Originally posted by badguybuster:
Well, for the sake of this post, lets go with 4". So far the best round I have found is the .357 Hornady Leverevolution. It is very accurate, expands very well, but kicks like a mule and tends to over penetrate (not so good for defensive round). I tried the Federal 125 JHP and had several failures to expand. Hydra shoks were not too great either. I am shooting into 12" of heavily compressed cardboard.
You are fairly unlikely to be attacked by cardboard.
Try shooting into water. It better simulates human and animal tissue.
Gelatin testing has to be done under controlled lab conditions, is messy, and is unavailable to the average gun owner.
WHAT you are shooting matters, too. I like Hornady's 140 grain bullets on larger animals, but think they open too slowly on people. Then 145 grain Winchester Silvertip is good, and the Federal Hydra-Shok and Speer Gold Dot ammo have good reputations. I wonder if the 158 grain Gold Dot is fast enough, though...Speer advised the 125 grain for shooting crooks.
The outright fastest stopper on people is the 125 grain full power round, but it is fierce to fire, and rough on K-framed S&W guns. If you are openly carrying an L-framed gun or a Ruger GP-100, it makes some sense.
If you are wearing a concealed J-frame or a Ruger SP-101, the medium power Remington 125 grainer is a good idea, if only in the 9mm power range. Frankly, when I can find them, I prefer .38 lead HP ammo in those guns.
What do I really carry in normal circumstances? A Model 66-3, four-inch barrel, with Federal 158 grain Hydra-Shoks. This is worn on a duty belt, in uniform. (I work security at an upscale residential and shopping property three nights a week.)It has enough smack for people, and enough penetration for big, mean dogs and probably, bears, if I should encounter one while off in the woods. Will take down a cougar,too, I'm sure. But big dogs are a more likely target. And people, of course, often in cars.
T-Star
