So, I was walking around the woods today with my Charter Arms .44spl loaded with Hornaday's "Critical Defense" 165gr FTX but had a box of MagTech 240gr L-Flat Nose Cowboy loads at the house and it got me to thinikin'. If I were to come across a ferrel dog, bear, 2-legged vermin, Zombi, (name your nemesis) would it really matter? Looking for your oppinion.
Ammo choice - If the SHTF, does it REALLY matter?
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Smith357
US Veteran
Shot placement is more important that type of bullet, a hit with a FMJ is better than a miss with a Black Zombie Explosive Expander bullet. With that being said, if I were to limit my self to one bullet style for woodland or social situations it would be good full weight for caliber hard cast SWC bullet.
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mkk41
US Veteran
No.
Constitutional law would be suspended , martial law would be declared and citizens would be disarmed on sight.
Constitutional law would be suspended , martial law would be declared and citizens would be disarmed on sight.
OK, so martial law be damned and shot placement not withstanding.....
What really got me to thinking about it is the fact that the 165gr FTX was ASTRONOMICALLY expensive and the Cowboy loads only marginally so. When I got back up to the house, I touched off a few of the FTX just for fun I realized, "****, that was a quick $2.00" and wondered why I paid what I paid for the FTX when, in reality, the Cowboy loads would probably do in a life and death situation.
What really got me to thinking about it is the fact that the 165gr FTX was ASTRONOMICALLY expensive and the Cowboy loads only marginally so. When I got back up to the house, I touched off a few of the FTX just for fun I realized, "****, that was a quick $2.00" and wondered why I paid what I paid for the FTX when, in reality, the Cowboy loads would probably do in a life and death situation.
Badkarma 1
US Veteran
Doubtful. The civil authorities would have their hands full with the various riots and such to go about confiscatin weapons. So unless your walkin about your neighborhood with an AR or whatever slung out where everybody can see it, I wouldn't fret it much.
Most cops know that the civvies will take care of their own if the balloon goes up.
As for the ammo question, no it doesn't matter. Just so long as you put it in the right spot, it'll do its job. Dale
It's that "probably do" part your paying for, ie, trying to make the probability of your survival greater. That may or may not be worth $2 a round for you, only you can be the judge.
ETA I think some folks are confusing SHTF with TEOTWAWKI
OK, clearly I should have asked the question differently:
If I'm in the woods and confronted with bear, ferrel dog, 2-legged vermin, etc. Does the $2.00 per round (figuratively) really make that much difference in survival than the $1.00 per round does?
If I'm in the woods and confronted with bear, ferrel dog, 2-legged vermin, etc. Does the $2.00 per round (figuratively) really make that much difference in survival than the $1.00 per round does?
amazingflapjack
US Veteran
Along with the idea that shot placement is the chief consideration, I need to use ammo that I can consistently shoot accurately with. I try to shoot the same round I would have to shoot, if I had to shoot it. I have, and carry a Bull Dog 44, and I shot it a while back, forgetting to remove the flame thrower "self defense" rounds, and I couldn't shoot them very well. I like the big, heavy, slow, gum ball lead bullets, but that's just me. See how you shoot with the cow boy stuff; find out what works for you. Just the sound of that sucker will suffice for many occasions.
DWalt
Member
Placement and penetration are the most important considerations (aside from having a gun with you when you need it). No argument from anyone about those two. Bullets (any kind) from most non-magnum handgun rounds don't expand much anyway. Except maybe in Alaska and a few remote areas in the lower 48, it's unlikely that you would come across any hostile animals (even human ones) you couldn't handle, if necessary, with a .22, which is more effective than many realize. I suppose the current shortage of .22 ammunition might substantiate that belief.
BJoe
Member
In my handguns I shoot FMJ or wadcutters, carry loads get one of the high price spreads.
IRONVIC52
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Maybe not even that. When I used to dispatch fire/EMS in a Southern California fire comm center we'd sometimes talk about what if the Big One, the killer quake hit; would you stay on duty or respond to work if off duty? Every single one of them said, "No!" Family came first 100%. So it's highly likely that you'll dial 9-1-1 and just get a dial tone. BTW I was the chump who said I'd show up even if I had to use a portable to communicate.
Nowadays I'm retired and don't need to worry about firing up the ambulance or answering the radio. Just give me a rag to wipe up the S when it HTF and any useful caliber, and it'll be fine.
I'd advise keep 500-1000 rounds of the good stuff around and a few thousand rounds of anything that goes bang in case the "event" is a long term one. .44,.45 etc makes a big hole, before expansion, there are a lot of German and Japanese War dead who can attest to that.
NCTexan
US Veteran
If the same spot means "right between the eyes"... the result would likely be the same. The bear, 2-legged vermin, etc would be dead and the zombi would keep on coming.
jaykellogg
Absent Comrade
I am assuming you are talking about encountering something with a handgun. Then, even if it is a .44 mag, you need expanding bullets. Men don't drop like you saw on Gunsmoke. Plus in the case of multiple attackers you may be throwing shots that are less than well placed. To defend your home a 12 gauge loaded with buckshot is just fine.
Darkenfast
Member
I stopped worrying much about stopping power a long time ago. Use what works in your gun and that you can afford. In the case of that Charter Arms (if I understand the model correctly), you're going to be pretty much limited to standard velocity and pressure. If I had that revolver, I would find a deal on a case of standard loads with plain SWC bullets and call it good. You should get accuracy and consistent penetration with that combination if you do your part.
Sebago Son
Member
With "marginal" rounds, yes, I know it makes a difference. I've seen things shot with 180 grain WW FMC .40 S&W rounds and I've also seen things shot with the R-P 155 grain Fed-Spec JHP's. The maximum effort JHP rounds are far more destructive on tissue.
However, based upon more than 40 years of field experience, with heavy rifle rounds such as the .300 H&H, bullet selection is not nearly as critical.
This is an average, run-of-the-mill 180 grain Speer spitzer soft point at 80 yards. Muzzle velocity is 3,000 fps.
However, based upon more than 40 years of field experience, with heavy rifle rounds such as the .300 H&H, bullet selection is not nearly as critical.
This is an average, run-of-the-mill 180 grain Speer spitzer soft point at 80 yards. Muzzle velocity is 3,000 fps.
If you could predict your predicament, you wouldn't need a gun; you could just stay home. In an unpredictable world, Smith357's answer is pretty good. So is the FBI's. You should probably have sufficient penetration to make good shot placement worthwhile. After that, the greatest terminal cross section is best. This does not necessarily correlate to price of ammo, although it's hard to badmouth Winchester .44 Mag 250gr Partitions, if you can shoot them well in your gun.
