ammo load for home protection
- Thread starter IronGeek
- Start date
xXStarScreamXx
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7 rounds of 165 grain hydra shocks and 6 180 grain talons.
more is better.
more is better.
Double Naught Spy
New member
IronGeek, why are your first rounds composed of less powerful .38 spl and your last rounds .357? You mentioned the .357 for finishing the job. That is fine, but what makes you think you will be able to fire the other rounds to get to the .357? Heck, if you do get to shoot, what makes you think you will get off more than one shot? Wouldn't the prudent avenue be to end the conflict with the first shot of .357 as opposed to building up to using the .357?
I have read several tales where LEO and non-LEO folks have managed only one or two rounds in a fight before something happens such as their gun malfunctioning, their gun being struck by incoming rounds, the gun being lost in a scuffle, or the operator of the gun going down. In some cases, the operator did manage to hit his opposition, but the strike did not incapacitate the opposition and allow the opposition to operate long enough to harm or kill the good guy.
It is your call, but saving the best for last in a fight is not prudent. The longer you are in a fight, the more likely you are to be harmed or killed.
I have read several tales where LEO and non-LEO folks have managed only one or two rounds in a fight before something happens such as their gun malfunctioning, their gun being struck by incoming rounds, the gun being lost in a scuffle, or the operator of the gun going down. In some cases, the operator did manage to hit his opposition, but the strike did not incapacitate the opposition and allow the opposition to operate long enough to harm or kill the good guy.
It is your call, but saving the best for last in a fight is not prudent. The longer you are in a fight, the more likely you are to be harmed or killed.
Bedside would be 2 9mm's: 92FS with 10 rounds of Fed Hydra Shock, and a CZ100 with another 2 rounds of glaser #12's and 8 rounds of Fed Hydra Shock. If I was downstairs watching TV during an encounter, then its my friendly 12 ga Mossberg with #5 birdshot.
Plus a bulldog. Getting an alarm system.
Plus a bulldog. Getting an alarm system.
Quote: "Wouldn't the prudent avenue be to end the conflict with the first shot of .357 as opposed to building up to using the .357?"
Yea, if the first shot was a "for sure" stopper, which we know is not necessarily the case.
While such is not always the case, my 340 is loaded right now with the first 4 chambers keyed up with .38+Ps and only hole #5 with a .357. What is known to me is that, with that particular gun, my shot-to-shot "on target" recovery time is appreciably faster with the +Ps than with full-blown .357s. With significantly fewer decibels and less muzzle flash in an enclosed space.
Personal choice, based upon practice and testing. I've done similar with shotguns. Similarly, what a lot of folks never realize (due to lack of actual comparison) is that, at short range, a 20 gauge pump shotgun can often be used to put more lethal hits on target(s) in less time than the same type of 12 gauge ...
Yea, if the first shot was a "for sure" stopper, which we know is not necessarily the case.
While such is not always the case, my 340 is loaded right now with the first 4 chambers keyed up with .38+Ps and only hole #5 with a .357. What is known to me is that, with that particular gun, my shot-to-shot "on target" recovery time is appreciably faster with the +Ps than with full-blown .357s. With significantly fewer decibels and less muzzle flash in an enclosed space.
Personal choice, based upon practice and testing. I've done similar with shotguns. Similarly, what a lot of folks never realize (due to lack of actual comparison) is that, at short range, a 20 gauge pump shotgun can often be used to put more lethal hits on target(s) in less time than the same type of 12 gauge ...
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Greybeard:
You have a point there, about putting a .357 in as the last round in the cylinder. You really aren't concerned about follow-up shot time when it is the last round, after all. Hmm -- I'll have to consider that. I'm still leaning towards using all .38s just for consistency's sake, though. And certainly I'd have all 1 type of ammo in the speedloaders. I really don't want to take the time to make sure which round was which when doing a "Hot" reload. Stuff & go, as fast as possible is the name of the game there, while the wife covers me with the .380.
You have a point there, about putting a .357 in as the last round in the cylinder. You really aren't concerned about follow-up shot time when it is the last round, after all. Hmm -- I'll have to consider that. I'm still leaning towards using all .38s just for consistency's sake, though. And certainly I'd have all 1 type of ammo in the speedloaders. I really don't want to take the time to make sure which round was which when doing a "Hot" reload. Stuff & go, as fast as possible is the name of the game there, while the wife covers me with the .380.
Take an eye bolt, put it into a wall stud. Now, open the cylinder, and use a padlock to attach the top strap to the eye bolt.
This can also be done with a shotgun, to keep it from being messed with by little hands. You can purchase locks which are keyed alike, and by putting one of the keys on a chain around your neck you have almost immediate access to your firearms.
Otherwise, go to Harbor Frieght and purchase a "safe" which is electronic locked, cost about $40. Will keep the gun out of little hands and can be opened in just a couple of seconds..
Rather than a shotgun, you might consider a lever action in the same caliber as the handgun. I have a Rossi Puma 92 in 357 which wify-poo is capable of using...really kicks up the stopping power of the 357. Getting about 1700fps with 158 gr. jhp's out of the little gun...
It also holds 10 rounds...Marlin and Winchester make lever guns in this caliber also!
This can also be done with a shotgun, to keep it from being messed with by little hands. You can purchase locks which are keyed alike, and by putting one of the keys on a chain around your neck you have almost immediate access to your firearms.
Otherwise, go to Harbor Frieght and purchase a "safe" which is electronic locked, cost about $40. Will keep the gun out of little hands and can be opened in just a couple of seconds..
Rather than a shotgun, you might consider a lever action in the same caliber as the handgun. I have a Rossi Puma 92 in 357 which wify-poo is capable of using...really kicks up the stopping power of the 357. Getting about 1700fps with 158 gr. jhp's out of the little gun...
It also holds 10 rounds...Marlin and Winchester make lever guns in this caliber also!
Mannlicher
New member
Easy answer.
#4 Buck in the 870, one up the tube, 6 in the magazine
230 grain HydraShock in the Colt Commander, one chambered, 8 more in the magazine.
an unloaded gun is a useless gun. Its not prudent to add time to what may be a split second decision to shoot or not.
#4 Buck in the 870, one up the tube, 6 in the magazine
230 grain HydraShock in the Colt Commander, one chambered, 8 more in the magazine.
an unloaded gun is a useless gun. Its not prudent to add time to what may be a split second decision to shoot or not.
RCPractitioner
New member
I am kind of surprised by some of the responses of what people use for home defense and/or what they load it with. 
In my opinion the only time I will use a handgun to defend myself is when and where I don't have access to a shotgun and/or rifle. I as well have read that some people will use birdshot or salt loads?! Better hope you don't have lead flying at you as you are pumping salt away at the BG. I keep a 12 guage loaded with #00 buck and wouldn't consider using anything less.
In my opinion the only time I will use a handgun to defend myself is when and where I don't have access to a shotgun and/or rifle. I as well have read that some people will use birdshot or salt loads?! Better hope you don't have lead flying at you as you are pumping salt away at the BG. I keep a 12 guage loaded with #00 buck and wouldn't consider using anything less.RCPractitioner,
At HD ranges birdshot, except for maybe the smallest, lightest loads available, is an acceptable munition. Over longer distances, the buckshot and slugs have an infinite advantage, but before the shot charge opens up, most any bird load will have the stopping power of a slug. Just not as much penetration. I keep #00, rifled slugs, and turkey loads with my SG, but I would not be unduely concerned if I had to grab a box of 7 1/2's.
At HD ranges birdshot, except for maybe the smallest, lightest loads available, is an acceptable munition. Over longer distances, the buckshot and slugs have an infinite advantage, but before the shot charge opens up, most any bird load will have the stopping power of a slug. Just not as much penetration. I keep #00, rifled slugs, and turkey loads with my SG, but I would not be unduely concerned if I had to grab a box of 7 1/2's.
RCPractitioner
New member
I live in the DFW area and recently there was a situation where a business owner accidentally shot a cop responding to burglar alarm (different issue altogether). However, he was using birdshot at close range and the focus of the shot was primarily in the officer's head. Luckily for the officer it didn't kill him, but it if it had been a BG the effects are what I would consider a little less than desired. I believe the officer is making a full recovery last I heard they were concerned about one of the shots being lodged near his optic nerve. Now had this been an armed BG I sure would want to make sure there wasn't ANY chance of recovery. I agree that birdshot won't do a BG anygood and I personally wouldn't want to experience it but having shot a coyote or two with it while out dove hunting I assure you it is far from guaranteed lethal. The way I see it is if you make it into my house with intent to do me harm, then I will not just try to wound you, I will make sure you don't ever make it out.
Personally, I am no longer a fan of buckshot. It works great on armadillos at 5 meters, but that's about all that I'm satisfied it'll work great for.
I've been using Remington Reduced Recoil slugs almost exclusively in my shotgun for the past few years. Took a couple deer with them, two seasons ago- one of those a running shot through thick brush to the neck, just behind the head.
I grew up in a family of small game hunters, and when we went deer hunting, we used our shotguns then, too. I took my first deer with buckshot, but after years of experience, I have much more confidence in a well-placed slug than any type of shot.
John
I've been using Remington Reduced Recoil slugs almost exclusively in my shotgun for the past few years. Took a couple deer with them, two seasons ago- one of those a running shot through thick brush to the neck, just behind the head.
I grew up in a family of small game hunters, and when we went deer hunting, we used our shotguns then, too. I took my first deer with buckshot, but after years of experience, I have much more confidence in a well-placed slug than any type of shot.
John
RCPractitioner
New member
Armadillos? I have dropped coyotes dead in their tracks with 1 shot with #00 buck.
RCPractitioner
New member
Shotgun Ammo on gelatin/deer/bear
found this on a shotgun thread, as I suspected even up to #1 birdshot is not considered a good idea for "deployment", just doesn't penetrate far enough. Check out the pics. Slugs will definitely do the job but I like the idea of having 9 smaller projectiles that I dont have to be as accurate with under a stressful situation vs. one projectile. #00 buck for me.
found this on a shotgun thread, as I suspected even up to #1 birdshot is not considered a good idea for "deployment", just doesn't penetrate far enough. Check out the pics. Slugs will definitely do the job but I like the idea of having 9 smaller projectiles that I dont have to be as accurate with under a stressful situation vs. one projectile. #00 buck for me.
After reading through this guy's experiments, I have to say that I am going to keep with the 12gauge, especially considering I live in an apartment building that I own. He just posted his latest experiment on ar15.com.
http://www.theboxotruth.com
http://www.theboxotruth.com
