Do you really need the most expensive ammo for carry

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 ?
Click to expand...

Ammo technology is like any other.

We don't watch b&w tv's with 19" screens anymore, even though they took us all the way from Fearless Fosdick (a puppet show), thru Maverik and Gunsmoke, Dallas, Walter Kronkite, and on and on.

Ammo is a little different, because there's more at stake. All types of ammo has stopped bad guys. Better ammo doesn it with more regularity.

And yet, some would search for every opportunity to arm themselves with older ammo technology to save money, and search for agreement by starting threads on gun forums.

What standard?: Reliable expansion from shorter barrels thru heavy clothing, even with heavier bullet weights, while achieving adequate (or more) penetration resulting in a higher probability that Bubba will go on his a$$ before he can put a bullet in you, or slice your liver in two.

Compared to: Maybe the bullet expands if velocity is maintained thru lighter bullet weights and longer barrels, with resulting loss of penetration, unless the bullet doesn't expand and it penetrates like hardball---therefore increasing the chance that you may be killed or injured even if you put the rounds where you were trained.:cool:

LAST: Pistol ammo, even the best, is a lot less than 100% even if we have the skills to place our shots according to our training. Get the best there is. Gold Dot, HST, DPX are 3 I use in different calibers. Golden Saber is still good, but a little behind the others. USA SD ammo is better than hardball, which has stopped many fights---and failed to stop others.
 
Last edited:
Yes, yes shot placement rules... Premium round designs tend to fully expand more reliably.. Meaning on average you have a higher liklihood of hitting something vital due to the full expansion.

More consistently fully expanded should help reduce over penetration and help prevent hitting unintended things or people. The differences overall may or may not be significant but I want to have the maximum opportunity to stop the life threatening attack in as few shots as possible with as much safety as I can reasonably expect. Will that cheaper bullet really be cheaper if you die because it didnt perform as well as it should have? Or what if it acts as ball ammunition and over penetrates and hits someone unintended... Wont be very cheap then....
 
Last edited:
While hitting an unintentional target is tragic being killed by a thug because you bullet didn’t penetrate enough would be a bigger tragedy IMHO
 
I always buy the "law enforcement only" packaging of a round, which saves a lot of money. You get 50 rounds for the same price as the brand's "civilian" 20 round boxes.
 
DasGuy

I always buy the "law enforcement only" packaging of a round, which saves a lot of money. You get 50 rounds for the same price as the brand's "civilian" 20 round boxes.
Click to expand...

This may be obvious, but to purchase this discounted ammo (according to what you are saying essentially 2 for 1) requires that one produce LE credentials?

-Cheers
 
checkmyswag

What I don't see much of lately is cheap hollowpoints. What's up with that?
Click to expand...

IMO it's multi-fold:

1) The big E--Election Year results in a big-time run on all things firearm related
2) More and more people are getting their CCW license and are looking for the proper corresponding load (not many people choose FMJ for defensive purposes). Obviously the GREAT news is that the more the merrier in terms of the increasing number of shooters and its advantageous effect on the 2nd Amend--Flip-side segue perfectly to bullet point #3
3) Capitalism=supply/demand (at least 'on paper ;) and that's what they teach us still today in Econ 101)

-Cheers
 
Last edited:
The newer more expensive ammo is a must expecially in 9mm, but then again you only need one box for self defense , and everything else can be the cheap stuff.. :eek:
 
What I don't see much of lately is cheap hollowpoints. What's up with that?
Click to expand...

Hollow points expand more reliably at higher velocities, and at lower velocities chances are they may not even expand at all. Most target ammo isn't loaded hot enough to take advantage of the hollow points so it almost would defeat the purpose. At least this is my opinion.
 
Just remember there is no such thing as a "Magic Bullet"....I use good, high quality Hollow points in my 45acp....Not the latest,and greatest.....I don't count on ANY expansion...:rolleyes:
 
This may be obvious, but to purchase this discounted ammo (according to what you are saying essentially 2 for 1) requires that one produce LE credentials?
Click to expand...

Some of the best ammo available, like Federal HST, is available in 50 rd. boxes on more than one site. I've been buying it for months. 9mm 124, and 147 gr., 40 cal. 155, 165, and 180 gr., and .45ACP in standard or +P 230 gr.


All of it might not be available at once, but you can find what you need by shopping around. Recently bought some LE Fed. 155 HST that was a cancelled LE order. This ammo is loaded slightly hotter than 155 gr. Fed. HST, and the cases are brass--not nickel. Try TDS (tactical def. solutions)

I've seen Ranger ammo, also, and GD HP.

Can't say it's at the same discount prices as available for LE. I can say it's much cheaper to buy than Premium ammo packaged in 20 rd. boxes.

Try Streichers or TDS.
 
Last edited:
While hitting an unintentional target is tragic being killed by a thug because you bullet didn’t penetrate enough would be a bigger tragedy IMHO
Click to expand...

PeterGreg - Many of the newer premium rounds expand fully much more consistently and still hit 16 to 17 inches of penetration. If you need more than that then I would go with a Magnum Class Gun... Im sorry by Im not carrying my 460 Rowland with the 5&1/2 inch barrel and 13 rounds on tap as my daily carry..

I actually test my carry ammo on hogs and other animals in the fall when its time to put more food in the freezer... We seek to cause the minimum amount of suffering to the animal and I can tell you factually at least one round my buddy swore by did not perform very well even with perfect shot placement (Winchester Silvertips in 45LC). The Corbon DPX out of my wifes 40 dropped the hogs like a death ray..

If a 12 dollar boxs is all your willing to spend on your own defense by all means thats your right..
 
22-rimfire got it right. With a caliber like .45, yes of course the improvements in bullet design still help. That bullet will expand just like any other. But .45 hardball has a pretty decent record, as has been mentioned in this thread, and was/is LESS in need of the upgrade that modern JHP ammo provides.

Not so with 9mm. 9mm FMJ ammo does not have a good track record. But 9mm with modern hollowpoints expands to around .45" and has an excellent reputation. And it is easier to shoot, and you can carry more of them.

The way I see it is with 9mm hollowpoints, I can carry a .45 that is small, lightweight, easy to shoot, and holds 11 rounds in a Glock 26 sized package. My nightstand gun, a .45, is going to be even more effective than the highly regarded .45 of days past.

In either case, there is a huge advantage to using a bullet that reliably expands and penetrates. The .38spl FBI load is one such round, even though it is old. But in 9mm and .45, I use Gold Dots. Why not take the advantage if it is available? ALL handguns are poor manstoppers, you need every advantage you can get.

If you want to use the logic that its cheaper to carry FMJ, its also cheaper to not buy a gun for personal protection.

And to the person who said its better to carry handloads, delete your post before someone accidentally takes it for good advice. This is an amazing way to give the prosecutor a great case against you if you ever have to use it. People HAVE been sent to prison when they would not have been if they had factory ammunition (look for Massad Ayoob case where wife killed herself with husband's handloads).
 
The only ammo here you are allowed to use here for self defence is FMJ. I would be quite happy using FMJ for self defence.
 
Really?

guns54

You should be shooting the same ammo at the range, That your going to carry.
Click to expand...

I assume you mean several or so boxes of your carry ammo to ensure reliable feeding?

Unless your rich, I dno't know of anyone using solely $1+ per round ammo to target pratice:confused:?

-Happy Memorial Day and THANKS to all of our VETS (past and present)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top