Best .40 Factory Round for SD (165gr JHP vs 180gr JHP)

increased velocity means less expansion and less penetration. Heavier grains are better.
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The heavier vs. lighter is an ongoing debate with subjective opinions usually based on what someone read somewhere.

With limited street results available, I believe 155 HST has been more effective than either 165 or 180. As a matter of fact, I don't think 155 gr. .40 S&W has taken a back seat to anything in actual shootings. Unless it's some hot 135 gr. loads.
 
I know its an ongoing debate, but of all the ballistics I've read, the heavier round performed better. I'm sure some brands don't do as well, but as far as the HST the heavier did show it to be a better performer. I'll never carry another round for pers.defense.
 
I know its an ongoing debate, but of all the ballistics I've read, the heavier round performed better. I'm sure some brands don't do as well, but as far as the HST the heavier did show it to be a better performer.
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For some, the criteria is excellent penetration with reasonable expansion--180grain.

For others, their standard is great expansion with reasonable penetration--155. For some, the 165 is the best of both worlds-- for other it's not the best of either world.

For some, it has to penetrate car doors and windshields.

Pick what ever criteria you want. You get something, you give something up.

My standard is how it works on Bubba in an extreme emergency in my hallway, or in the parking lot.
 
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nnobby45
I agree completely. You arm yourself for what you're likely to encounter. For personal defense, I like lighter. At work during traffic stops, 165-180 are better.

Ben
 
I have carried 165 grain Golden Sabers or 165 grain Gold Dots for many years. My own humble testing and the reading I did at the time showed them to be tops on expansion and penetration.
The differences between common .40 S&W loads are very small in a close range. Simply put just about any good .40 S&W load will do the job.
 
I carry Ranger (RA40T) Winchester 180 grain JHP's. Not only do most gurus highly rate these (although the illusion of greatness is often greater than the reality, both in highly rated rounds and in gurus ;) ), but they have low flash, and I find them very controllable.

I have tried shooting the full power Speer Gold Dot's in 165 grains (there was a reduced power 165 grain Gold Dot load that apparently didn't perform well), but I find that their recoil is increased enough so as to cause a degradation in my shooting ability. I could probably practice and get better with them, but I buy into the theory that at handgun velocities heavier is generally better anyway, so there is no reason to invest time in getting good with the 165'ers.

This is a list of loads that supposedly has been tested and do quite well based on FBI testing parameters as published in tacticalforums.com

.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)
 
I carry Hornady 180gr JHP's. I did a lot of research before choosing a round, and the 180gr. do perform better in close quarters. You don't have to worry about your round potentially making it through your intended target, and into something else behind it. The heavier rounds are also slower and "hit" harder than the lighter, faster rounds. Ask the US army about the stopping power of ammo.

They used to use .45 Long colt, and decided to try out the lighter, faster .38 Long Colt (Phillipine Rebellion of 1899), but after almost losing the battle, they decided to go back to the .45 Long Colt. It all boils down to stopping power.
 
Unfortunately, the information on the handloads.com website is dated and is based on a book that has been out for some time. The best handgun SD ammunition available today is not listed in that compilation of data. The Federal HST line of ammunition is the newest ammunition technology and is actually designed by the father of Starfire and Hydra-Shok bullets.

Follow the links on the below page to see LE department testing of HST against the current best of LE ammunition. The tests were sponsored by Federal, but the testing was conducted by LE agencies.

http://le.atk.com/general/irl/woundballistics.aspx

hsttacticalle40it0.gif

Yes... It always expands like this. No other ammunition can match the expansion, penetration and weight retention of HST.
 
Up to date and for your information:

Currently and as of last quarter, both of the federal government's ISO 9000 labs dealing with law enforcement recommend .40 S&W 180 grain JHPs for issue to the various federal, state and local entities they service. Previously, the labs were split between 180 and 155 varieties.
 
federal government's ISO 9000 labs dealing with law enforcement
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So go with anything BUT those... :D

Seriously though. Most modern HP rounds made by reputable manufacturers are going to do the job well. In any given shooting I doubt that Having shot the same bad guy in the same place the same number of times, one round is going to make THAT big a difference over another with Quality ammo.
 
Well I picked up a box of 165gr Federal HST's today. I wanted the 180's but the store was out of those. I went through 20 rounds at the range and everything went well. The recoil feels a bit lighter than the 180gr rounds, but not much of a difference, and there were no malfunctions aside from my mediocre-at-best marksmanship.. Maybe I will test the expansion myself on some milk jugs/water next time I go to the ranch. In the meantime I will keep these HST's in my M&P's mags.
 
optimum

I use and recommend 135g JHP bullets for civilian defense ammo (except, oddly, my 40 S&W-chambered 1911 is currently loaded with my 155g Silvertip load).

Potential civilian 'best' comes with the 135--165g offerings.


I used to offer a short-barrel 1300fps 135g load, but now I don't offer anything. Except experienced advice....
 
I have Ranger 180g in my Glock 23. I like the penetration and the lower recoil. If I wanted a lighter bullet I'd shoot 9mm.
 
It's been said that there aren't any bad HP's in .40 cal.

US Border Patrol has used generic Rem. JHP's, I think 155 gr., and they've worked fine.

Golden Saber 165 grs. were my choice until DPX and HST came along. Now, I either load up with 165 HST or DPX, and in either case, carry HST or GS for backkup.

Haven't been able to get any 155 or I might carry that.

I use a similar formula when I carry .45.-- with 230 for HST and Golden Saber, and DPX 180 gr.

And of course, there are those who couldn't sleep at night without their nearby pistol being loaded up with 185 gr.s:D
 
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