glocktwo, I'd steer clear of Federal Guard Dog. It is really lacking in the penetration area. Just over 8" in 9mm. That's pretty awful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA7f69skz9g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA7f69skz9g
What is the best .40 cal ammo?
- Thread starter FirearmFan
- Start date
LockedBreech
New member
I carried Federal HST 180-grain for the last two years, and I recently switched to Speer Gold Dot 180-grain.
No real reason for the switch. Both feed perfectly well and perform admirably. I'd carry HST again. I just decided to standardize all my handgun ammo to Speer Gold Dot. It's made a believer of me with consistent performance across calibers. When I get a 9 it will be 147-grain Gold Dot and when I get a .45 it will be 230-grain Gold Dot.
No real reason for the switch. Both feed perfectly well and perform admirably. I'd carry HST again. I just decided to standardize all my handgun ammo to Speer Gold Dot. It's made a believer of me with consistent performance across calibers. When I get a 9 it will be 147-grain Gold Dot and when I get a .45 it will be 230-grain Gold Dot.
KenLondregan
New member
I will tell you what I didn’t like. I just bought Ultramax ammo from Cabelas. I paid $209 for 600 rounds of 180 grain FMJ. I didn’t see anything on the website (maybe I missed it) that the ammo was reloaded, but when I received the box everything was marked reloaded ammunition. I went to the range today and the first 100 rounds had numerous FTF’s, and FTE's. I thought I may have had a mechanical problem, maybe the spring in one of my magazines. I switched to some Federal, and no problems. Oh well, at least Cabela’s threw in a plastic ammo box with the garbage ammo.
Stats don't lie; Federal Guard Dog, home defense .40 loads....
I do not disagree with the forum member posts about the Federal Guard Dog's specs/ballistics but in fairness, the Guard Dog line along with Remington's new home defense & Hornady's Critical Defense handgun ammunition are geared towards home use or the armed citizen market.
Deep penetration or going thru regular barriers(wood, auto glass, metal, thick fabric, etc) are NOT the design factors for rounds like Guard Dog.
About a year & a half ago, I recall reading an online article about how a state LE agency in the US mid-south had about 90% of the member-of-service or line of duty shootings in or around motor vehicles. That LE agency issued the .40S&W caliber with good results.
When selecting a handgun round or brand, it's important to consider how or where you plan have the .40S&W semi auto pistol.
A Speer Gold Dot JHP or Corbon DPX round may be better suited than a TAP or Glaser Safety Slug but other conditions may require a different choice.
Clyde
I do not disagree with the forum member posts about the Federal Guard Dog's specs/ballistics but in fairness, the Guard Dog line along with Remington's new home defense & Hornady's Critical Defense handgun ammunition are geared towards home use or the armed citizen market.
Deep penetration or going thru regular barriers(wood, auto glass, metal, thick fabric, etc) are NOT the design factors for rounds like Guard Dog.
About a year & a half ago, I recall reading an online article about how a state LE agency in the US mid-south had about 90% of the member-of-service or line of duty shootings in or around motor vehicles. That LE agency issued the .40S&W caliber with good results.
When selecting a handgun round or brand, it's important to consider how or where you plan have the .40S&W semi auto pistol.
A Speer Gold Dot JHP or Corbon DPX round may be better suited than a TAP or Glaser Safety Slug but other conditions may require a different choice.
Clyde
FishEngineer
New member
Best is what cycles best in your gun and achieves the desired accuracy. Plenty of good suggestions already offered....
Glockstar .40
New member
Hornady critical defense for SD and winchester ranger ( NOT T-series) for plinking. its some of the cleanest ammo i've shot and its only 13$ FOR 50 around here.
MrDontPlay
New member
I buy the UMSC 250 pack for practice. I carry Winchester personal protection because it's the only SD ammo I can afford to test in a semi auto. I'd like to carry critical defense or critical duty but it would cost to much to run 200 Rounds through the gun to test it.
RetiredUSAF50
Inactive
The best .40 S&W ammo
Ammo is like gas...
Some cars run fine on cheap gas
Some cars run better on mid or high grade gas
You are going to have to test a few for your self.
Suggestion: go buy a box of maybe three or four different brands.
Head to the range turn your target over and annotate the different brands of ammo. Shoot the box and annotate the group, do this with each box until you feel comfortable with a round. For me I use Remington nickel plated FMJ 165 grain for practice and home defense. I like it and so does my PPQ, burns clean.
Ammo is like gas...
Some cars run fine on cheap gas
Some cars run better on mid or high grade gas
You are going to have to test a few for your self.
Suggestion: go buy a box of maybe three or four different brands.
Head to the range turn your target over and annotate the different brands of ammo. Shoot the box and annotate the group, do this with each box until you feel comfortable with a round. For me I use Remington nickel plated FMJ 165 grain for practice and home defense. I like it and so does my PPQ, burns clean.
Last edited:
my two cents
From all the ballistics test for any caliber the middle grains are over all best. The .40 is 155 and 165. You get your 12 inches of penitration and explosive energy that transfer to the target. Expensive premium ammo does not make that much difference in a hand gun the velocity does not get high enoght for those fancy hollow points to properly expand. I load with 165 grain walmart ammo 100 for 30 bucks fufull metal jacket. 165 will not over penitrate because of the velocity the target will absorb most of that .ss whooping.
From all the ballistics test for any caliber the middle grains are over all best. The .40 is 155 and 165. You get your 12 inches of penitration and explosive energy that transfer to the target. Expensive premium ammo does not make that much difference in a hand gun the velocity does not get high enoght for those fancy hollow points to properly expand. I load with 165 grain walmart ammo 100 for 30 bucks fufull metal jacket. 165 will not over penitrate because of the velocity the target will absorb most of that .ss whooping.
LockedBreech
New member
I'm sorry but that's not true. Hollowpoint technology had come a long way since the 1990s. The vanguard hollowpoints like Speer Gold Dot, HST, etc. expand fully, regularly, and reliably.
And any full metal jacket round in .40 most certainly has the potential to over-penetrate.
Your choices are yours to make, but I highly suggest you do more ballistic research. I refer you to tnoutdoors9 on YouTube. Premium defense ammunition is not a gimmick. You won't find a single police department using full metal jacket rounds.
Guard Dog Ammo
I will first say that my G27 is currently carrying 10 of these bad boys. The ammo is meant to Feed reliably because it isn't technically hollow point. My Glock would most likely feed anything it was fed but still why chance it.
Also The ammo is meant for indoor home defense. I spend my time walking in and out of buildings all day. This include condos with thin walls etc. If I have to shoot an intruder who surprises me I want the least chance of over penetration possible while still achieving ballistic performance.
It is accurate as all get out in my pistol and I like it well for my needs. I carry Speer Gold Dot in two mags in my mag pouch.
http://www.handgunsmag.com/2012/01/06/review-federal-guard-dog-ammunition/
The above is a write up regarding the stuff in handguns mag.
With Kind Regards, Vermonter
I will first say that my G27 is currently carrying 10 of these bad boys. The ammo is meant to Feed reliably because it isn't technically hollow point. My Glock would most likely feed anything it was fed but still why chance it.
Also The ammo is meant for indoor home defense. I spend my time walking in and out of buildings all day. This include condos with thin walls etc. If I have to shoot an intruder who surprises me I want the least chance of over penetration possible while still achieving ballistic performance.
It is accurate as all get out in my pistol and I like it well for my needs. I carry Speer Gold Dot in two mags in my mag pouch.
http://www.handgunsmag.com/2012/01/06/review-federal-guard-dog-ammunition/
The above is a write up regarding the stuff in handguns mag.
With Kind Regards, Vermonter
For practice almost anything is fine. Out to 25 yds target shooting there is little practical difference compared to the difference in trigger control, stance, sight alignment, grip, etc. Most of what I shoot are handloads with lead or plated bullets. When I buy bulk factory ammo for practice it is the local cheap stuff, Remington UMC in the 250 rd boxes.
For self-defense it depends on what you want the bullet to do. The best bullets to meet the FBI scenarios of penetration, expansion, weight retention through clothing and barriers such as windshields are the bonded core hollow-points such as Speer gold Dot, Winchester Ranger T or PDX, and Federal HST.
If you are not concerned with barrier penetration than many others such as Hornady Critical Defense and the non-bonded core HPs are cheaper.
For self-defense it depends on what you want the bullet to do. The best bullets to meet the FBI scenarios of penetration, expansion, weight retention through clothing and barriers such as windshields are the bonded core hollow-points such as Speer gold Dot, Winchester Ranger T or PDX, and Federal HST.
If you are not concerned with barrier penetration than many others such as Hornady Critical Defense and the non-bonded core HPs are cheaper.
LockedBreech
New member
Quite a solid round despite the marketing gimmick. I believe the round is a Hornady Critical Defense with a green polymer insert instead of red. It's a round known for reliability in feeding and consistent expansion.
LockedBreech
New member
That's pretty clever! The Guard Dog for safety in penetration but the Gold Dots if you fail to get a stop.