good defensive ammo for the mod 10?

[Mediumbore]

+1 for the traditional LSWCHP. The track record is tough to refute. Not a magic bullet, but solid. I also like the .38+P Gold Dot as relied upon by NYPD and LAPD for the remaining wheel guns in service.

 

[CH4]

Many good choices, but I prefer 135 Speer Gold Dot.

 

[ContinentalOp]

On simple blind faith, I bought a box of the "Hornady Custom" ammo in 38 Special, which lists a 158-grain XTP Hollow point bullet at 900 fps at the muzzle, to carry on duty.

Thank heavens I didn't have to use it! When I got a chance to test it I lined up four gallon jugs and let one fly, it easily perforated all four and kept right on going. So I put up five jugs, and tried again. Same result, and the exit hole in jug #5 was tiny. So I put up SIX jugs, and the bullet was found in the back wall of the last jug, with ZERO expansion. I was flabbergasted.

For as long as XTP has been on the market everything I've read said it was designed for maximum penetration with minimal expansion so I'm not surprised at all about your results. I'd only use XTP in a .380, assuming it fed reliably.

 

[papajohn428]

I'd buy Gold Dots in massive quantities if I could find them. Other calibers seem to be readily available, but the long-hoarded case of Gold Dots I bought ten years ago is nearly gone, and I'm looking for a suitable duty load. The Critical Defense ammo is light-for-caliber, the Critical Duty ammo is hard as a rock and designed for barrier penetration, and the good old FBI load is nowhere to be found. What I want is a good expanding bullet in a weight of 140-158 grains that works well from a 4" barrel.

Is that asking so much? I can find Gold Dots in 40 caliber any day of the week, but I haven't seen a box of 38's in several years, and I've been looking hard.

Given modern technology and all the excellent designs available, good defensive ammo shouldn't cost $1.50 a shot.