Preferred defensive ammo?

kelte · 09-14-2012, 05:10

Time to restock my 9mm carry ammo. I have been using Federal Hydrashok. My main preference is good shot placement (obviously). Just wondering what new ammo is available and why it would be better.

barth · 09-14-2012, 05:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelte

Time to restock my 9mm carry ammo. I have been using Federal Hydrashok. My main preference is good shot placement (obviously). Just wondering what new ammo is available and why it would be better.

Speer GDHP 124 gr +P
Winchester Ranger T-Series 127 gr +P+
Federal HST 124 gr +P

Hydrashok is old technology.
Let go of your rotary phone.

New HPs expand more reliably in a variaty of velocities and conditions.
Many rounds these days are bonded so that you don't have core jacket separation.
New gunpowder is low flash and fast burn for higher velocities in short barrels.

I'm sure there are more reasons, but I think I made my point.

kelte · 09-14-2012, 05:21

Thanx, great info. You wanna buy a rotary phone?

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SJ 40 · 09-14-2012, 06:05

My usual picks are
Speer Gold Dots
Federal HST
Remington Golden Sabers
I look for any of the 124 gr. + P,YMMV. SJ 40

lyodbraun · 09-14-2012, 07:50

I use Ranger T's and HST's Ive seen where a .40S&W 180gr Gold Dots, only pennetrated a inch on a assailant and some had failed to expand.. at a distance of 20 feet, and the subject was wearing a down type jacket...

Bilbo Bagins · 09-14-2012, 08:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJ 40

My usual picks are
Speer Gold Dots
Federal HST
Remington Golden Sabers
I look for any of the 124 gr. + P,YMMV. SJ 40

I am a big fan of the 147g Golden Saber. I'm unfortunately down to my last box of Bonded Law Enforcement rounds. It has a lighter recoil but it penetrates deep and it expands big and nasty looking. My Home Defense Glock 19 had a mag full of these rounds. The problem is I'm having a tough time finding them in the stores.

9mm Remington Golden Saber 147 gr Ammo Gel Test - YouTube

Most of my other SD ammo is Hordany Critical Defense & XTP, Speer Got Dots, and Federal HST, simply because its easy to find and they are decent in performers.

Hydrashoks...wow I can't remember the last time I bought those, maybe 5 or 6 years ago. I was never impressed with the test results on those. Its a shame because they are easy to find.

BuzznRose · 09-14-2012, 08:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelte

Time to restock my 9mm carry ammo. I have been using Federal Hydrashok. My main preference is good shot placement (obviously). Just wondering what new ammo is available and why it would be better.

I don't know how old this is, but I think it is very informative...

http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Self_De..._FAQ/index.htm

And this is a good place to get ammo if you cannot buy locally. Their stock changes a lot, so if you are looking for something specific that isn't on the site, call them:

http://www.sgammo.com/

MikeG36 · 09-14-2012, 08:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by lyodbraun

I use Ranger T's and HST's Ive seen where a .40S&W 180gr Gold Dots, only pennetrated a inch on a assailant and some had failed to expand.. at a distance of 20 feet, and the subject was wearing a down type jacket...

Where did you see that? Can you please provide some additional info on this?

Thanks,

Mike

MikeG36 · 09-14-2012, 08:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by barth

Speer GDHP 124 gr +P
Winchester Ranger T-Series 127 gr +P+
Federal HST 124 gr +P

Hydrashok is old technology.
Let go of your rotary phone.

New HPs expand more reliably in a variaty of velocities and conditions.
Many rounds these days are bonded so that you don't have core jacket separation.
New gunpowder is low flash and fast burn for higher velocities in short barrels.

I'm sure there are more reasons, but I think I made my point.

Agree on all of the above. I would feel well armed carrying any of them.

Photoman642 · 09-14-2012, 10:54

Speer Gold Dot.

magman687 · 09-14-2012, 11:05

I like to use hornady critical defense I did alot of gel tests with it and it would expand every time even when shooting through thick leather and 5 layers of denim.

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Green Dragoon · 09-14-2012, 12:04

I apologize ahead of time that this isn't a "direct" answer: I don't own a 9mm, but in .45 I've always carried Cor Bon +P's, 200 grain. I don't know what the equivalent 9mm round is. I'm also an old-timer, so for all I know, there is "better" stuff out there now.

USAFgoober · 09-14-2012, 13:30

When i used to carry a 9mm i used 124g +P Speer Gold Dots

JBP55 · 09-14-2012, 14:09

124+P in Gold Dot, HST or Ranger T.

HenryinFlorida · 09-14-2012, 15:39

Speer Gold Dots all the way. I use 9mm 124gr +p in my G26, and .45acp 230 GDHP in my G21sf and G36. If there good enought for so many police departments, there good enough for me. Plus the Balisitic reviews of them on Youtube prove it to me.

rimshaker · 09-14-2012, 15:57

Winchester Ranger T series. I don't think any other defense ammo can match how scary it gets after expansion.

For 9mm go for the regular 147gn... they'll penetrate deeper than +p and +p+ variants.

http://www.winchester.com/SiteCollec...law_bullit.swf

Merkavaboy · 09-14-2012, 15:59

Quote:
Originally Posted by lyodbraun
I use Ranger T's and HST's Ive seen where a .40S&W 180gr Gold Dots, only pennetrated a inch on a assailant and some had failed to expand.. at a distance of 20 feet, and the subject was wearing a down type jacket...

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeG36

Where did you see that? Can you please provide some additional info on this?

Thanks,

Mike

http://catm.com/yabbfiles/Attachment...FBIAcademy.pdf

Notice unexpanded GDHP lodged in perp's throat in first x-ray photo.

SCmasterblaster · 09-14-2012, 16:06

I carry Winchester Ranger 9mmP 115gr JHP +p+ in my G17. It chronos at 1400 FPS.

W4CNG · 09-14-2012, 16:12

This is why I now have a large stock of Winchester Ranger T in 3 calibers and will be loaded into my CCW guns when I run out of my current stock of Cor-Bon DPX which costs 3x more than the Winchester. Both are street proven, but I now always train with what I CCW.

Rev.357 · 09-14-2012, 16:12

Gold Dot & Ranger T

Bruce M · 09-14-2012, 16:40

I go with the RA9TA

ojabog · 09-14-2012, 16:59

Check out tnoutdoors9 on YouTube. He has great ammo tests and each video is only about 5 minutes long. I carry either Gold Dots 124 gr +p, 147gr Gold Dots, or Hornady Critical Defense.

glock2740 · 09-14-2012, 17:23

Gold Dots and Ranger T's.

avenues165 · 09-14-2012, 18:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by ojabog

Check out tnoutdoors9 on YouTube. He has great ammo tests and each video is only about 5 minutes long. I carry either Gold Dots 124 gr +p, 147gr Gold Dots, or Hornady Critical Defense.

His tests performed on the Federal 9BPLE and Rem 357 sig 125gr GS showed really nasty "wounds."

lyodbraun · 09-14-2012, 19:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by avenues165

His tests performed on the Federal 9BPLE and Rem 357 sig 125gr GS showed really nasty "wounds."

Yes they perform well in the ballistic test media that he uses, however in the real world they dont always work the way they did in the bare gel, as in the case in the above link.. but I do love to watch his videos, and got me into the testing of different brands and calibers into my gel... and its very interesting to see the results thats for sure...