what is your carry load for home defense or self defense

HD-SD

For Home Defense we have three.
9MM Win. Ranger TS 147 HP (for CCW and HD) in LC9
22LR CCI stingers (HD and wifes CCW) in LCR or 21a Bobcat
12Ga 00 (HD) in DB Ithica
 
No matter what I'm carrying ... Smith 637, Kahr PM9 (my regular carry gun) or Kimber UCII, they're loaded with the appropriate Hornady Critical Defense round ... even have them loaded into the NAA Pug which is in my pocket around the house .. like the accuracy, the excellent expansion ... however, that said, I'm guessing that any quality JHP would be fine for SD purposes, probably can't tell the difference by the end result ...
 
Range test several to find one you like best. Accuracy, recoil, and function matter. In my limited tests with my S&W M&P360 I found Remingtion .357mag GoldenSaber 125gr to have least recoil with good accuracy plus good penetration and expansion in wetpacks. Using 38spcial just didn't cut it even though recoil is less.
If it's .357mag then that's what to use.
og
 
1500 FPS is smoking for a 3" 357 mag, I thought I was doing good getting 1600 from a 6" 686. I wonder what those BB would do from a 6"?

I am using My Glock 31 with 125 GD's from Underwood they claim 1475 FPS. I don't currently have a chrony available to test them in my gun, everyone who has tested them says they are right on.
 
Most often I carry .40 S&W 180 gr. Winchester bonded JHP.
Sometimes I carry .357 magnum 125 gr. Remington Golden Saber.
In hot weather (not too often here in ND) I'll carry a j-frame with 125 gr. Federal Nyclad .38 special.
 
I have two revolvers that are handy for self defense/home defense. I have a S&W model 13 4 inch and a Ruger Police Service Six 4 inch. I have speedloaders loaded with Buffalo Bores LSWCHP 158 gr 38 +Ps. I also can go to Remingtons LSWCHP 158 gr 38 +Ps. Either of these rounds will get the job done if I do my job.
Regards,
Howard
 
I use use Federal Hydra Shok 125gr JHPs in most of my SD handguns. Reason; bought 30 boxes of assorted calibers at auction for thirty cents per round.
 
I do not have a daily carry since I live in MD. When carrying around the house, or when in a state that will take my UT non-res permit, I have several carry guns and calibers to choose from (and even more for guns I have loaded for home defense but I don't carry around the apartment).

In .38spl (+P of course) and 9mm I only use Speer Gold Dot in the 125gr range. In other calibers I do prefer Gold Dot, but I trust the performance of .40S&W, .45LC and .45ACP enough that I don't think ammo selection is as important, so I buy whatever premium defensive ammo is on sale. I do still prefer Gold Dot, but right now I mostly have some 180gr Remington JHP's for .40S&W and some 185gr Magtech in .45ACP (I am currently out of defensive ammo for .45LC so my 625MG is currently not in the HD rotation).

In .380, until recently I was in the camp that felt that the penetration of FMJ or truncated cone ammo was preferable to the expansion of JHP. Recent research on my part has changed my mind (even in .380, jacketed non-HP rounds can over penetrate, many JHP loadings penetrate more than sufficiently). I am currently evaluating several, but will probably go with Gold Dot, Hydrashok, or something from Hornady.
 
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HD ammo

Remington Ultimate Home Defense Ammunition 38 Special +P 125 Grain in the 357's.

Speer Gold Dot 115 gr. in the .327 Fed Mag

Speer Gold Dot Ammunition 44 Special 200 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point in the 629.

In the truck--same stuff except when there are rattley moccasins out and about---then home made snake shot in the 357.
 
I use 45gr Hornaday critical defense rounds in my 22 mag revolver. The larger/longer rounds tend to tumble when they enter a mass in the wmr caliber.

9mm-115gr Remmington HP's only due to the fact that they are light,(this is my duty weapon and 115gr is the smallest authorized grain for us), I dont want to lug any more weight around than I have to.
 
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While generally not a Remington fan, I keep 125gr Golden Sabre's in my .357.
My .40 and .45 both are loaded with Winchester PDX.
 
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