Changing ammo with seasons

[Cal44]

There is a recent interesting thread on carry rotations.

I have a related question.

Assuming you carry the same gun all the time, say a J frame revolver, do you change ammo based on season/weather?

For example, use a hollow point for summer where people are wearing light clothing/tee shirts.

And then in the winter something like full wadcutters that might penetrate better through heavy jackets.

Or do most people just go with the same load all the time?

 

[APS]

Same, a quality modern jhp. In 38 Hornady 110gr+P CD or Speer 135gr+P GD and in 9mm Speer 124+P GD.

 

[bigwheelzip]

The SD rounds I use were videoed penetrating through 2 layers of denim and 12-18 inches of ballistic gel. Good enough for me.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I ordinarily consider a "winter load" the best all year 'round, but I might, given sufficient reason, consider a "summer load" in the summer.

I consider your question a very good one, but I think that it is difficult for most people, certainly difficult for me, to answer it competently without knowing results of gelatin tests, perhaps using the FBI protocol, which is probably one of the better ones, but so expensive that they are probably about the only folks outside of a few ammo manufacturers who do it.

 

[shouldazagged]

Same the year around for me, .38 Special 158gr. LSWCHP, the standard-pressure Buffalo Bore gas-checked load which chronographs nearly identically with the old Remington +P FBI load.

I may try the Speer SB Gold Dot 135gr. +P, but if so I'll also carry it in all seasons.

 

[cmort666]

I carry the Federal 158gr. LSWC-HP .38 Special "FBI" load in my Smith 36-"no dash" 365 days/yr.

I don't really expect anything or anyone to shrug one of those off unless they're wearing a ballistic vest, which our garden variety hoodlums here rarely do.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Federal HST year round.

 

[tops]

If people change bullets according to the season they should also carry two guns. One with bullets for skinny people that won't over penetrate and another with bullets for big fat people that will need more penetration. One should always be prepared with the proper equipment. Larry

 

[The Big D]

Nope.

Inasmuch as LEO's don't do so I suggest there is not much reason for armed citizens to do it.

Be safe.

 

[Don 73]

The ammo in my carry guns (on and off duty) is regulated by department policy: 230gr T-Series for the Glock 21s and 127gr +P+ T-Series for the 9mm.

The "Heavy winter clothing" issue I don't believe is as much of an issue with the .45 because of the size of the hp cavity than it is with the 9mm which has a much smaller hp cavity. The deer I shot with the .45 had a good 1/2" layer of hair and some thick skin to go through before hitting vitals and all the rounds expanded perfectly (I know it's not 4 layers of denim, but I couldn't convince the deer to put on 4 pairs of pants first).

And I don't know how much faith I put in the "4 layers of denim test." 4 layers of heavy denim, packed tightly across the face of the gelatin block is not what I see actual people wearing in the winter. What I see is more like a couple of sweatshirts and a hoodie or a puffy jacket and it's not all tightly packed against the skin, except maybe on someone's thighs, and I'm not shooting for someone's thighs.

 

[JH1951]

One good load year round. For instance, what you are comfortable with to penetrate winter garb - I would use it year round.

 

[Pef]

The summer/winter carry debate is one that has arisen with the Internet.

Don't buy into it, unless the criminals wear Kevlar winter jackets in your area. If they do, start practicing headshots.

 

[Bozz10mm]

I use the same ammo year round. Federal HST. Here in Central Texas, I would be switching ammo on a daily basis during the Winter, if I went by the weather.

 

[Cal44]

If people change bullets according to the season they should also carry two guns. One with bullets for skinny people that won't over penetrate and another with bullets for big fat people that will need more penetration. One should always be prepared with the proper equipment. Larry

Or maybe a knob on the gun where you can adjust the power of the ammo right before firing.

Possibly whip out a tape measure and check the dimensions of the bad guy before adjusting the knob.

The sounds like something the California legislature would come up with.

 

[bcb577]

lehigh extreme penetrater for bodyguard 380

I carry a bodyguard 380 and I load lehigh extreme penetrater as rounds all year round.they are a scalloped headed fmj.the scalloping on the round allows it to penetrate to fbi standards through 4 layers of denim while creating a larger wound cavity.so with this round you get the best of both worlds of a penetration of a fmj and wound cavity of a hollowpoint.I have not shot this through my gun yet but testing has shown it feeds well into the bodyguard.

 

[V0OBWxZS16]

One good load all year round. 147 grain HST for me.

I carry a bodyguard 380 and I load lehigh extreme penetrater as rounds all year round.they are a scalloped headed fmj.the scalloping on the round allows it to penetrate to fbi standards through 4 layers of denim while creating a larger wound cavity.so with this round you get the best of both worlds of a penetration of a fmj and wound cavity of a hollowpoint.I have not shot this through my gun yet but testing has shown it feeds well into the bodyguard.

I have not found any evidence that the fluting is effective. If you are aware of any studies or wound ballistics experts that state it is I would like to know about it.

 

[Don 73]

I have not found any evidence that the fluting is effective. If you are aware of any studies or wound ballistics experts that state it is I would like to know about it.

From the test(s) I've seen the round tends to tumble, thus creating a slightly larger wound track than a FMJ.

The actual gel testing starts at 2:30

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYLbmSp5itA"]Lehigh Penetrating ammo[/ame]

 

[V0OBWxZS16]

From the test(s) I've seen the round tends to tumble, thus creating a slightly larger wound track than a FMJ.

The flutes are supposed to "spray" flesh outward causing permanent damage beyond the tissue directly crushed by the bullet. That's what I was referring to. I can't find any support for that idea actually working.

 

[Cal44]

The flutes are supposed to "spray" flesh outward causing permanent damage beyond the tissue directly crushed by the bullet. That's what I was referring to. I can't find any support for that idea actually working.

When the bullet hits it's going to be rotating. This could make the flutes act almost like a drill bit.

I don't see how this is any better than a normal expanding bullet which is also rotating when it hits, however.

 

[Faulkner]

But, but, but . . . what if you have your winter loads in your gun and you're in the mall where it's warm and the BG has his jacket off? Can you still shoot?

I think the seasonal ammo thing is much about nothing. Kind of like stories of the .30 carbine rounds supposedly bouncing off of Chinese soldiers wearing quilted jackets in Korea. You got to hit 'em first, until then nothing else much matters.