Self Defense Ammo? What's the best?

i guess I'm a little old school & use the Black Talon.
I have it in 9mm & .45, not for sale.
They are suppose to open up like a flower when inside the body with, I believe with five or six jagged flowers. Nasty stuff, ouch.
 
The caliber wars will go on forever but shot placement rules here. I carry either a Colt Cobra or Smith 442 in retirement loaded with the old style 158 grain +P FBI load. During my 30 year LEO career I had to use my service revolver in the line of duty more than once and that load did the job every time. I'm sure the other loads mentioned here work as well or better, but I'll cast my lot w/what worked in my past.
 
The caliber wars will go on forever but shot placement rules here. I carry either a Colt Cobra or Smith 442 in retirement loaded with the old style 158 grain +P FBI load. During my 30 year LEO career I had to use my service revolver in the line of duty more than once and that load did the job every time. I'm sure the other loads mentioned here work as well or better, but I'll cast my lot w/what worked in my past.
Me too. All of my several revolvers are loaded with this "Old School" Technology; it is a SUPERB LOAD. Primary home defense weapons are two 20ga shotguns loaded with buckshot.
 
All my house and carry guns get loaded with Glaser Safety Slugs.
Penetration with Glasers suck...They can leave a nasty surface wound, but usually not deep-enough to really be all the effective...And if you have to shoot through heavy clothing, etc., forget about it.
 
I prefer 147Gr Bonded in my 9c's; more push but less snap.
Tomac
 
If we are talking about protection of your home (inside the house) then long distance target acquisition is not an issue. In my home, protection of others in the house is my first concern. Keeping in mind that the intruder must be neutralized.
My first choice is my Rem. 870 with low brass 7 1/2 shot, for indoor use. The only reason for a handgun is for low profile and ease of concealed carry. If we must move down to a pistol or revolver then my first choice is Glaser "Blue", for in house use. My best friend is a 30 year nurse who has worked in autopsy and has seen, up close and personal, what this round has done. Having said that, any round placed in the correct location will take a person out. The Glaser "should not" jump from room to room, helping to protect others.
Any other ammo that you may use inside your home, I feel, should be of a type or design that will reduce the probability of over penetration. As we have all been taught, know not only your target but beyond should be known.
Hornady Critical Defense, Magtech, and Cor-Bon I have found to be good reliable ammunition. As you know there are other great rounds out there. It always comes down to what works best in your weapon and for you, you must be comfortable with the ammo. If needed reduced-recoil ammo may be a good choice.
The single most important matter in protecting your home and family is you, staying calm and acquiring your (correct) target. Many of us have had the training but never had to use it. Hope you never have to encounter an intruder. Remember most encounters of this type are less than ten feet.
Good Luck.
 
A similar question was asked some time ago and one of the best answers was "Whatever my wife feels comfortable shooting".
 
No matter what round or caliber you use read what was said to you. Practice,Practise, practice. Most of the time I carry a 642-2 with .38 silver tips. I also carry a 25 caliber. But with this one you have to practice until the action is automatic and the target acclemation is assured. It is on you.
 
For the house I have an old double barreled 12 guage loaded with number 7.5. Comes up quick and makes an impression when closed. RAther Loud. When I was a Peace officer it served its purpose in an attempted home invasion.
 
In short, nothing is "best". Some loads/calibers are better than others under certain circumstances. Many people simply buy whatever their local Police use because it's most defensible in court. And you will go to court if you have to shoot someone. Hopefully not criminal court, but to civil court for the wrongful death suit the decedents family almost always seem to bring.
 
Buckshot in my 20ga. A close second, old Remington 158gr SJHP in my 357 mag. A distant third, 230gr PMC Starfire HP in my 45acp!
 
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I've never shot anyone so I base my choices on what I've personally seen when shooting into a target and looking at expansion. I also prefer to carry something where recoil and flash are not too much of a problem. For me the best results I've seen are listed below in the calibers I carry for self defense.

.38 Spl in 4" barrel (Remington Golden Saber 125 gr +P)
.38 Spl in 2" j-frame (Hornady Critical Defense 110gr +P)
.357 in 6" barrel (Magtech Gaurdian Gold 125 gr)
.357 in 4" barrel (Hornady 158 gr HP)
9mm in 4" barrel (Federal Hydra Shock JHP)
 
Best? I cannot say what is best for SD ammo. I can only give my opinion. It is my opinion that a good 1911 loaded with 230 gr. FMJ's will be very effective at across the room/down the hall distances for SD/HD. Such a round eliminates any concern about expansion. There will be none. Such a round eliminates any concern about lack of penetration. There will be plenty. Properly directed to the center of mass the result should be that the subject will immediately calm down and cease to be a threat. If this is not the immediate result, one can always fire another shot.

As to the potential of over-penetration, just about any SD/HD round will completely penetrate a subject. There might be some individuals who will be so large that this would not be a problem. But typical men are not NFL linebackers. And on typical men, just about any decent SD/HD round will almost certainly exit unless it hits a obstruction of bone, etc.

My own thought is that should it ever be necessary to protect myself or my family in a SD/HD incident, I want the round I employ to give sufficient penetration that vital organs, etc. will be reached regardless of the angle at which engagement occurs... or what barriers might be interposed.
 
If you had to drive to the store, what's the best vehicle to get you there?
 
First we do have options;

1. The dogs will sound the alarm first. I'm a light sleeper and if my 5 cats are making noise the dogs won't sound off but if its not the cats the dogs will sound off.
2. Using a Mickey Mantle home run slugger (baseball bat) is very stealthy if you have the room to swing it. But there's a sack shot too right?
3. Turn the misses loose on him (just kidding)
4. Shotgun 12ga with "00" buck.
5. A 9mm luger, 38special, 357mag or 44 mag with frag bullets. Remember standard bullets will go though the invader, your house and may end up in your neighbors house too.


I like the 12ga "00" buck for first line defence. But i been thinking of looking into the new frag bullets for upclose and personal work too.

Remember with an intruder in the house we must teach our wives were only going to say this once, "cover your ears"...... Plus the first ratchet of the 12ga should end a confrontation. On my 12ga i have the sling full of "00" buck and the stock shell holder full of the 400gr slugs incase its a bear comming for din-din. I sleep with my 9mm/41mag anyway incase.
 
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If you had to pop an intruder, what round would you want in your gun? Gold Dot? Ranger SXT? Federal HST? Hornady? Golden Saber? CorBon? And why?

Depends on caliber. If you believe the studies (and some don't), these seem to work:

9mm: Winchester 127 grain JHP +P+ and Federal 9BPLE (115 grain JHP +P+)

.40: Federal 155 grain Hydra-Shok, Winchester 180 grain Bonded JHP

.45 ACP: Federal 230 grain Hydra-Shok

38 Special: 135 grain Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel, Winchester 158 grain Lead Hollow Point +P.

.357 Magnum: 125 grain JHP (there are issues with this round and flame cutting, so do your research), Winchester 145 grain Silver Tip.

That said, placement of the shot is the first issue.
 
Hornady Critical Duty is my preference or otherwise Hornady Critical Defense if I can't get critical Duty
 
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