Ammo Advice

D

Doc Holliday 1950

New member
I'd like advice about SD Ammo for my Glock 19 gen 4 and for my Glock 43.
At this time I use Federal 124gr. HST and Speer Gold Dot 124 gr. For practice
I only shoot 124 gr. plinking ammo.

As always, all responses are appreciated and welcomed.
 
Doc, I'm of the opinion that any of the current crop of "premium" 124 grain hollow points will do the job when we do our job. Putting hits in the places that stop attacks.
 
I have really gotten to like the Sig Elite Performance V-Crown. I carry it in a P-01 and so have run it in that pistol for practice/to see where it hits. I printed a 4 inch, 10-shot group on my steel gong at 40 yards with it. and it shoots one ragged hole at 10 yards. It is very punchy. It does have a fair amount of fireball from the compact.
-SS-
 
As a former government agent, I was issued Speer Gold Dot ammo. (.40)

For my own personal carry, I trust and rely on Speer Gold Dot. Never had a defective round.
 
You should practice with the ammo you intend carrying. Not one load for practice and one for fun. Otherwise, use the ammo you and your pistols shoot best. Isn't likely both pistols will shoot the same ammo the same way, but you might get lucky.
 
Those are both good-performing rounds. The vagaries of the wound track might well render them equal. Availability is a key for me. I want to be able to buy the same thing after I shoot out a carry load and not spend the money proving a new round.
 
My Glocks and HK seem to like 124s the best. I buy Speer lawman 124 fmj flat point for practice and use one the previously mentioned premium ones for carry. I found Target Sports USA to have a great price on the Speer delivered when bought by the case.
 
When I carry any of my 9mm's -- ( Sig 239's, Sig 226, 1911 in 5"...) ..I carry them with Remington Golden Saber 124gr ..and I have a supply of both 124gr and 147gr....they both perform very well / but I usually have the 124gr in the gun. But both work 100% in all of my 9mm's.

What I practice with ( 8 - 10 boxes a week ) for my Tactical Drills ( Draw and Fire, Speed Reloads, etc...are my own reloads ...with 115gr FMJ ). You should run enough of the carry ammo you choose thru your gun of choice to make sure that it runs 100% ...and a couple of boxes should be enough. If I didn't reload....I would probably practice with something like the Federal White Box or Magtech in 115 gr...as an economical alternative.

I do not think you have to practice extensively with your carry ammo of choice...its too expensive ....and its not necessary. What is necessary -- is that you practice !!
 
I have 124 grain HydraShoks +P+ in my Kahr PM9. I had Gold Dots in my XDs .45, but I got rid of that gun. I think most modern ammo designs will do their job if we do ours. I would avoid the crazy exotic stuff that make incredible claims though.
 
practice ammo v. fun ammo

Given the price of quality SD ammo we're discussing here, if you practice with what you carry, if your like many of us, you won't get much practice unless you: -are issued the stuff and are not buying it on your own
-have some extree angle on factory ammo prices
-break the college fund or re-finance the farm


At close to $20.00 for a box of 25 (that's a G17 magazine and a half) your practice sessions will be expensive. So will any matches in which you might compete (50-100 rds). It is common and accepted practice to practice/train with more affordable FMJ ammo, and reserve the good stuff for SD/duty/qualification, provided your pistol is reliable with both types and the point of aim/point of impact is acceptable. Certainly one must be familiar with their carry load, and for an agency, there are certain legal aspects of qualifying and documenting a duty round and qualifying with same. But to state that "one load" is the way, is just hogwash.

I'll will add that the point of impact between a quality SD load, and FMJ training ammo, provided bullet weights and velocities are similar, is, in my experience, inconsequential at handgun distances and when fired unsupported in typical combat/SD fashion. You might find a difference in 5 rd groups at 25 yds from a mechanical rest, but not shooting 2 rds in 3 sec from the 7 yd line. Far too many rounds downrange to think otherwise.
 
Been carrying the same old Federal 9BP for years. I have accumulated enough experience to trust it for reliability and accuracy. Doesn't mushroom as much as the Bullet of the Month but I trust it to Just Work.
 
Federal 9BP .Jim are you assuming that that or any other bullet is the same over the years ? I assume that there is always change as more is learned about ammo. I also like tests to be made on live targets. Feral dogs ,chucks ,etc . Chucks especially make good targets as they are tough creatures.
 
For what ever reason Gold Dots have become rare around here. Now using either Hornady 135gr or the Sig HPs. My 9's seem to like both and I get good results at the range. Have not had good experience with Federal in 124 or 147.
 
I try to use Lawman 124 gr TMJ for practice. They seem to feel about the same as when I use the Federal or Gold Dots. I always make sure that I use at least one mag of the SD ammo when at the range so I don't want any surprises out in the real world.
The Lawman costs me $9.95/box of 50 & the Feds costs $20.95/box of 50 & Gold Dots costs $22.95/ box of 50. I only buy my ammo on line. I know, I should learn how to re-load.
My Glocks have taken every brand of American made ammo that I've used so far and from what I've read, the Gold Dots & the Feds seem to be the preferred ammo.
I would use Hornady( like I use in my 357's) but see no advantage to using them
in my Glocks. If I am wrong, please advise.
 
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are you assuming that that or any other bullet is the same over the years ?
Click to expand...

I don't guess I should.
Hydra Shok .45 went through a reported five variations, three of which are apparent to the naked eye.
I shoot some 9BP every once in a while to get down to fresh ammo and to confirm reliable function. If they have changed it, it is not anywhere that affects function, which is about all I can test.
 
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