As I now live in a town home with a common wall my nightstand revolver is loaded with the Federal brand treasury loads. My carry revolver a 4" M-19 is loaded with Speer 158Gr. .357 Magnum rounds.
Your choice for personal defense load
- Thread starter thndrchiken
- Start date
As I now live in a town home with a common wall my nightstand revolver is loaded with the Federal brand treasury loads. My carry revolver a 4" M-19 is loaded with Speer 158Gr. .357 Magnum rounds.
My 2 cents worth 9mm self defense round
I second the Federal HST. It is the best. I carry the 124gr +P. Fiocchi has a new 92gr Mono-Block that is worth looking into. It has impressive expansion test. It has a massive center post core much larger than hydra shoks for penetration and the jacket opens impressively upon impact. It also has a 1300 fps muzzle velocity. The price is also right at 25 bucks for 50 rounds. I ordered some yesterday from ATG.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pbv-frtRqmw
I second the Federal HST. It is the best. I carry the 124gr +P. Fiocchi has a new 92gr Mono-Block that is worth looking into. It has impressive expansion test. It has a massive center post core much larger than hydra shoks for penetration and the jacket opens impressively upon impact. It also has a 1300 fps muzzle velocity. The price is also right at 25 bucks for 50 rounds. I ordered some yesterday from ATG.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pbv-frtRqmw
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fdnyretired
Member
I like the Federal Hydra-Shock
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My choice.
Gold Dot 135 gr designed specificly for the 2 inch barrel like my S&W 642, my primary carry.
Gold Dot 135 gr designed specificly for the 2 inch barrel like my S&W 642, my primary carry.
luangtom
US Veteran
Agreed....except it is in either my M&P340 or 340PD....
ldp4570
US Veteran
There are only two I carry full time. SW 3913 loaded with 129gr+P Black Talons(Still have a few hundred rounds), second in my SW 640ND loaded with Federal 158SWCHP+P. As long as I do my part, they will do their's!
BlackSky
Member
Cor-Bon 200 grain DPX .44 Special
or
Federal Hydra-Shok 230 grain .45 ACP
or
Speer Gold Dot 230 grain .45 ACP
or
Remington Golden Saber 230 grain .45 ACP
or
Federal Hydra-Shok 230 grain .45 ACP
or
Speer Gold Dot 230 grain .45 ACP
or
Remington Golden Saber 230 grain .45 ACP
ab4ka
Member
I carry Hornady Critical Defense 115gr 9mm in my 6906 and my Kel-Tec PF9. I read enough good things about them that I bought some and tried them, and I have yet to have an issue with them in either gun (and I've shot enough of them to be comfortable with that).
But, I think the reality of it is that any brand of SD ammo is probably good enough...it's getting shots on target that matters most.
But, I think the reality of it is that any brand of SD ammo is probably good enough...it's getting shots on target that matters most.
Condition Yellow
US Veteran
Sportsterguy
Member
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.
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Mule88
Member
In a 9mm either 115 or 124 Gold Dot, In my 40 I use the 165 gn Gold Dot.
Deputy25
Member
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
Member
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
Member
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.
My bedside gun is looaded with plain ole 00-buck.
Enframe
Member
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.
Magnum-Krazy
Member
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
Also carry two speed loaders with the same.
Ernie
Sebago Son
Member
Speer 124 Grn Gold Dot +P
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.
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
US Veteran
I recently started to carry a Ruger LCR, which I'm loading with Buffalo Bore 158gr LSWCHP +P.
s2harry
Member
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
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
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.
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.
this.......^^^
me personally, i have been using the Hornady Critical Defense .357 load in my model 60
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Mphstiger1981
Member
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?
Mphstiger1981
Member
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.
