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What type of ammo do you carry and why

fire suppressor

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2008
Messages
870
Location
Kitsap County
Hydroshock, silver tip, +P.... ok guys help me out I am not a ballistics expert and I get lost in a lot of this stuff I have a simple question for all of you, what do you carry for self defense and why. I am going through all of my ammo right now and am trying to figure out what is the right bullet for me. I have always been a big fan of shooting heavier grain bullets with the philosophy of hit em with the biggest round possible you feel comfortable with to put them down fast, but after a recent trip to the range and shooting some lower grain "self defense ammo" I am thinking about changing my way of thinking. I shot better groups and got back on target faster with the lower grain they really impressed me and I do not think your average want to be slim shady is going to notice a difference between 165 grains and 180. So my question is what grain and type of ammo do you carry for self defense and why. I understand the difference between FMJ and HP and will be carrying HP for self defense

Thanks gang
 

TechnoWeenie

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Joined
Jul 17, 2007
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Location
, ,
I carry bullets, usually in the same caliber as the gun I'm trying to load them in.. They fit in the magazine so.. they must work..
 

yz9890

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2012
Messages
47
Location
Louisville, KY
I really like and carry Federal Premium HST. (the next generation HydraShok). Great expansion, penetration, and 100% weight retention (amazing for a non-bonded bullet). I carry it in 165gr 40 S&W in a Glock 27 and Sig P229. The 165gr bullet has more energy at all distances than the heavier 180gr HST and lighter 155gr. (468ftlbs @ muzzle / 426ftlbs @ 25') Here's a site that'll show you the ballistics and let you compare.

http://le.atk.com/general/federalproducts/pistol/tacticalhst.aspx

[be careful when using this site that you're looking at the HST and not the LEO only Tactical Bonded version. The ballistics are different]

I also like that it comes in boxes of 50rds instead of 20. I think I paid $27 for my last box. They're hard to find in your LGS but not bad online. Recoil isn't bad at all but of course that will depend a little more on the gun it's fired from than the cartridge. As far as I know, Federal doesn't make a low recoil (135gr for the 40SW) version of this cartridge like they do with the HydraShok. Here's a video of a meat and gelatin test I did for the HST 40 and PDX1 380.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyG_wBi7H7k&feature=youtube_gdata_player

And I carry 9mm 127gr +P+ Win Ranger T in my Glock 26. Love those as well. They're a little harder to find for me as a non-LEO so I'll probably switch to HST in 9mm eventually also. I keep 95gr Win PDX1 or 90gr Hornady Critical Defense in my 380.

All that being said. I really don't think it matters very much. More recoil just means more practice to get quick and accurate follow-up shots. It's just fun to investigate.
 
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SpyderTattoo

Regular Member
Joined
May 22, 2008
Messages
1,015
Location
Kent, Washington, USA
I shoot 230gr. Gold Dots in .45 in both my Glocks. (Also shoot 62gr M855's in my rifle...)

After all, your pistol is supposed to be used for fighting your way to your truck where your rifle is...
 

1911er

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Joined
Sep 9, 2009
Messages
833
Location
Port Orchard Wa. /Granite Oklahoma
.357 mag

I carry Mag tech's new first defence 95 gr.copper hollow points you dont have to worry about losing copper jackets and my time back on target has improved greatly , accuracy is better and I love the fact that what leaves the barrel is what they will dig out of the BG great bullet weight retention.
 

amlevin

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2007
Messages
5,937
Location
North of Seattle, Washington, USA
I carry 9mm 124gr Gold Dot Hollow Points that I load myself.

Why?
Because I can affordably shoot the same bullet in practice that I carry for Self Defense.

I get a round that performs with great accuracy in my firearms rather than a "one size fits all" factory round.

Lastly, because I don't give a crap about what Masaad Ayoob says. He has yet to prove that anyone has ever been prosecuted for shooting someone in Self Defense just because they used "Reloads".
 

Trigger Dr

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Oct 3, 2007
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Location
Wa, ,
I cast and load 115 gr and set it over 9.3 gr AA#9 with a CCI 500 primer.I use these for range and plinking. For defense ammo, I use the same load but use the Hornady 115 JHP.
It is hard to find 38 super in a good defense load so I cook my own. As far as ballistics, the super will equal the 357 sig given the same bullet weight and configuration. Easier to reload and much less recoil.
1911 the REAL AMERICAN GUN
 
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223to45

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2012
Messages
106
Location
Whatcom County
Right now

9mm 127gr +P+ Win Ranger T series and .45 230gr +p Win Ranger T series.

WHY? Because I can:banana:


others have been .45 200gr+P Gold Dot, and 165gr+P Powerball
 
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unknownsailor

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2008
Messages
49
Location
Bremerton, WA
9mm God Dots with the M&P, and 230 grain Gold Dots when I carry a 1911.
They are available locally, and perform about as well as any other.
I don't get worked up about it, knowing as I do that all handguns are underpowered anyway.
 

Crunchtyme

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2011
Messages
11
Location
Port Orchard, WA
165 grain HST in an M&P 40 and in M&P 40c, and for the most economical reason, I just purchased the 40c and the seller had a box of these to sweeten the deal.
 

sudden valley gunner

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2008
Messages
16,674
Location
Whatcom County
9mm HST for me too...I have a video laying around here somewhere, my late cousin and I had took showing what they did to a pumpkin. FMJ's clean through, Hydroshock....wow!
 

fire suppressor

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2008
Messages
870
Location
Kitsap County
A few years ago I bought silver tips because it was the only JHP I could find do they do anything special? And aren't +P and hyroshock similar in the sense that they both have increased pressure?
 

Schlepnier

Regular Member
Joined
May 12, 2011
Messages
420
Location
Yelm, Washington USA
When i hit the range i usually go through a 50 box of PMC 230grain .45 ACP ball ammo.

when i am OC or CC i have winchester .230 grain hollow-point .45 ACP loaded-stopping power that going to terminate the threat to my safety in a short amount of time.
:banana:
 
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1911 Enthusiast

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2012
Messages
77
Location
Heart of Appalachia
I use Federal HST which I buy from Streichers.

IMO, it's the most effective 230gr .45 ACP currently available for personal defense. Federal LE testing in gelatin has demonstrated greater expansion and deeper penetration than any other premium ammo brand/type.

Feeds ultra reliably through my four and five inch 1911s, consistently high velocity when I've chronographed the ammo (965 - 970FPS in 5" bbl), clean burning, accurate, minimum muzzle flash, nearly 100% bullet weight retention into wet phone books. Stiff felt recoil and probably tougher on my pistols than regular old 230gr ball but then it's not a daily practice round.

An all around great choice for personal defense. Available in the most popular personal defense calibers--.45 ACP, 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 GAP, .357 Sig.
 

sawah

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2011
Messages
436
Location
Virginia
Not sure how hard it is to find out but I'd think the safest, if there is such a thing would be to carry the same thing the police carry. The problem with using special SD ammo is it complicates the process. What are the chances the gun and mag you have on you is still loaded with cheap range ammo? Interesting discussion, though.
 
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