of 9mm and .40 cal. rather cheaply(wholesale cost)when a local dealer went out of business.

 

cheep is gud.

 

I agree, why waste $$$ for good ammo to waste some scum bag gang banger.

 

Cheep is nessasary

 

Have to agree, my hornady ammo is pretty awsome in my xdm. Im using the 230G XHP +P out of all my rounds i have never had a quality issue unlike my winchester JHP --had some that were over packed.

 

With powder

 

No no sorry, round jammed into the case too far, case bulged as well.

 

Whew- scart me
Too bad Zombies cant shoot-You cud load up sum WAY over loaded ammo & load hi-points with them & leave'em layin around for the Zombies to pick up