Self Defense Ammo

[tirwin1]

Not looking to start another argument about which caliber is better. I am looking for opinions on what people use for self defense ammo for a variety of calibers:

9mm
.45 ACP
.357 magnum
.22LR (just for kicks - I would never rely on it as a carry weapon but if there is ammo out there that is above average I would be interested to know)

Just curious what people use and why.

 

[ECU Pirates]

Not looking to start another argument about which caliber is better. I am looking for opinions on what people use for self defense ammo for a variety of calibers:

9mm
.45 ACP
.357 magnum
.22LR (just for kicks - I would never rely on it as a carry weapon but if there is ammo out there that is above average I would be interested to know)

Just curious what people use and why.

9mm 124+p gold dot
.45acp 230+p golden saber
.357 mag the old 125 gr federal semi jacketed hollow point
.22lr would be any solid.

 

[Podmonkey]

I go with 9mm simply because between the main defensive calibers there isn't much difference in terms of performance and 9mm gives me more rounds per mag.
I mostly stock the Federal HST 124gr +p
But also Gold Dot 124gr +p
I am also a really big fan of the Gold Dot .223 loads.

 

[ManrisFrack]

9mm: 124gr HST
.45 ACP: Federal Hi-Shok 230gr JHP

9mm I chose after looking at Lucky Gunner's testing - consistent penetration to the far edge of the FBI window and uniform expansion.

45 was just a cheap hollow point and isn't really a serious option for defense. I never carry 45 and the 9s would be the first choice in any home defense situation.

I don't even consider the other two calibers in a defensive capacity because the 357 is a revolver and the 22LR is, well, 22LR.

ETA: Link to Lucky Gunner data

 

[Phauxtoe]

Lite fast and hollow

 

[Bob]

9mm: Federal HST in either 124gr+p or 147gr+p
.45: Hornady Critical Duty 220gr+p
.380: Hornady Critical Defense 90gr
.357: Hornady Critical Duty 158gr XTP

No particular reason for any of them other than they perform adequately and they were cheap.

 

[minderasr]

9mm 124gr +P Gold Dot.

Maybe this will help you decide.

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/

 

[Darth]

Federal HST 124Gr+p in 9mm.

I like the Gold Dots too, but they are often harder to find and more expensive.

 

[togmaster]

Whatever cycles in your gun.

 

[GTN]

Federal HST 147gr +P

 

[tirwin1]

Thanks for the replies. Next question - do you take your self defense ammo to the range after a period of time and buy new ammo to replace it? I know ammo generally keeps pretty well but was just wondering if anyone has a rule of them for how often they replace their ammo (if they do at all).

 

[ECU Pirates]

Thanks for the replies. Next question - do you take your self defense ammo to the range after a period of time and buy new ammo to replace it? I know ammo generally keeps pretty well but was just wondering if anyone has a rule of them for how often they replace their ammo (if they do at all).

Every birthday I go shoot all my carry ammo and replace it.

 

[Bob]

Thanks for the replies. Next question - do you take your self defense ammo to the range after a period of time and buy new ammo to replace it? I know ammo generally keeps pretty well but was just wondering if anyone has a rule of them for how often they replace their ammo (if they do at all).

For my nightstand gun, I put 50 rounds of my defensive ammo through it, topped it off, and haven't touched it in a year. Same with my LCR.
My .380 carry ammo gets shot/rotated every couple of months because that gun is in my pocket ALL the time. My 9mm carry ammo gets shot/rotated once or twice a year, depending on which gun it's in and how often I carry it. I buy my 9mm carry load by the case of 1k, so it's not a big deal for me.

For me, it's all about how much the ammo is exposed to crud. The more crud it's exposed to, the more often I shoot it out and rotate it.

 

[Podmonkey]

Thanks for the replies. Next question - do you take your self defense ammo to the range after a period of time and buy new ammo to replace it? I know ammo generally keeps pretty well but was just wondering if anyone has a rule of them for how often they replace their ammo (if they do at all).

I'll buy a case at a time and slowly rotate a box per month though.

 

[MikeyCNY]

9mm 124gr +P Gold Dot.

Maybe this will help you decide.

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/

Damn, beaten.. was going to post this. I wish they'd do a new one on 'pocket pistol' barrel lengths..

I carry Hornady Critical Defense in my M&P Shield.. My fullsize M&P 2.0 carried Hornady Critical Duty until a few months ago when I changed it to Winchester Ranger 9mm 147 gr Bonded/Jacketed Hollow Point. The 'T-Series' seems to perform better on Luckygunner's tests, but TS-USA didn't have it in stock. I'll have to keep an eye out for .45 ACP T-Series also..

Thanks for the replies. Next question - do you take your self defense ammo to the range after a period of time and buy new ammo to replace it? I know ammo generally keeps pretty well but was just wondering if anyone has a rule of them for how often they replace their ammo (if they do at all).

I shoot my M&P Shield (my primary CCW) at least monthly at the range, but I remove the hollowpoints and use ball ammo; being aware that constant ejecting and re-chambering can cause issues I shoot the carry ammo about every 5-6 months. (the Hornady seemed to be very good at keeping its size, but my .45 ACP hollowpoints had a definite change, I forget what brand that was)

 

[Acer-m14]

Mercury(II) fulminate, or Hg(CNO)2 filled hollow points .. come on guys LOL ..

 

[Elwood]

Gold dots are my prefered choice. Compared to other hollow points, the cavity is almost always wider at the opening resulting in much better performance than other rounds with smaller openings, that could plug up and act similar to fully jacketed rounds. Not a fan of the polymer tipped rounds as i've actually seen a few shot into gel blocks fail to expand

 

[zzrguy]

9mm: Federal HST in either 124gr+p or 147gr+p
.45: Hornady Critical Duty 220gr+p
.380: Hornady Critical Defense 90gr

.

All that plus for 9mm I've been happy with the G2 research RIP 92gr 9mm and critical defence.

I've also been shoot Leigh Defense 9mm and 45 i have had zero issue with them these are not sniper rounds but shot great 25yds and down and if they work the way they say they do I'll be load there rifle bullets for hunting.

 

[ManrisFrack]

Damn, beaten.. was going to post this. I wish they'd do a new one on 'pocket pistol' barrel lengths..

Pretty sure they used an M&P9C to test 9mm. 3.5" barrel vs your Shield's 3.1" - probably not enough to matter.

 

[Eddie Gunks]

In my house you are getting FMJ 9mm heading your way.

My splits are pretty good, so expect a min of two, quick, center mass hits for every “non-invited” in the room.

 

[MikeyCNY]

Ammo Review: Black Hills 9mm HoneyBadger 100gr +P - The Truth About Guns

Might be useful if your attacker was wearing soft body armor, but he even mentions over-penetration in the article..

Looks cool though. Definitely would want to check for feeding reliability..

 

[Robin]

Yep, FMJ, It will do its job.
Robin

 

[Marine Cpl]

Yep, FMJ, It will do its job.
Robin

Always has, always will. In my opinion, caliber failures whether by the smallest .380 up to the biggest .45 started happening when they tried to make bullets get bigger than they are supposed to be limiting penetration.

 

[Acer-m14]

just got me a new EDC in the best cal you can get .. hoping BG can hook me up with some extra ammo .. no need to worry if attacker has armor .. BTW @Bullet Guy is in Ti .. LOL ...

 

[Eddie Gunks]

j.. BTW @Bullet Guy is in Ti .. LOL ...

I am having trouble seeing the writing. But i dont think it is.

This is thai writing:

นี่คือสิ่งที่เขียนในภาษาไทย

 

[Acer-m14]

I am having trouble seeing the writing. But i dont think it is.

This is thai writing:

นี่คือสิ่งที่เขียนในภาษาไทย

not sure what the writing is but i bet Ti has the ammo for it LOL ..

you hittin up the 1911 shops there for us

 

[Eddie Gunks]

not sure what the writing is but i bet Ti has the ammo for it LOL ..

you hittin up the 1911 shops there for us

I would like to of opened up a gun range in Thailand. The already have them, but I thought I would do it as well.

But I’m not too sure if I want to be in bed with the military and the police in the third world.

Here are the prices from one of the gun range is I stop that. And guess what you’re seeing is how many people which yet. The exchange rate is currently 32 baht per dollar.

I plan to bring my pistol with me next time I come and shoot some of the USPS a matches they have here. I think it would be a great way to meet some of the elite tie businessman, politicians, police and military.

 

[FLA45fan]

OK I'm in . . .
For self defense ammo I tend to lean towards the loads my local police carry, typically Speer and Federal loads. This helps make it more "defensible" in the unlikely event that I actually need to shoot. I'm using two primary self defense firearms; a Glock 19 (with a mounted TLR1 light) loaded with Speer Gold Dot 124 gr +p, a highly recommended and proven round employed by many agencies and a Glock 43, loaded with a newer round, the Federal HST 150gr Micro load designed for shorter barrel lengths. Both of these have been tested, a few hundred rounds each for reliability, and once every six months new ammo is swapped out. About once a year the old carry stuff gets a trip down range. Both of these are 9mm, which offers me a great combination of power and control, as well as economy, which encourages me to get to the range more often.

I also have a S&W Bodyguard .380 (Federal HydroShocks 90 gr), Ruger SP101 ((Speer Gold Dot 135 gr +p Short Barrel) and a Sig 220 Compact (Speer Gold Dot 230gr). Each load offers a good balance of expansion and penetration.

Frankly you probably can't go wrong with any of the big name brands, Speer, Federal, Hornady etc as long as you test for reliability ( I recommend a minimum of 50 rounds).

Ahhh, .22lr, what can I say . . . Plenty, I guess. Having been shot with one (September 16, 1983) and lived. One round, dead center (solar plexus) at hand shake distance. It hit the heart, left lung, shattered the spleen, two holes in the stomach, broke a rib. I was able to move away, over a hundred feet and get help. Best guess was that it was a solid, standard velocity bullet fired from a Walther PPK look alike that stovepiped after the first shot. Soooo, maybe CCI Stingers, but test for reliability (always!)

 

[MikeyCNY]

Ahhh, .22lr, what can I say . . . Plenty, I guess. Having been shot with one (September 16, 1983) and lived. One round, dead center (solar plexus) at hand shake distance. It hit the heart, left lung, shattered the spleen, two holes in the stomach, broke a rib. I was able to move away, over a hundred feet and get help. Best guess was that it was a solid, standard velocity bullet fired from a Walther PPK look alike that stovepiped after the first shot. Soooo, maybe CCI Stingers, but test for reliability (always!)

Thanks for sharing!

 

[dsdmmat]

just got me a new EDC in the best cal you can get .. hoping BG can hook me up with some extra ammo .. no need to worry if attacker has armor .. BTW @Bullet Guy is in Ti .. LOL ...

Used to have a bunch of those launchers as a kid. my dad would bring them home and all the kids on the block would play war with our M1 Grand Stocks and empty LAWs.