Originally posted by user:
Originally posted by Webby:
From a legal standpoint; check out the thoughts put forward by Mas Ayoob.
Carry what the local PD caries(if 9mm). If you ever have to use it, greatly helps "protect" you from a legal or civil charge that you used something improper.
This is a also a very good reason NOT to use handloads. A lawyer imply that your handloads were somehow excessive, inhumane etc.
I respectfully suggest that this is a load of crap. The reason for having a defensive handgun is to kill people. No lawyer needs anything more than that to show you had the willingness to kill. The question is going to be whether the circumstances were right for you to engage in behavior likely to lead to the death of another person. If you drew your weapon righteously, with the correct mental intent, then you're cool. If you didn't, you're screwed. (To use the technical legal terms.)
My preferences are all for Federal: hydrashock in the lightweight Kahr PM9, HST in the middleweight Kahr K9 and Sig 229, and HST +P in the relatively heavy Sig 226.