Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: Scheindogg on June 02, 2017, 09:13:20 PM

Title: Personal defense ammunition- what do you use?
Post by: Scheindogg on June 02, 2017, 09:13:20 PM: I currently have some low end federal hollow points. They are just 115 grain federal hollow points. But with hunting season coming up I want to get me a nice self defense round in case of emergency. Plus it would be good to have at home--- just in case.

I've already done a ton of research so this is more of abwhat do guys use and why more than a tell me which one is the best lol.
I plan on getting some federal HST 147gr rounds (9mm)
Title: Re: Personal defense ammunition- what do you use?
Post by: Jason on June 02, 2017, 10:24:06 PM: I reload all my pistols rounds with Hornady XTP's for hunting and self defence.
Title: Re: Personal defense ammunition- what do you use?
Post by: biggfish on June 03, 2017, 03:59:13 AM: I like a round with good expansion and without excessive penetration, the 147gr hst fits that bill. I like hst's for my .45 for this reason. Check out lucky gunner labs ballistic tests good info there.

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Title: Re: Personal defense ammunition- what do you use?
Post by: HighlandLofts on June 03, 2017, 07:03:58 AM: I use Hornady Critical Defense ammo in all of my carry handguns only because it is widely available in all the calibers that I carry on occasion.
With the liberal thing going on I'd never reload my carry rounds, I'll spend the extra money and buy new.
Title: Re: Personal defense ammunition- what do you use?
Post by: DJ_Mack on June 03, 2017, 07:59:50 AM: Speer gold dot

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Title: Re: Personal defense ammunition- what do you use?
Post by: Bluemoon on June 03, 2017, 08:53:16 AM: Talk to one of your local LEO's, Use what ever they use. Because if you ever need to use them and your loaded with Zombie Apocalypse Killers. A prosecuting attorney will try to get you for premeditated even though you where just defending yourself.
Personally loaded up with Barnes TacXPD..
Title: Re: Personal defense ammunition- what do you use?
Post by: Barbarossa13 on June 03, 2017, 09:03:27 AM: Another vote for federal hst here in my 9mms.
Title: Re: Personal defense ammunition- what do you use?
Post by: Badhabit on June 03, 2017, 10:15:07 AM: This site has a lot of research on self defense ammo. I liked the way you can sort expansion vs penetration and velocity.
http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/
Title: Re: Personal defense ammunition- what do you use?
Post by: fish vacuum on June 03, 2017, 04:28:21 PM: Quote from: HighlandLofts on June 03, 2017, 07:03:58 AM
With the liberal thing going on I'd never reload my carry rounds, I'll spend the extra money and buy new.

This. If I ever have to use it, I don't want an attorney questioning my motives. I buy ammo labeled by the manufacturer as being for self defense.
As long as you're not shopping bottom of the barrel cheap stuff, I don't think there's a bad hollow point defense load. For 9mm my preference is something in the 124gr size, just because. The only time I pay much attention to my ammo is with my 10mm. There's a wide performance range in 10mm and I want hot stuff for bear country.
Title: Re: Personal defense ammunition- what do you use?
Post by: Alchase on June 03, 2017, 04:47:49 PM: PDX1s, Gold Dots, HSTs, any expanding hollow point will work.
Just find whichever one your gun likes the best.
Title: Re: Personal defense ammunition- what do you use?
Post by: Bofire on June 03, 2017, 06:27:59 PM: What are you defending yourself from? In a 357 say, I'd want a lot different load for a bear or big animal ( 180 grain hardcast) than a two leg skunk (125 grain HP). Pretty much that in most loads I use I primarily carry for 2 leg skunks,
Most any top quality HP will work. buy enough of them that you can shoot at least some in practice.
Carl
Title: Re: Personal defense ammunition- what do you use?
Post by: cookingdaily on June 03, 2017, 07:42:37 PM: RIP and hollow points alternated
Title: Re: Personal defense ammunition- what do you use?
Post by: Scheindogg on June 03, 2017, 08:36:15 PM: Quote from: Bofire on June 03, 2017, 06:27:59 PM
What are you defending yourself from? In a 357 say, I'd want a lot different load for a bear or big animal ( 180 grain hardcast) than a two leg skunk (125 grain HP). Pretty much that in most loads I use I primarily carry for 2 leg skunks,
Most any top quality HP will work. buy enough of them that you can shoot at least some in practice.
Carl
Like I said in the first post it'd be good to have solid hollow points for whatever I may need it for hunting god forbid (bears/wolves) or at home (intruders).
I only have 1 handgun a shield 9mm so I'll stick with my original idea.
147gr HST. I like how it has slightly less penetration (but still a lot) than the 124gr and also it expands larger and is heavier.
Title: Re: Personal defense ammunition- what do you use?
Post by: highside74 on June 03, 2017, 08:42:59 PM: I carry 9mm Gold Dots but if I were buying some tomorrow it would be PDX1s.
Title: Re: Personal defense ammunition- what do you use?
Post by: Alchase on June 03, 2017, 08:47:17 PM: Quote from: highside74 on June 03, 2017, 08:42:59 PM
I carry 9mm Gold Dots but if I were buying some tomorrow it would be PDX1s.

My .40 cal loves PDX1s and Gold Dots
Title: Re: Personal defense ammunition- what do you use?
Post by: Biggerhammer on June 04, 2017, 05:47:33 AM: Can't go wrong with Gold Dots. I personally prefer Corbon for my carry stuff.
Title: Re: Personal defense ammunition- what do you use?
Post by: TheHunt on June 04, 2017, 07:24:04 AM: How about RIP's. They look really nasty.
Title: Re: Personal defense ammunition- what do you use?
Post by: Scheindogg on June 04, 2017, 08:45:35 AM: Quote from: TheHunt on June 04, 2017, 07:24:04 AM
How about RIP's. They look really nasty.
Maybe for bear defense but you use that for home defense and you will lose in court. Don't even bother wasting money on a lawyer
Title: Re: Personal defense ammunition- what do you use?
Post by: jay.sharkbait on June 04, 2017, 08:54:09 AM: Quote from: Scheindogg on June 04, 2017, 08:45:35 AM
Quote from: TheHunt on June 04, 2017, 07:24:04 AM
How about RIP's. They look really nasty.
Maybe for bear defense but you use that for home defense and you will lose in court. Don't even bother wasting money on a lawyer

I could not think of a worse projectile to use on bear.

I'd use M882 on bear.
Title: Re: Personal defense ammunition- what do you use?
Post by: yorketransport on June 04, 2017, 06:13:16 PM: I constantly hear the same line about using handloads for self defense but I've never heard or been told of a single case where it came into play. If the prosecuting attorney wins using that argument, you should have coughed up the money for your own decent attorney and passed on the public defender you got provided. :twocents:

For bullets I'm a big fan of the Winchester PDX for factory ammo and 230 XTPs in handloads.
Title: Re: Personal defense ammunition- what do you use?
Post by: Mongo Hunter on June 05, 2017, 11:45:10 AM: I use the Federal HST 124g +p in my Glock 26. I like the extra FPS the +P offers out of a short barrel to make sure the round expands properly. I use the Underwood Extreme penetrators for my .380 back up.