Six Things to Consider When Choosing Self-Defense Handgun Ammunition

[T.S.]

The author recommends that when one chooses self-defense handgun ammunition that one should consider the following:

Price: Honestly answer this question: What value do you place on your life, or those of your family members?

Expectations: Where do you live? From where do you anticipate a threat to emerge? What measures are you willing to take to stop a threat?

Reliability: Reliability is paramount in a defensive load; the ammunition must feed, fire, extract, and eject every time in your handgun.

Velocity: Bullets are designed to work within a specific window of velocities, and deviating from that range can cause the projectile to fail to expand (i.e. acting as a FMJ), over-expand, thereby reducing penetration, and even experience jacket-core separation or unintended fragmentation.

Accuracy: This is purely subjective. Does your ammunition/handgun combination need to be able to shoot 1” groups at 25 yds. to stop a threat? Or is 5” to 6” adequate? What about at 7 yds. with a “pocket” pistol? Is 2” sufficient? Choose wisely.

Cases: Nickel-plated or brass cases?

He states by no means is this list all-inclusive; for example, one could also consider recoil (full power vs. reduced-recoil). But, hopefully this gives you some food for thought. It’s a potentially life-saving decision that shouldn’t be made haphazardly.

http://www.americanrifleman.org/blog...4270&cat=13032

Six Things to Consider When Choosing Self-Defense Handgun Ammunition

June 06, 2014

[Caleb]

Originally Posted by T.S.

The author recommends ..Price: Honestly answer this question: What value do you place on your life, or those of your family members?.

Let's discuss this point. I would buy the most expensive SD ammo out there to run in my pistol IF, that ammo actually performs the best out of all other rounds. In other words, will a $50 box of ammo perform better than a box of $20? I have found this to not be true in my search for the best carry ammo. I have chosen Fed HST as my preferred brand because of it's performance (reviewed and tested by several people) and reliability in my EDC. Expansion is great, no jacket separation, 12+ penetration, ect..... With that said, I can usually find a box of 50 for around $30-$34 each. That's $.60 per round....Clearly not the most expensive SD ammo out there but, show me one that performs better and I will revisit my choice.

Also, I don't know about everyone else but, I like to run up to 3-500 rounds of ammo through my pistol before I decide to use as my SD load. Testing different loads would get real expensive, then. Right now I'm using Win PDX1 230gr HP because, I can't seem to find the HST's in the 50rd boxes. The PDX1 is my second choice and is carried by wally world.

I would like to hear everyone's opinion on this matter. So, speak up!

[milkmanjoe]

Originally Posted by IamCaleb

Let's discuss this point. I would buy the most expensive SD ammo out there to run in my pistol IF, that ammo actually performs the best out of all other rounds. In other words, will a $50 box of ammo perform better than a box of $20? I have found this to not be true in my search for the best carry ammo. I have chosen Fed HST as my preferred brand because of it's performance (reviewed and tested by several people) and reliability in my EDC. Expansion is great, no jacket separation, 12+ penetration, ect..... With that said, I can usually find a box of 50 for around $30-$34 each. That's $.60 per round....Clearly not the most expensive SD ammo out there but, show me one that performs better and I will revisit my choice.

Also, I don't know about everyone else but, I like to run up to 3-500 rounds of ammo through my pistol before I decide to use as my SD load. Testing different loads would get real expensive, then. Right now I'm using Win PDX1 230gr HP because, I can't seem to find the HST's in the 50rd boxes. The PDX1 is my second choice and is carried by wally world.

I would like to hear everyone's opinion on this matter. So, speak up!

The HST's in 147 grain(9mm) are great loads. They currently reside in my G17's that I toggle between.
I would also use Winchester Ranger T's 9mm 147grain
My Carry 1911's are Winchester Ranger T for full size 1911 230gr HP
For a 4.25 barrel 1911 I use Winchester Ranger T 230gr HP +P
HST's in .45 would be my second, Ammunition Depot has them right now. I am flush with SD ammo, not buying.

Money doesn't mean crap to me when buying SD ammo. Reliability from the gun and reliability in depth and expansion do. I do not worry about accuracy as I do not believe any of the brand name SD ammos I would consider could be inaccurate in SD distances. During Winter up in SC I carry .45 ball ammo due to people wearing heavy clothing, and being fat. Lotta fat people up there. I also lube with oil only as grease could slow the slide function and cause a malf at the wrong time. The ammo is only a part of the equation for me.

[edgehill]

You also have to consider the barrel length of your carry gun. Most factory tests are done with a long barrel. If your gun is a small barrel, a lot of really good ammo works very differently. I've seen some ammo tests that were perfect in a four or five inch barrel that didn't perform in a small barrel.

[Riverpigusmc]

I carry the Wilson load, .45 acp +p, 230 grain Barnes solid copper hollowpoint propelled by around 6 grains of VV N320. Low flash, low smoke, tested by Wilson out of a 4" barrel. ASYM makes about the same load.

[milkmanjoe]

Originally Posted by Riverpigusmc

I carry the Wilson load, .45 acp +p, 230 grain Barnes solid copper hollowpoint propelled by around 6 grains of VV N320. Low flash, low smoke, tested by Wilson out of a 4" barrel. ASYM makes about the same load.

Can you build those, Mike? Or can only get from Wilson? I like solid copper but gave 'em away......I'll only use 230grain.

[Riverpigusmc]

Wilson sells them, but they have went to the Hornady bullet for some reason

[Shark1007]

Did not know the barnes bullet was available in 230 grain, I have been carrying the 185+p, guess I will have to go shopping!

[Horse'nround]

So all good points to think about, and I have done so at nauseam. I have run quite a few trials for different rounds and have settled on one of my own build. I have a long and disgruntled history with factory ammo and never intend to carry with it. Gun of choice, commander series 1911, all day every day. Round of choice, 200gr. JHP in XTP or Gdot with 5.75gr of WIN 231 chrono’s in around 975fps. I like the feel of it out of the gun and I like the way it hits. Makes a mess of 2 gallon jugs of water but not so much the 3rd. 2 chunks of sheetrock and still kills 2 jugs. 2x4 and sheetrock kill 1 jug and #2 bleeds out pretty quickly and the 2 windshields I tried were no match. This is where I must bang my head on the wall (knock on wood) to date I have never had a squibber in one my loads, can’t say that for factory crap. My brass is mid 80’s lake city and TZZ (Israeli) got around 5 to7K rounds left of the 10+ I started with. So I’m pretty well set with 3000 rounds loaded and counting…

A while back I ran a thread about my summer time dilemma about what to carry when it’s too hot or your dressed to lightly to carry the “BIG DICK” after researching all the recommendations that everyone threw out there. Well I finally settled on a SIG P938 EQUINOX, yep a micro 1911. After running a spread of ammo I’ve settled on +P 124gr Gdot JHP. Seems to have a manageable jump when I pull the trigger and I can empty the mag fairly quick and keep them in the black at 7yds. As far as what they do when they hit… Hmmm, sounds like more testing. OH BOY!