What bullets do you use for personal defense?

M

mnoirot64

New member
Greetings friends!

I have used nothing but factory ammo when it comes to personal defense ammunition for CCW. I have carried Hornady Critical Defense, Speer Gold Dot and Hornady Critical Duty in my .45 ACP. All of them have fed well, and I count myself as fortunate to never have had the need to draw my pistol in a defensive situation. This morning, I loaded up 20 rounds of 185 grain Barnes TAC-XP FB bullets. I shot them and they fed perfectly in my Kimber and Sig 1911s. I have some Hornady 185 grain HP-XTP bullets coming. I will also make sure these chamber well before I consider carrying them.

My question to you is: What is your favorite bullet for CCW and why? Do you know of any online articles that compare the most popular CCW bullets for terminal performance? Thanks and have a great Sunday night!
 
mnoirot64,

I'm not gon'a be any fun.

My preferred carry is a SS 1911A1 filled with my home cast lead 200 grain SWC setting over 5.6 grains of 231 and a standard CCI LP primer in any brass. This gives me 900 or so FPS. I carried the same load 30 plus years ago when I was a city cop.

I do carry a little gun in the summers, in my hip pocket, a Springfield XD Sub Compact in .40 S&W. I feed it 155 grain Hornady XTP JHP over 5.4 grains of 231 (916FPS).

I trust the .45 far over the little 40.

If its over 40 cal, it doesn't need to expand all that much to get the job done.

I never put much value on the advise that I should only carry some factory loads. I carry what I have been using for years, 35 plus for the 45 load.

Standard statement: This data is for information only and may not be safe in your weapon with your components.... Basically, only use data from known and trusted sources. You don't know me, I could be crazy... I may be, I worked for your government long enough to retire, that is enough to make me suspect :)

Load with care.

OSOK
 
Hard cast Lyman 240 gr. 429421 over 21/2400 at 1300 fps coming out of a 6" S&W 29; it's really not concealable but then I don't care to hide it. Only shot a possom and two deer but it worked every time so suppose it'll do for feral two legged dogs.
 
When at home I have frangible rounds loaded into my Kimber and when out and about I change to Hornady's critical defence loads.
 
I carry a P7M8. Have two 8-round clips for it loaded up with factory Black Talon. Plus a third in my coat pocket which is staggered with 115gr. Winny Silver Tip H.P's and Hi /Vel FMJ. Black Talon is probably not the best bullets when compared to today's ammo. Then again I'm kind'a old school yet.
 
oldpapps, you crack me up :D

I trust my own loaded ammunition more than I trust factory ammo. And I believe that I can load ballistically superior ammunition than factory - not just more reliable. Be that right or wrong, that's truly what I believe.

That said however, I will only carry with factory ammo in my piece for legal reasons (9mm Speer 124g +P GDHP). I live in California. In this state, if you shoot someone in self-defense - no matter how justified - there will almost certainly be a civil lawsuit. The deceased dirtbag will be characterized as a Skittle eating choir boy; and the defendant, a blood thirsty killer who couldn't wait to use his gun in aggression.

In this state, always choose a completely factory stock firearm; and always use major brand factory ammo.
 
Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the input. Does anyone have an opinion on the Barnes TAC-XP FB bullets? I know they are designed for military/LE use. There is always plenty of info and reviews floating around on Hornady and Speer personal protection bullets, but not so much on Barnes' offerings. I know they claim to not plug up so easily going through heavy clothes, etc - which essentially makes a bullet a FMJ.
 
I use Barnes bullets but the standard ones in handgun [9mm, 40, 44mag] and rifle. I've used them for hunting so I know how they work ! :D
 
Hey Nick_C_S - I wonder if they could tell you were shooting with hotrod hand loads if you're shooting with new brass? They look pretty much like factory ammo when the brass is new.
 
For 9mm :speer gdhp (finally scored some 147 gr 9mm that will replace the 124gr in my glock 9s. Less recoil is the reason behind that)
In my. 45: winchester t series, fed hst 230 gr or 230 gr gdhp- the flying ashtray:cool:

I saw buffalo bore uses some of that barnes but only the light stuff.
They dont offer a 230gr?
Opens up nicely
121qx74.jpg
:cool:
 
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I trust factory ammo more than my re-loads, I have had a few mistakes and on the range no problem other than being anoyed , but if needed......

On the other hand I have never had a factory round fail to feed, fire eject etc.

My preference for the factory is the Remington Golden Saber. Initially I wanted something to try and it shot really accurately and was spot on reliable. I had figured I would dig up and get a bit more highly regarded ammo, but I was sold on GS (I like accurate as thats how I shoot, not fast, I go for accuracy). Price was also very good and far better than anything I could fine, so it had a bonus and it rates up there with the top 5 of so (at that point I figure accurate beats any small difference if there really is any).

On the other hand, the backup clip is just that and I am fine with trusting it at that point (thats just me, basically I figure if 15 is not enough the situation has taken on a whole different dimension and then quantity may well be more desirable than quality (and I don't think I am giving up quality though maybe some reliability .

The GS raw bullets were impossible to find and solid reload data on it is non existence (a lot of opinion yes but Remington publishes nothing, hmmm)

Hornady XTP is well regarded, it was readily available (at the time and I am not using my stash up!) I can load that to +P and be close to that in a packaged SD so I go with that.
 
As I've read elsewhere, the Barnes bullet was intentionally made lighter as the copper is close to 8 1/2 times tougher than lead. They get much greater speed, great expansion and a tough bullet also. I'm not sure how true that is, but everyone that has used their bullets for hunting brag on them.
 
I have two-and-a-half answers to that question:

1. Factory self defense loads. I lived in an area where I couldn't count on handloads being seen as "humane" to use against a bad guy. You'll currently find Hydra-Shoks, Gold Dots, and, in one case, basic Remington/UMC HPs. In the past I was satisfied with Winchester SXTs ("black talons" without the 'evil' coating :eek:). And, I was sorely disappointed with Hornady Critical Defense loads - I had really stiff extraction with everything I tried them in.

2. Whatever is in the gun. If the poop hits the fan, and I have to grab what's available, I'm using what's in the gun. If it's a shotgun loaded with 1 oz of #7.5 bird shot... I won't really care. The ER staff will be digging a lot of pellets out of someone. (Though, if I'm at home, and it's loaded, it better be #4 buck - since that's the only thing that goes in my shotguns inside the house.)

2.5. Whatever is in the gun. I just moved to an area where self defense situations aren't really questioned, beyond the legality of the shoot. And if it's a good shoot, there are legal protections in place to prevent civil liability. So... anything short of some poison-tipped darts should be acceptable.
That said....
I don't load or buy FMJs. I don't load or buy RN handgun bullets. And, I don't buy 'solids' for rifles.
Anything I have loaded in a rifle or handgun will be an expanding soft point, a hollow point, a wadcutter, or a wide-meplat cast bullet. So, anything in the gun is at least moderately suitable for the job.
 
Winchester 127gr HP Ranger+P+..Nice 9mm round..Accurate too
The 45acp gets 185 critical defense
The 45 colt gets 185 JHP Sierra's with a warm charge behind it.
The 357 gets a 125gr JHP Sierra ahead of a warm charge.
380acp gets Hornady Critical Defense.
 
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With your 49 posts, possibly a newcomer, I have to ask if you meant "what cartridges (or ammo)" we use for self defense.

Bullets may be academic, since a significant number of reports indicate using exclusively factory ammo. Cartridges (or ammo) on the other hand may the more pertinent question for self defense.

I have hollow point bullets and usually buy Hornady XTP.

My loaded commercial ammo is Double Tap, Hornady, Buffalo Bore, Precision One, Underwood, Remington Express, LAX Ammo, and PMC Starfire. What I actually carry is usually Hornady.
 
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