CCW Ammo Choices - Summer vs. Winter

COLT_45

New member
In my CCW 45 Colt I chamber different rounds in the summer & winter.
My reason is that an assailant or intruder would likely be more heavily
clothed in the winter hence greater need for penetration.....

My summer 45 Colt choices are:
Hornady CD 185 JHP's
CCI Blazer 200 JHP's
Winchester 225 JHP (Silvers or PDX)

My winter 45 Colt choices are:
Buffalo Bore Heavy Standard Pressure 255's
Speer Gold Dot 250 JHP's

Yours ?????
 
No change for me, clothing does not impact penetration in any negative way. If anything, the hollowpoint will plug and greater penetration will result.
 
Your carrying a 45 any of the listed bullets will stop anybody unless he's wearing body armor. I carry a 1911 and I use a 200 grain bullet for carry use. I don't worry about clothing at the ranges we will be shooting at. If anything I'd be concerned about where that 45 will go next.
 
How bad are those winters in Nevada? I live in N. Indiana where it can get brutally cold, I dont change a thing.
 
In reply to " 357 Terms "

Let me put it this way:

The Reno Tahoe area is 1/2 thousand miles from Vegas.
The Reno Tahoe area is only minutes from Northern Californina.
The Reno Tahoe area has some of the largest ski resorts in the country.
The Resorts can average 600 + inches of snow in the winter.
Wind gusts "often" exceed 100 mile per hour + in the winter at peaks.

Truckee Ca is 30 minutes from Reno.....
One of the coldest average year round temps in the country.
In fact it very well might be the coldest "year round average temp"
town in the country-Haven't checked for awhile......

Several years back I sholved 9 feet of snow from my driveway
during a 10 day heavy snowfall. Reno had to close their Casino's.

The City of Reno itself has seen it's share of -0- or below temps
over the years in the winter as well. Carson City & Virginia City
are also within minutes of the Reno Tahoe area and very far from Vegas.

Hope That Helps :D

Many people from back east do think Reno is close to or like Vegas.....
You're not alone on this-Thought I'd set the record a little straight.....:D

Yes we do have 4 seasons & wear very heavy clothing out here in
Good Ol' Northern Nevada in the winter.....
 
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The type of clothing is more important than the clothing itself. A carthart jacket or a heavy leather jacket will affect bullet performance more than a light weight ski jacket.

I carry the same load all the time, I let activity dictate it more than weather, ie hunting vs going shopping with the wife.
 
I live in Miami.



lol...Never changes for me here. I don't know what I'd change to for winter carry. Didn't think I'd need to. I mean it's not body armor or anything.
 
Deja Vu:

Like I said haven't checked in some time but here's what the National
Weather Service has to say-Really doesn't matter though, simply making
a point about how cold our area can be and that it's not like year round
Vegas heat as some might think. Hence i.e. Heavy Cloths in the winter.

The National Weather Service reports that Truckee's warmest month is July with an average maximum temperature of 82.7 °F (28.2 °C) and an average minimum temperature of 42.4 °F (5.8 °C). January is the coldest month with an average maximum temperature of 40.9 °F (4.9 °C) and an average minimum temperature of 16.3 °F (-8.7 °C). The record maximum temperature of 104 °F (40 °C) was on July 6, 2007. The record minimum temperature of -23 °F (-30.6 °C) was on February 27, 1962. Annually, there are an average of 8.4 days with highs of 90 °F (32.2 °C) or higher; there are an average of 228.4 days with lows of 32 °F (0 °C) or lower and 6.0 days with lows of 0 °F (-17.8 °C) or lower. Freezing temperatures have been observed in every month of the year.Normal annual precipitation in Truckee is 30.85 inches (784 mm); measurable precipitation (0.01 inch (0.25 mm) or more) occurs on an average of 87.0 days annually. The most precipitation in one month was 19.02 inches (483 mm) in February 1986. The most precipitation in 24 hours was 5.21 inches (132 mm) on February 1, 1963.

Truckee has an average of 204.4 inches (519.2 cm) of snow annually, which makes it the 5th snowiest city in the United States. The most snow in one month was 113.0 inches (287.0 cm) in December 1992. The maximum 24-hour snowfall was 34.0 inches (86.4 cm) on February 17, 1990.
 
OK, I load Barnes XPB 140grn and 125grn in my carry 357's (4in and 2.25 in barrel) 155grn Gold dot in my 3.8 XDm 40 and 230grn Rem hp in my 1911 year round, no change.
 
From your OP I get that you are carrying a 45 Long Colt, not a 45 ACP. Ammo shouldn't make much difference with either.
I change guns, more than ammo, Hot weather, difficulty in concealment, Ruger LCP 380 with Hornady Critical Defense ammo. Cold weather, easier concealment, S/A XD40 Subcompact with Winchester 180gr. PDX1 ammo.
 
It's going to be interesting to see over time via actual shootings if Hornady Critical Defense ammunition has an edge over conventional hollow points in shooting through heavy clothing. You'll know they are making headway when the first police agency makes them the duty round.
 
Nothing changes for me summer or winter. I carry whatever I have on hand which is usually Gold Dot and Corbon for autos, Hornady and Federal for wheelies.
 
It's going to be interesting to see over time via actual shootings if Hornady Critical Defense ammunition has an edge over conventional hollow points in shooting through heavy clothing.

A bit OT, but ...The gel tests look impressive, but the main reason I use it in my LCP is that it is one of the two most accurate rounds I have found for it.
 
I carry the CorBon DPX 225 gr all-copper bullet in my .45LC.
In my .45acp 1911s, I carry either Ranger 230+p or CorBon DPX 185+p...
Doesn't matter if it is summer or winter.
 
As others have said in 38 special, 380, 32 MAYBE 9mm I would give it some thought esp. in the conditions you describe, however in higher calibers not so much as you have a bit of power to spare esp. in the 45 colt.

Heck depending upon where you are that fact you are CCW'ing a 45 colt says a lot... not an easy gun to hide... is it a 5 shot tarus or a 6 shot?

If I am carrying 45 colt (open 95% of the time, in the woods etc.) it more than likely has the +p buffalo bore JSP's or hard cast as it's for 4 legged and 2 legged issues. I have silver tips for it as well if I was using for home defense. if you are in a rural area, were I you I would likely just go heavy all the time.
 
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