Do you really need the most expensive ammo for carry

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mrt949

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I know the real expensive ammo made today is better by what standard ? So the old ammo made years ago won't do the task if necessary. Is it hype or reality ?
 
My truck doesn't have a built-in navigation system, but I still find my way around. I think the ammo scene is just better and better, not to say the old way won't still work. New technology is great, but I think there is something to be said for proven technology that you are confident and capable with.
 
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Every once in awhile Wally-World will be out of 9mm target ammo (Federal, Remington UMC, WWB, etc). So if I really want to shoot that day and I haven't stocked up any lately, I have had to get whatever was left which was usually WWB Personal Protection JHPs.

They don't cost much more than the regular WWB, so I get 'em if I have to. Every single one has gone "bang" but not sure I'd be entirely comfortable depending on it, especially in a carry auto where a malfunction can kind of ruin your day in a defensive situation.

Perception is reality, isn't it?
 
I think the vehicle analogy is oddly appropriate.

You can get around in an old car without sat nav, but you're likely to get lost easier, but eventually you'll get there.

With older types of handgun ammo, you can very well stop your attacker, but very possibly stop your attacker, but after he injures or kills you.

That said, you can take steps to mitigate the known issues of the older vehicle and the older ammunition.

With an older car, it's carry a map and a cell phone.

With the older ammunition, it's shot placement and practice.
 
Do you really nead the most expensive ammo for carry

Nope, I still carry the same bullet (LSWC) that I started carrying when I got into LE in Mar '74. Then it was in a 357, not it's in a 38, loaded to non +P velocities.

Not supper fast, but I can shoot it. I've shot a lot of stuff with this bullet over the years, it never let me down. If you can hit the target, it will do the job.

If reloads aren't your thing, Winchester sells the same bullet, in their 158 Grn LSWC Target. Reasonably prices and the same velocity as my loads.
 
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There's two things under your control most important is where the bullet goes. Next is how much damage it is capable of doing once it gets there.
You don't necessarilly need the most expensive but the better SD rounds do tend to cost more.
Reverse taper jackets and bonding of the jackets costs more to produce But it allows bullets to expand easier to a given point, expand reliably under more conditions and keeps them from shedding the jacket.
It's your dime and your life.
 
As a conservative shooter, I will always trust hardball more. Next would be a LE tested round, like Speer Gold Dots. If anything will feed, it will be hardball.
 
I tend to think that buying the "best" ammo for self defense is more hype than reality or in other words, NOT a significant step forward above the lesser priced ammunition if you are reasonably proficient with your firearm.

I compare it to deer hunting. I buy and stock the same 150 gr Remington Core Lokt SP's that I used 30 years ago with success and have little need to change since I seldom even shoot a box of shells in an entire year and am not particularly interested in harvesting 5 deer or more where allowed. For that reason, I have shifted to handgun hunting almost entirely for deer in the last 5 years or so because I am more interested in the sport than the harvest.

But I do get caught in the ammo hype to some extent. But I mostly want major brand hollow points for self defense and have a number of choices in that department.
 
IMHO currently-offered expanding bullets are generally better than what was offered in the past, but if you're shopping for new ammo, IMHO the key question is which bullet you should buy. Note that I said bullet- not load! It's important to understand that, in many cases, the same bullet may be used by different manufacturers, or the same manufacturer may offer more than one product line using a particular bullet.

There are a number of resources, both in print and on the Internet, to research the effectiveness of particular bullets. Here's how I approach the question.
  • Research indicates that Bullet Y is better than Bullet X, but Bullet Y is only offered by a single company in one load, which costs 2x what a load using Bullet X costs. Is Bullet Y really that much better, or only a little better? (The answer is usually only a little, but YMMV!)
  • Can I get the same bullet from one manufacturer cheaper than from another manufacturer? For instance, both Fiocchi and Black Hills market numerous loads that use Hornady XTP bullets. Which brand is cheaper in my area?
  • Here's a big one: I decide I like Manufacturer Z. Do they have a "Law Enforcement" product line? The LE product line often uses the same bullets as the "Premium Self-Defense" (or whatever...) line, with similar ballistics, but in 50rd boxes that only cost a few bucks more than the 20-25rd boxes of the "Premium". :cool: Although big-box sporting goods discounters and your LGS may not carry the LE product line, it can often be mail-ordered or purchased at a police supply store. :)
 
Lead balls worked for hundreds of years.

The 158 grain magnum loads I like are awesome, with their Hornady super bad ass projectiles, but lead semi-wadcutter would be just fine.
 
No factory ammo will ever be as good as your own carefully assembled handloads. The majority of factory ammo is mostly marketing with very poor quality control, especially in the last ten years.:rolleyes:
 
I would eat at McDonalds three meals a day, every day but I would get fat and likely die sooner. Cheaper is not better, more expensive is not necessarily better either.

Effectiveness is near priceless.
 
Bullet technology has gotten better with time. This is true. However, what we consider top of the line today could be deemed insufficient as compared to what is top of the line in 20 years.

With any industry, as technology progresses, the results of those products tend to get better. The best navigation systems found in cars today, will look silly 20 years from now.

There is one factor we have not discussed. Human tissue (skin, bone, muscle...), will be exactly the same 20 years from now. That will not progress like technology does. A bullet capable of penetrating a threat 20 years ago will perform exactly the same today.

Shot placement will always be important, so practice up!! Show me self defense ammo from 50 years ago, and I will show you ammo that will still kill you today!!

-George
 
I will say yes and no.

I am not sold on ammo because it performs well in Jelllo, never been attacked by a block of jello. The problem today is that all of the ammo is designed to penetrate 14"-16" of jello. Like it or not we live in the McDonald's age, people today are alot bigger generally than they were 50-100 years ago.

I am not sure that I would feel safe with 14" of penetration as Jason is attacking me with his machete and I must shoot thru forearms, biceps, and 6" of Pectoral muscle.:eek:
 
I still carry Remington 158gr LSWCHP +P in my Ruger SP101, it's a proven round that I don't worry about it not working. However, in my HK USPc 9mm, I carry 124gr +P Speer Gold Dots. But have been known to carry the WWB Personal Protection HPs when I couldn't find any Gold Dots local.
 
What you need is not the most expensive ammo, but ammo that always functions in your gun, has a good track record, and is available.

Whatever that costs is cheap.
Jerry
 
Need? No, but in a life and death situation, I'll take a bullet that performs slightly better even if it costs more. Bullet selection might not save your life, but then again, it certainly won't hurt your chances of survival.

With that said, there is no magic bullet. Shot placement rules above all else.
 
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