[MNSurvival]

Here is a video I made a video a couple weeks ago talking about my preferred .40 ammunition. I have spent a lot of time watching videos and researching ballistic test results, and I've concluded these 4 varieties to be my top four.

#1 Federal HST 180 grain
#2 Speer Gold Dot bonded 180 grain (I consider more like 1b instead of #2)
#3 Hornady Critical Defense 165 grain FTX
#4 Winchester PDX1 bonded 180 grain

I've become such a big fan of the Federal HST's as of late. I also live in Minneapolis so I'm kind of biased since they're manufactured locally. Anyways guys, I thought I'd share my opinions. I'd love to get some feedback from others as well.

Top Shelf Defense Ammo 40 S&W - YouTube

Top Shelf Defense Ammo 40 S&W - YouTube

[FLglockdude]

Solid choices aside from the Critical Defense, not much of a fan of it. My M&P40 is loaded up with 180gr HST.

Sent from my Motorola Atrix

[MNSurvival]

What dont you like about the critical defense?

[gatorglockman]

I am a PDX and Hornaday TAP fan personally. I want to give the Speer Gold Dot a whirl at some point.

Several concerns have been made on the critical defense/duty on the polymer insert. I have heard that several LEO departments don't auth them based on the way the expansion works when it hits harder clothing (ex: a winter coat). Someone with more insight might want to sound off.

[WoodenPlank]

I've seen too many PDs have issues with the 180 grain loads and intermediate barriers. In .40, I prefer the 165 and 155 grain loads.

Then again, I carry 357SIG....

[TxGlock9]

Hornady critical defense is awesome. Less likely get fail to expand bc of the red rubber filled tip.

[gumbee]

HST 180g JHP is our issued round and has worked perfectly every time.

[MNSurvival]

Originally Posted by TxGlock9

Hornady critical defense is awesome. Less likely get fail to expand bc of the red rubber filled tip.

Hornady Critical Defense .40 S&W 165 gr FTX: SIM-TEST* w/denim - YouTube

Hornady Critical Defense .40 S&W 165 gr FTX: SIM-TEST* w/denim - YouTube

[barth]

Originally Posted by WoodenPlank

I've seen too many PDs have issues with the 180 grain loads and intermediate barriers. In .40, I prefer the 165 and 155 grain loads.

Then again, I carry 357SIG....

+1 and +2 - LOL!
I've heard of issues with 180s under-performing too.
Use 180s for target practice - LOL.
155/165 grain loads seem to be preferred in 40.
My favorites are;
Speer GDHP Duty 155 gr
or
Winchester Ranger T-Series 165 gr.

But my G27 has three personalities.
And like this guy, I'm carrying 357 Sig.
Winchester Ranger T-Series 125 gr.

I think I'm going to leave a mark with that one.

[Turo]

Anybody chrono the HST in a Glock 27 length barrel? I measured the critical defense 165gr and they came out way too slow, somewhere around 900 fps. The 180gr Ranger T came out even slower at an avg of 850 fps.

I'm looking to either get 1000fps or higher from 180gr and 1100 or better with 165gr. I know velocity isn't everything, but I'd like them to be reasonably quick, but with the short barrel most rounds fall short. Suggestions?

[barth]

Originally Posted by Turo

Anybody chrono the HST in a Glock 27 length barrel? I measured the critical defense 165gr and they came out way too slow, somewhere around 900 fps. The 180gr Ranger T came out even slower at an avg of 850 fps.

I'm looking to either get 1000fps or higher from 180gr and 1100 or better with 165gr. I know velocity isn't everything, but I'd like them to be reasonably quick, but with the short barrel most rounds fall short. Suggestions?

Get a G23 4.02" barrel and drop in your G27.
You will get the velocity you're looking for.

[Deaf Smith]

Barth,

Good setup you have. I have BOTH Glock 33 and 27 (not to mention 26 and AACK .22 unit for the 26.)

Any ammo shortage will not affect me much (or you either.)

Deaf

[Restless28]

Originally Posted by Deaf Smith

Barth,

Good setup you have. I have BOTH Glock 33 and 27 (not to mention 26 and AACK .22 unit for the 26.)

Any ammo shortage will not affect me much (or you either.)

Deaf

I have gots to buy me a 9 and 357 barrel setup for my 23.

[cowboy1964]

I've always been a heavy-for-caliber fan for .40 and .45 but the 165gr .40s are pretty impressive too.

[FLglockdude]

Originally Posted by MNSurvival

What dont you like about the critical defense?

They are all light for caliber loads and don't do barriers well. The new Critical Duty looks to be more promising.

Sent from my Motorola Atrix

[barth]

Originally Posted by Deaf Smith

Barth,

Good setup you have. I have BOTH Glock 33 and 27 (not to mention 26 and AACK .22 unit for the 26.)

Any ammo shortage will not affect me much (or you either.)

Deaf

Yup, Yup.
I convinced myself having 9mm and 40 was great for
ammo shortages. And then the 357 bug struck for self defense.
Plus the fun factor - LOL!

I also got the idea I could see if I favored a particular caliber of ammo
from the same platform.
Personal shoot offs with various brands, calibers, weights of ammo.
Even Storm Lake vs Glock OEM barrels.

I thought 9mm had won.
And got and extended 4.02" barrel and Speer GDHP 124 +P ammo.

Yesterday my Storm Lake ported 357 came in and the rest is history - LOL!

Barth Six Barrels

[glock2740]

My SD load in my .40's is the 155gr Gold Dot.

[Apetrulis01]

Our department uses the .40 Gold Dot round and I can tell you it performs very well when it has been used.

Adam

[NEOH212]

For the .40 S&W, I stay with the 165 grain loads all in the 1,150 fps bracket from a 4" barrel.

I use Gold Dot and Ranger T-Series exclusively because of their track record.

The verdict is still out on everything else.

[NEOH212]

Originally Posted by TxGlock9

Hornady critical defense is awesome. Less likely get fail to expand bc of the red rubber filled tip.

My testing of the Hornady Critical Defense ammo hasn't exactly been scientific but all the ones I tested expanded quite well. I'll be interested to see what the real world data looks like when it starts to come in.

It may be some time before it does though. I'm not aware of any department that uses them for a duty round. I guess we will have to rely on civilian incidents for data.

Edited to add that the only ones to date that I can remember testing were .357 Mag from a 4" 686.

[257 roberts]

I carry the 180gr Gold Dot in my 40's

[theblakester]

180 grain Federal HST


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[WoodenPlank]

I should add that the PDs I know that have had issues with the 180 gr Gold Dot have ONLY had issues with shots taken through windshields or car bodies. In shoots where there were no intermediate barriers, the 180s performed quite nicely.

[GOOFA]

I find the Double Tap .40 S&W 135gr Nosler JHP to be my favorite for my G27 and G23.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Miinnnnnneessoooooooooooooooooooooottta accent. Good to see some other people from the area into this kind of stuff.