Best SD round: PDX1 vs. GDHP vs. HST vs. OTHER...?

What is your preferred CCW round?

  • Winchester PDX1

    Votes: 11 11.6%

  • Speer GDHP

    Votes: 40 42.1%

  • Federal HST

    Votes: 29 30.5%

  • Other... what?

    Votes: 15 15.8%
  • Total voters
    95
  • Poll closed .
W

wilkup

New member
I don't particularly care about the calibers you use for these bullets. I'm more interested in what everyone thinks of the ballistics and performance and said rounds, or if you think there's something better out there - what is it? I've shot all three of them with my 9mm, the PDX1 in .40 S&W and the GDHP in .45 Auto.
I'd prefer this not turn into a caliber war and can be kept strictly to which rounds work the best for self defense situations and I'd even go as far to say that if you've seen something that isn't easily translated on paper, add that too!
 
No answer to the poll. Honestly, whichever one functions in your gun and is reasonably available for you to purchase. I doubt it's going to make any significant difference in terminal ballistics.
 
I don't think there's a real significant difference among the quality SD ammos. Pick one and you'll be OK. Kinda like asking "What's the best gasoline between Shell, Gulf, or Mobil?" Odds are your vehicle will never know which one's which.
 
I've been following this subject for over 40 years. I was a young deputy when Super Vel come on the scene with hollow points that had a chance to expand. Did my share of testing for the department back in the early 80s and was exposed to lots of reports on other tests and actual results in the streets.

The sum total of my experience and opinion is that it doesn't matter all that much. The major brands all make good HPs that generally work at reachable velocities. I am of the opinion that probabilities are: big bullets are better than small bullets; medium to heavy bullets are better than light bullets; and situational awareness and shooting skill trumps all the bullet hype you can find.

YMMV,
Dave
 
If I had to choose just ONE ammo brand to stoke my defensive handguns with, I'd go with Speer Gold Dot. Federal HST would be number 2.
 
I don't think there's a real significant difference among the quality SD ammos. Pick one and you'll be OK.
Click to expand...

Performance-wise I agree but not all brands of ammunition feed reliably in all firearms. I picked gold dots just because it feeds in all of my autos and hasnt given me problems yet.
 
I voted GD but it doesn't matter . Any modern HP ammo by a major manufacturer is good. If it feeds good in your auto or is accurate in your revolver, use it. I usually shoot Gold Dots or Gloden Sabers just b/c that's my habit and they feed in my auto's well so there's no reason to change. Shot placement is paramount, lungs and hearts don't recognize who's headstamp is on your brass. Most of my revolvers have hard cast SWC handloads in them. Someone is going to come along and tell me I'm gonna die not using HP's or I'm going to get suited for using handloads. I dn't have anything to take:p
 
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Hard cast wadcutters may be the best bullet, bar none. Of course, that doesn't do it for the bottom feeder crowd. And unfortunately the ammo manufacturers have focused their attention in a very limited manner on hollow points for revolvers for the sake of their own sakes. How could they possibly rant about their wonderkind hollow points for the semi autos that took the gun market, and at the same time say, "Wadcutters are better?" It would be blasphemy. But it might be true.
 
You can't ignore caliber in this discussion. The performance of different bullets can vary greatly with caliber and velocity. Hypotheticly, the HST may test best in .45ACP, but the same bullet design in 9mm may only be an average performer.
Realisticly, all modern SD ammo from the big manufacturers should perform adequetly
 
@Moose_nuckles--- I agree those are all the major brands I think make the best HP's you forgot Remington Golden Sabers, Speer Gold Dots, and Buffalo Bore :D.
 
HST is probably the best jhp design on the market right now. it even retains more weight through hard barriers than the bonded gold dot, according to ATK's own LE website.

gold dot would be my second choice.

PDX1 exhibits unreliable expansion. tons of pics online and youtube vids where this stuff didn't expand at all in various calibers. dr. roberts found the problem with PDX1 is a QC issue. the tools that cut the jacket serrations are not changed as they should be and become dull. he researched the issue after testing PDX1 and finding it failed to expand.

maybe winchester keeps a better eye on QC for the lots made for the FBI. who knows.
 
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^+1 I agree completley. The HST seems to be the best on the market right now. I have shot 25 9mm's and they are excellent. My friend did tests and they performed very well. I would also say that Gold Dots would be my next choice as well.
 
I use Winchester PDXs in my Glock 30. In my LCP I use Hornady XTPs.. The Hornadys have a very sharp cone that feeds well in this gun.
 
My choice in carry ammo depends on the caliber of my firearm. The following is my choice of ammo in the calibers I use in order of bullet diameter (I do not routinely depend on all of these for SD, but I keep at least some factory ammo on hand for every gun I own):

.22 Long Rifle- CCI Velocitor 40gr JHP
7.62x25 Tokarev- S&B 85gr FMJ
.32 ACP- Fiocchi 73gr FMJ
9mm Parabellum- Winchester Ranger 127gr +P+ T-Series
.38 Special- Remington Express 158gr LSWCHP +P
.357 Magnum- Remington Express 158gr SJHP
.38 S&W- Remington Express 145gr LRN
10mm Auto- Winchester 175gr Silvertip (I sometimes also use Double Tap 180gr JHP or Buffalo Bore 180gr JHP)
.44 Magnum- Speer 240gr Gold Dot
.45 ACP- Federal 230gr +P HST

While I no longer own a gun specifically chambered for it, my choice in ammo for a .44 Special was Federal Champion 200gr LSWCHP although I'd have felt just as good with Winchester 200gr Silvertips or Blazer 200gr Gold Dots.

If I were going to pick one particular brand of bullet to use in every cartridge for which is was available, I'd probably go with Speer Gold Dots as they seem to perform well, if not the best, in most of the cartridges they're loaded in
 
I like the PDX-1 rounds in my .45acp, just haven't shot anybody with 'em yet.
And, I hope I DO NOT have to! I think it might be a marketing thing with all these SD rounds, but who here would want to get hit with ANY of these!?
NOT MY ASS, I can tell you that. Buy and use whatever you want, and that works thru your firearm, and be at ease.
 
My Internet life it's Federal HST.

My real life it's GDHP. because I can get them at a better price, 3 to 1, and, I think they work better.
 
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