.40 cal defense ammo

[Ruger Nut]

I'm currently using Magtech 180 gr. jacketed hollow point ammo as my defense round.What is everyone here using in their 40VE as a defense round? I just want the best defense round I can find from opinions and facts.
BTW,this is the only gun (SW40VE) I own in .40 cal.

 

[J Rich]

I use Speer Gold Dots JHP. Georgia Arms JHP in my back up mag. Georgia Arms 165gr. FMJ for target.

 

[Neumann]

I'm currently using Magtech 180 gr. jacketed hollow point ammo as my defense round.What is everyone here using in their 40VE as a defense round? I just want the best defense round I can find from opinions and facts.
BTW,this is the only gun (SW40VE) I own in .40 cal.

Gold Dot, 180 grain. The recoil and point of impact are the same as my 180 grain practice ammo. Gold Dot is also available in 165 grain, for more velocity, slightly more muzzle energy and less penetration.

 

[Wirbech]

I carry the Winchester 165gr PDX1 JHP in mine. As for what you choose to carry could something different. I tried a few different rounds until I found the one that I liked and shoot the most accurate with. You may want to try a different ammo and then carry what you like the best.

 

[vector16]

Pain soup

I use Winchester 165gr JHP in mine as a base for what i have for home protection. Its my "You made a huge mistake by choosing to break into my house and robb me" round.
I like to finely crush glass, mix with coursly gound rock salt and fill the HP about half way with the mix. Top that with a drop or two with soft lead so the top of the bullet, itself, is still the same hieght as the original HP. File off any excess , load up and wait to make a not so smart guy's day a whole lot worse. If the initial shot don't kill him it will hurt like hell. and he'll be picking glass out of his butt the rest of his natural born life and reminding him of why its not a good idea to break in and surprise the person that lives in the house with the mean dogs. (See previous post on home security)

 

[J Rich]

Vector that's out there, but my neighbor and I put a live primer in a hp once. Once you fill in the hp it does want to open.

 

[Swockster]

Winchester Ranger 155gr "LEO" ammo. 14 in the Sigma and 28 more in two additional mags on my other hip.

 

[MrApathy]

remington umc 180gr JHP is huge and performs well at expansion
the remington golden saber line is very effective as well. golden sabers available in 180gr and 165gr. the cavaties on these will not clog easily. speer golddot 180 and 165gr are comparable but the speer golddot is thick plated bullet and can shred up losing the expanded partitions but it wont have jacket seperation from the plated copper. the golden sabers can have jacket seperation as can the umc. though it is only in extreme velocities 1150fps you will see these results minus the golddot heavy cloth can or leather can get the expanded partitions to sheer off.

winchester whitebox jhp and hornady xtp's are poor expanders.

 

[Research Nerd]

I use Hornady Critical Defense 165 grain. Hopefully I'll never have to test it.

 

[Swockster]

I use Hornady Critical Defense 165 grain. Hopefully I'll never have to test it.

Amen to that brother.

 

[spcantwell]

I hate to bring up a 'specialty' ammo, but does anyone have experiance with the CCI shotshells? I know that they are useless for carry but they seem interesting for home defence (and they wont go though anything they arnt supposed to).

 

[J Rich]

I hate to bring up a 'specialty' ammo, but does anyone have experiance with the CCI shotshells? I know that they are useless for carry but they seem interesting for home defence (and they wont go though anything they arnt supposed to).

I haven't messed with shotshells, but you are wanting something that doesn't go though 8 layers of sheet rock. I suggest using a Frangible round like Extreme Shock, DRT, or SBR. Those go through 1 layer of sheet rock but usually not the 2nd layer.

 

[sonic]

I hate to bring up a 'specialty' ammo, but does anyone have experiance with the CCI shotshells? I know that they are useless for carry but they seem interesting for home defence (and they wont go though anything they arnt supposed to).

The shotshells are useless period, unless you are using them for extremely close shots (a couple feet) to a mouse/snake or something along those lines. My dad bought some out of curiousity in .38 special and put them through a .357 with a 6" barrel. They opened up super quick and didn't do much of anything according to him. Not to mention they are VERY expensive. As far as home defense you'd have to shoot someone in the eye socket from 3" to possibly incapacitate them with a CCI shotshell.

 

[spcantwell]

The shotshells are useless period, unless you are using them for extremely close shots (a couple feet) to a mouse/snake or something along those lines. My dad bought some out of curiousity in .38 special and put them through a .357 with a 6" barrel. They opened up super quick and didn't do much of anything according to him. Not to mention they are VERY expensive. As far as home defense you'd have to shoot someone in the eye socket from 3" to possibly incapacitate them with a CCI shotshell.

I haven't messed with shotshells, but you are wanting something that doesn't go though 8 layers of sheet rock. I suggest using a Frangible round like Extreme Shock, DRT, or SBR. Those go through 1 layer of sheet rock but usually not the 2nd layer.

thats pretty much what I expected. I know its the general feeling towards pretty much anything beyond hollow point... but they looked interesting so I had to see what real people thought of them.

 

[deerhtr]

using hornady critical defense in my sd 40.

 

[Crythzuel]

im kind of picky. in my home defense mags, the top 6 rounds are extreme shock 100gr frangables. the rest are remington golden saber hollow points. i use the frangables on top because i live in a condo.

my standard carry mags are loaded with the 4 top rounds being golden saber hollow points and the rest being a controled expansion jacketed bullet. im always trying new ones. the theory being that the first shots would be at close range, while later shots may need distance.

cory.

 

[Crythzuel]

and a few mags of black talons in the "im having a bad day bag."

 

[Ranger98]

Winchester Silvertip 155 grain jacketed hollowpoint (X40SWSTHP)
Less kick than 180 Grain but good stopping power

 

[Swockster]

Winchester Silvertip 155 grain jacketed hollowpoint (X40SWSTHP)
Less kick than 180 Grain but good stopping power

Outstanding rounds! Nothing but goodness in a Silvertip!

 

[Takamine350]

180 GR Federal HST!

 

[shawn mccarver]

I'm currently using Magtech 180 gr. jacketed hollow point ammo as my defense round.What is everyone here using in their 40VE as a defense round? I just want the best defense round I can find from opinions and facts.
BTW,this is the only gun (SW40VE) I own in .40 cal.

Go with the new FBI round, the Winchester 180 grain bonded JHP. You can buy it in Bureau overrun white boxes or as the commercial loading, called PDX1.

 

[Scrat]

Currently using hornady critical duty 175 gr

 

[ditto1958]

I haven't messed with shotshells, but you are wanting something that doesn't go though 8 layers of sheet rock. I suggest using a Frangible round like Extreme Shock, DRT, or SBR. Those go through 1 layer of sheet rock but usually not the 2nd layer.

When I first got my SD9, I bought a box of DRT frangible ammo. The first half of the box, the SD9 did not like the DRT at all. Completely unreliable. I saved the second half until the gun was broken in better. No improvement at all.

FWIW, the frangible ammo is really impressive if you use it to shoot a gallon milk jug filled with water. Makes an awesome explosion.

 

[J Rich]

When I first got my SD9, I bought a box of DRT frangible ammo. The first half of the box, the SD9 did not like the DRT at all. Completely unreliable. I saved the second half until the gun was broken in better. No improvement at all.

FWIW, the frangible ammo is really impressive if you use it to shoot a gallon milk jug filled with water. Makes an awesome explosion.

Who dug up this old thread?


You say SD9 so does that mean gen1 SD9 or SD9VE?

The gen 1 SD should take whatever you feed it. The SDVE may need a touch of ramp work for some types of ammo.

 

[HalfStack]

PDX1 124+P 9mm in my Sigma and PDX1 165 40sw in my P250.

 

[EBK]

I like Hornady 175 grain Critical duty. But I am a heavy for caliber kinda guy

 

[Bello]

I use 165 grn speer gold dot hollow points. In a Glock 27

 

[rodbilyeu]

I use 180 grain hollow point ammo what ever I can find have winchester now

 

[scattershot]

I use Winchester 165gr JHP in mine as a base for what i have for home protection. Its my "You made a huge mistake by choosing to break into my house and robb me" round.
I like to finely crush glass, mix with coursly gound rock salt and fill the HP about half way with the mix. Top that with a drop or two with soft lead so the top of the bullet, itself, is still the same hieght as the original HP. File off any excess , load up and wait to make a not so smart guy's day a whole lot worse. If the initial shot don't kill him it will hurt like hell. and he'll be picking glass out of his butt the rest of his natural born life and reminding him of why its not a good idea to break in and surprise the person that lives in the house with the mean dogs. (See previous post on home security)

I'm not real sure that would be any more effective than regular hollowpoint ammo, but if you ever have to shoot one of the "poor, misguided choirboys, who was just trying to turn his life around" that are so prevalent these days, be prepared for the opposing attorney to paint a picture of you as a demented maniac who stays awake nights looking for ways to inflict pain and suffering.

 

[KX_693]

I'm not real sure that would be any more effective than regular hollowpoint ammo, but if you ever have to shoot one of the "poor, misguided choirboys, who was just trying to turn his life around" that are so prevalent these days, be prepared for the opposing attorney to paint a picture of you as a demented maniac who stays awake nights looking for ways to inflict pain and suffering.

Excatly, i know that any modified rounds are not a good idea if you ever do have to use one of them. The opposing attorney is for sure going to use that against you and just how it goes today you are going to be the one who ends up behind bars.