...once I run some defensive ammo through it and I'm confident in my ammo choice (some advice from you guys on this forum.)
Check out Winchester "Train and Defend". What this is is two different ammos - one for training, and one for defense. But they are matched. Same bullet profile, same bullet weight, same velocity. The point being, you train (or prove in your gun's reliability with the ammo) using the "Train" product, then switch to the "Defend" product for carry. I have bought the Train stuff for as low as $12 per 50 (on sale). Typically, the Train is more like $15 per 50. The Defend stuff is closer to $1 per round. So the Train is not as cheap as the rock bottom 115gr range bulk ammo, but it's still reasonable, given that you are using it to prove in your pistol for the much more expensive self-defense version. With other ammos, you have to prove in your gun using the expensive stuff that you plan to carry. For self-defense ammo, plan on $1 per round for any of it. That's nothing given how little of it you carry. But proving your gun is reliable with it? now THAT's expensive! I want a couple hundred rounds through my carry gun before I trust an ammo. 300 rounds would be my minimum. That's $300 if you have to test with the real self-defense ammo. About $90 if you use Winchester Train and Defend (even cheaper if you shop around to find the Train on sale).
Of course, if the Defend variety is not good self-defense ammo, then all of this is for nothing. But the deal is that Defend is VERY GOOD self-defense ammo. Here's a video where the guy does some ballistic testing of it:
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwsVe1fxXLE[/ame]
I have had exceptionally good luck with this ammo. I have proven in many pistols using the train stuff. hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of rounds between them all. Never had a failure. The guns (all 9mm's) I've proven in with it are: S&W Shield, H&K P30S, Keltec PF9, Glock 17. Still pending is testing it in an XD/S 9mm.
