21 in 7 days - Help me pick my carry ammo!

What's the best carry round?

  • Federal

    Votes: 12 21.1%

  • Speer

    Votes: 26 45.6%

  • Hornady

    Votes: 9 15.8%

  • Remington

    Votes: 1 1.8%

  • Other

    Votes: 9 15.8%
  • Total voters
    57
  • Poll closed .
I use Federal in 9mm although I'm likely to switch soon because the supply of the particular round I like is drying up for non-LE types.
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I'm not sure what kind of "Federal" ammo your speaking of but, I hope its not the Wally World "Federal. I've managed to grab about 600 rounds of this 9mm Federal Champion from WW. It's junk! It's the worst ammo for accuracy I've come across to date. For new ammo that is. I've been running this through my 9mm's for a couple months. Couldn't understand why my accuracy was absolutle horrid. Mind you I'm not the greatest shot around town. But I'm not bad either. I was getting quite angry to say the least. Then my local FFL got some Blazers in..... WoW! Night and Day! Huge, and I mean HUGE difference. While the price maybe the greatest thing a shooter could come by. Its really not worth it if your not getting the results that are acceptable to "you". Now I'm stuck with about 400 rounds of crap ammo.


On another note though. I've ran some 400 rounds of this same ammo through my .40 s&w. No troubles what so ever. Just as accurate as any other ammo I've used. Including Blazers.

Not knocking the Federal Champion 9mm in general. It may shoot well for others in other weapons. Just my personal experience in regards to the "Federal". I kinda think you may be speaking of another brand of "Federal". If I'm not mistaken, this Champion line is new.



Edit: Guess I should read the topic better next time. Guess thats a good inclination your not talking about "Federal Champion". I'll leave the post for a little food for thought on this stuff anyway. Sorry for the clutter OP.
 
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LawScholar
First thing to remember is that each gun is different, especially semi-automatics. You might have Glock 22 #1,445 that came off the line on one day, and I might have #1,446, and they will not shoot the same, like the same ammo, or be as accurate. Why? There are a gazillion factors I guess. What ammo to use will depend on your gun. All of the new bullets that have come out in the last 15-20 years are gonna work fine. Gold-Dots, Hydra-Shoks, etc., etc., etc. I don't want to get hit by any of them. The best man stopper out there is supposed to be the "old" 125-gr. .357 SJHP. Some things you just can't improve on by much.

So the key is, and always has been, shot placement.
What you have to do is find out which round:
#1, feeds reliably through your gun 100% of the time; and
#2, is the most accurate. You want it to go exactly where you point.

So you are going to have to shoot a whole bunch of stuff until you find out what shoots the best. No one here can say that the Rangerized-SPXZY-Goldenhued-Hydra-Headed-Blazing-Saddles-Tylon-Eyed brand is the best for you or your gun. It's all based on what they have experienced. Now you are going to have to experience it all yourself.

It's expensive at first. You don't have to buy them all at one time, but do try everything until you find one that amazes you when they all seem to go through that one ragged hole, and even your gun smiles and says, "I like it!"
 
No worries, got_the_itch. I've received pretty good advice in the thread, so its served its purpose. General ammo chat is no problemo.

I am unaware of the Federal Champion line, my hardball practice ammo is Federal American Eagle
 
I'm not sure what kind of "Federal" ammo your speaking of but, I hope its not the Wally World "Federal. I've managed to grab about 600 rounds of this 9mm Federal Champion from WW. It's junk!
Click to expand...

I normally run 9BPLE 115 grain +P+ in 9mm. It's a round that has high energy for 9mm and good expansion but normally less penetration than some contemporary offerings. It's an old design predating the Hydra-shok even, and one that currently appears to be going towards LE only sales. It technically always was a dedicated LE round, hence the designation but was traditionally also available through civilan channels.
 
I haven't done extensive expansion testing but:

I like Gold Dot as a rapid expander. I would suggest you check out Double Tap loads using Gold Dots ("Bonded Defense"). Since one of the keys is how it functions in your gun, you can shoot more test rounds for the same price compared to Speer loads.

If you think a round with a more controlled expansion (opens slower = theoretically deeper penetration) would be better for winter use, try the Hornady XTPs or Remington Golder Saber. Double Tap also makes some rounds of "Controlled Expansion" but I'm not sure if they are Golden Sabers or XTPs right now.
 
another vote for Gold Dot (and yes, I have carried plenty of Hydra-shok in my days and have nothing against it....its just getting long in the tooth after a couple of decades)
 
look up DRT ammo. never used them, but they claim it causes "instant death" and has hot girls on the box. but for a proven stopper i would go with speer gold dots. and get your concealcarry before you wander anywhere
 
I like the Cor Bon Pow'r Ball. They feed perfectly like ball rounds. I use them in .45 ACP, do not own a 40 (yet):D. I recomend to go with what feeds reliably. It does not matter how well the rounds expand, or how much velocity they have if they do not feed reliably. A jam at the wrong time can cost you your life. I will sacrifice the hottest stuff for reliablility anytime.
 
Hagar, i guess thats a fact..time to dust off that box of Super-Vel from 1976,
as shurley bullets hasnt changed much either.:)



Cheaper Than Dirt sells DRT ammo, and for what they charge for a box..I think DRT stands for "destitute right there"
 
Heck, in my non-+P model 10 I keep it fed with matchgrade wadcutters. Instead of pushing the flesh around the bullet making a wound channel, a little WC cuts a nice hole causing more bleeding. Shock producing meplat, plus good penetration. A nice package in a 4" .38. Sorry, it ain't very high tech however.
 
Any of these, though I like HST's in any flavor.

.40 S&W:
Barnes XPB 140 & 155 gr JHP (copper bullet)
Speer Gold Dot 155 gr JHP
Federal Tactical 165 gr JHP (LE40T3)
Winchester Ranger-T 165 gr JHP (RA40TA)
Winchester Partition Gold 165 gr JHP (RA401P)
Federal HST 180 gr JHP (P40HST1)
Federal Tactical 180 gr JHP (LE40T1)
Remington Golden Saber 180 gr JHP (GS40SWB)
Speer Gold Dot 180 gr JHP
Winchester Ranger-T 180 gr JHP (RA40T)
Winchester 180 gr bonded JHP (Q4355)

read more here
 
I have a real fondness for just about anything Hornady makes. But I don't have a .40 and I rarely buy factory ammo for anything so it's hard for me to generalize. But since I've begun reloading I have gone through the exercise of weighing a bunch of bullets just out of curiosity. When it comes to jacketed bullets, the Hornadys have been amazingly consistent in weight. Better than any other bullet maker I've experienced so far. I figure that's a good sign when it comes to factory ammo as well. The factory Hornady ammo I've bought for rifles is typically one of the better groupers that I've found when I do comparisons. Not always the very best for a given rifle, but usually in the top two. Plus, it seems like those good folks in Nebraska are practically next door neighbors!
 
You really can't go wrong with Federal. I myself carry Speer deep-core 180gr EJHPs at least this week anyways, as far as S&W .40 goes my wife likes Remington golden sabers. When it comes to .40cal, I like to mix it up a little bit. Right now I'm packin' .40+p Grizzly's, not a bad load but it is a little snappy when it comes to recoil.
 
Doodlebugger, I have several friends down the road in Nebraska, but if memory serves we like guns better than they do :p

The good advice keeps coming. I will save this thread. Thank you all very much.
 
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