Staggering different loads.

[GIT_SOME.45]

This is an interesting subject...
I`ve thought about alternating ammo, but not in the same way -
Example : In lets say a 10 round mag, load your first 5 with JHP`s, and then (because your Bad guy may NOW be shooting at you from BEHIND cover due to your "RESISTING" him with force...) load the rest of the magazine with hardball, for maximum penetration.
Just a thought I`ve had at times, but never really followed through.

If ANY of you have any feedback on this idea please let me know as I am willing to learn new tricks...

You can also e-mail me at hnl2@gateway.net
with your views as this will get to me for sure...

I AM VEEERRRY INTERESTED.


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SHOOT,COMMUNICATE AND MOVE OUT !

 

[Gopher .45]

My first round is always ball, then comes hollowpoint. Why a ball for the first round? This is the round that gets chambered and rechambered between practice sessions. For protection, I only rechamber a round once so that damage to the skin of the bullet is minimal. After that, the bullet goes into the practice pile. With regular practice, it is really cheaper to change out a ball than a hollowpoint.

 

[Ivanhoe]

I don't alternate rounds in .40, but I probably would in 9x19. Depending on the gun, I'd probably go with 115gr HPs and 124 or 147gr FMJs. I'm not the least bit concerned with point-of-impact at 25 yards, that's a pretty unlikely scenario for me.

The reliability thing is best solved like all other reliability questions; at the range. If you've put 400 or so rounds downrange, testing all your mags (both at full capacity and almost dry), with plenty of one-hand practice (especially weak hand), and perhaps letting your gun stay dirty, then you should feel comfortable with that approach.

I'm a LOT more concerned about the larger issues; location, awareness, and getting an early draw.

 

[johnwill]

I pick a quality defensive ammo and stick with it. For 9mm, I prefer HydraShok 124gr, feeds perfectly in all my 9mm guns, and will do the job if I do my part.

I can't imagine that staggering the weights of the rounds can result in more reliability, and quite probably results in less reliability. Why take the chance?

 

[FUD]

Currently, Marshall & Sanow have the slightly better arguement with their lite & fast theory than The Fackerites do with their slow & heavy theory. However, a decade ago, it was the other way around. It seems that it keeps switching every dozen years, or so. Since I don't know for certain who is right, I alternate my ammo every other round in the magazines -- better to be half wrong than all wrong.

Groups are not as tight as when using a a single bullet type (the heavier round seem to hit higher on the target) but they are still acceptable when compared to the single ammo groups.<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI> .25ACP, .32ACP, .380ACP & .38 Special = no alternating
<LI> 9mm = 124gr Remington Golden Saber / Winchester SXT 147gr --> USED IN --> Kahr MK9 and Smith & Wesson 3913TSW; [NOT USED IN --> Browning Hi-Power and Smith & Wesson 659 due to jamming/feeding problems with the alternating ammo]
<LI> Don't own a .357 yet.
<LI> .40S&W = Cor-Bon 135gr / Remington Golden Saber 180 gr --> USED IN --> Smith & Wesson 4006TSW and 4013TSW.
<LI> .45ACP = no alternating
</UL>The reason I don't do the "alternating" method for .25ACP, .32ACP, .380ACP, .38 Special & .45ACP is because the difference in reported stopping power between the heavy & lite loads is not that great -- several percentage points at most. However, the difference in reported stopping power between the heavy and lite loads for the 9mm and the .40S&W is considerable -- a couple of dozen percentage points.

If I listen to the wrong side, it could mean the difference of having my gun loaded with bullets that have 96% stopping power compared to bullets that only have 78% stopping power.

I would rather be shooting 78% - 96% - 78% - 96% - etc. then listening to the wrong side (since I don't know who is right and who is wrong) and end up shooting all 78% - 78% - 78% - etc. Does that make sense?

Also, a number of people have speculated that a closely spaced double tap using this alternating ammo might be potentially more damaging than a double tap with two rounds of either the heavy/slow or two rounds of the light/fast. But who knows.

Share what you know, learn what you don't -- FUD