Your choice for personal defense load

[Sportsterguy]

Recently bought an SD9 and was wondering what others would consider carrying for a p/d load. Don't want to break the bank but want a quality load. My thoughts are these, not necessarily in this order.
Speer 115 gr Gold Dot
PMC Starfire 124 gr hp
Magtech 115 gr hp +p

If you guys have other suggestions by all means let's hear it, I know, I know don't trust your life to economy ammo but I'm not made of money.

I'd definately go with the GD's. They are the only brand I use in all of my carry weapons which are a Colt Commander (230 gr.), S&W 66 snub, .357 (158 gr.) and S&W 57 snub .41 mag. (210 gr.), with the CC being my main CCW. Saw the remains of a criminal shot to the chest a few years back by our local PD with a Glock 17 stuffed with 115 gr. GD's. He was hit 4 times but the chest shot put him down. Very impressive exit wound. I swapped over from Winchester Rangers to the GD's right after that. Worth every dollar per round IMO when it comes to you or your familes life!

As far as the money part goes practice with Winchester White Box ammo. Box of 100 can be had for $18.00 and occassionally (sp) practice with your carry round of choice for reliability and POI. MAKE SURE whatever brand you go with feeds reliably through your weapon before you start using it. I will not trust ANY ammo used for SD until I have shot 250 of the through my weapon to be absolutely sure it will feed reliably.

Hope this helps and stay safe.

 

[Phantom69]

9mm - +P Speer Gold Dot, 124gr
.40 - Federal HST 165gr

 

[dinooch]

124gr Hydra Shocks or 147gr Gold Dots for 9mm 115gr +P+ Federal 9BPLE is also a good choice. Bottom line is what works best and give you the best point of aim hits. Lighter faster rounds print lower than heavier slower rounds.

 

[71vette]

Winchester Ranger-T
Winchester Ranger Bonded or the PDX1
Federal HST
Speer Gold Dot

Stick to the 147's or at a minimum the 124's. They will all meet FBI specs.

 

[Mule88]

In a 9mm either 115 or 124 Gold Dot, In my 40 I use the 165 gn Gold Dot.

 

[Deputy25]

I'm issued Speer Gold Dot 125 HP in 357 Sig, so that's what I carry most of the time. Since the Speer ammo has worked so well for us, I generally use it in my 4506 (230 HP) and in my K and J-frames as well.

 

[pa5906tsw]

Well, for my 3913tsw, I moved to the Hornady Critical Defense 115 FTX. Shot off my 124 Remington Golden Sabres yesterday. Looked to try something different.

 

[Bicky Robby]

My wife's bedside gun is a M&P and is loaded with the new Hornaday Critical Duty 135 grain 9mm.

My bedside gun is looaded with plain ole 00-buck.

 

[Enframe]

My wife's bedside gun is a M&P and is loaded with the new Hornaday Critical Duty 135 grain 9mm.

My bedside gun is looaded with plain ole 00-buck.

I've been using the Hornady Critical Defense loads in everything from .380 to .45. I need to find some of the Critical Duty loads for comparison.

 

[SOUTHPAW]

Speer GoldDot & 1 Winchester STHP

38 special.....Speer GD SB 135gr.+P
357mag........Speer GD SB 135gr.Mag. & Win.145gr.STHP
9mm..........Speer GD 147gr.
45 Acp.......Speer GD 230gr.

 

[Magnum-Krazy]

I carry one of my 6 1/2" S&W 29-2's every day, the loads I keep in it are PMC Eldorado Starfire 240gr jacketed HP's.
Also carry two speed loaders with the same.



Ernie

 

[Sebago Son]

Speer 124 Grn Gold Dot +P

My choice as well. It's my understanding that a lot of LEO's who still carry 9mm use these.

Actually, I know several gun-savy LEO types that have GONE BACK to the 9P for this load based upon it's performance. Most who have done so came back from .40 S&W or .357 SiG Glocks.

It's what I carry. I buy it by the case from Ammoman.com.

 

[seagill]

I recently started to carry a Ruger LCR, which I'm loading with Buffalo Bore 158gr LSWCHP +P.

 

[s2harry]

I dont know if you are aware of just how much data is out there on self defense ammo. I looked around to get some input to add to my own preferences. Well I was shocked. We're well beyond the old Marshall one shot stop research here. There is this Doc Roberts writeup on ar15.com that had so much in it I had to quit reading it.

Remember there are failures of ALL ammo.
Always carry a reload.
After deleting 3 moronic paragraphs...
I got Glasser Blue for the wife's 38
Power Ball for the 45
Golden Saber in 38 9mm and 45.... now ill shut up

 

[oldman45]

Carry whatever you have. Most of those you mentioned place ads just like every other maker. There may be some validity to their ads but in the real world, any well placed round will have a good chace of stopping some perp.

Some say the JHP will be filled up with clothing and become a FMJ. I am fine with that as long as it goes into the person I am shooting.

Some say the round will go through the person and also the wall behind them only to hit someone else in that room. I am fine with that as well. If that happens, the person in the other room should not have been there and they are very unlucky. Then it may be if the round is made not to penetrate like that, the man I am shooting may be wearing a lot of thick clothing or have other items on that would restrict a round.

Please note that police carry regular JHP for the most part and they are the ones most likely to encounter a shooting in the same type areas the bullet makers want us to feel a danger to others.

 

[Lee D]

Try a bunch of different ones and use the one that you and the gun shoot best.

this.......^^^




me personally, i have been using the Hornady Critical Defense .357 load in my model 60

 

[Mphstiger1981]

Hornady Critical Defense in the 642 and Speer Gold Dots 124 grain +P in the Glock 19.

 

[oldman45]

Hornady Critical Defense in the 642 and Speer Gold Dots 124 grain +P in the Glock 19.

May I ask why the difference between guns?

 

[gettle70]

Best Choices for Self Defense Ammo

 

[Mphstiger1981]

May I ask why the difference between guns?

Sure, good question. I was able to locate the Speer Gold Dots in the local gun shop for the 9mm, but they were out of the GD in the .38. In the meantime, a friend gave me the Hornady Critical Defense as a gift. I have shot the Critical Defense and they seem to shoot more to poa for my 642 at 10 yards. Some of the heavier 148 grain rounds seemed to hit a little low, at least that was my personal experience.

I will also add I've heard nothing but praise, including the fact that the NYPD officers who are still allowed to carry snub nose revolvers carry the Gold Dot 135 grain +P. They apparently have been very pleased with the performance. I'd love to get some to shoot side by side with my other rounds for comparison purposes.