[squirrelsniper]

It depends on what you want really. In general, assuming all bullets are of the same weight...

HSTs offer dramatic expansion, penetrate soft targets well and considering that they're not bonded, they also do very well in penetrating intermediate barriers such as sheet metal and safety glass.

Gold Dots offer good expansion, deep penetration of soft targets and are one of the best (possibly THE best) bullets out there for penetrating things such as sheet metal and safety glass and holding together well enough to continue in a relatively straight path and still be capable of reasonable penetration of a soft target.

TAP offers reaonable expansion, great penetration of soft targets but often performs poorly through sheet metal and safety glass.

Personally, I would only use the HSTs or Gold Dots for "serious" work. Then you need to decide how important intermediate barrier penetration is to you, as that's the main difference between the two, and even that isn't a huge difference.

[rome2240sw]

I thank all you guys for your helpfull info and insights on the subject. After reading post and looking back at my results i believe that the Federal HSTs will be just what i will stick with. Already have my arm and mags loaded with them as of last month. I can say tho, i prefer Hornady ammunition for hunting purposes because it has yet to fail me. Maybe next time i go to a gun show or find them on sale again i will pick up me some more Speer Gold dots. Great shooting ammo plus my local LE agency trustes their lives and the lives of its citizens on the 165 and 180 grain speer gold dots.

[Mwinter]

Rome,
Since you mentioned low recoil and a preference for 165gr, look around for the Federal Bonded Tactical 165gr JHP. It's what I issue to my guys here at work. It is the softest-shooting duty load I've ever used in .40SW, very accurate, a relatively deep penetrator (16" in heavy clothed gel) and does well on all the FBI barrier events.

It tends to be pricey and tough to find; I usually wind up with 2-4 month backorders on the .40SW and 6-10mos on the rifle version. Commercial purchases will probably be more expensive but easier to find in small quantities.

[Chonny]

Cor Bon self defense JHP.