[Combat-wombat]

What bullet is the best for self/home defense? I want to know what you think/why you think so.

[blades67]

I use Federal Hydra-Shoks or Speer Gold Dots most of the time.

[Lone_Gunman]

I like Sellier and Bellot 230g FMJ 45 ACP.

I know, I know, everyone disagrees.

Oh well...

[Mizzoutiger]

What? No Gold Dots? :(

[Quintin Likely]

I've never shot anyone, nor have I ever been shot...although I'd gather any of the above would do some ugly things to the human anatomy.

Me personally? I like Hydrashoks...I haven't had anything but good results with Federal ammo.

[cool45auto]

I like Hydra Shoks, too. Lots of good reviews in the gun mags and on the 'net.

[Combat-wombat]

Damn! I knew I was missing an option on the poll, but I just forgot the name. Speer gold dots, that's it. Sorry.

[gbelleh]

Speer Gold Dots is what I mainly use. Based on my experience, they seem to be very consistent, good velocity and expand well.

Of those listed, I voted Golden Saber.

[P95Carry]

Hydrashocks ... I find that this long established category cycles flawlessly and have not been let down by any Fed ammo over years.

I do tho plan to see if I can get the newer ammo ... forget name .. the bullets have a sphere embedded in tip ... but still expand .. thus tending to remove the ''plugging'' effect from clothing that can happen. Need to find a source for these and then I'll switch probably .... feeding too sounds good because they are to all intents ....... same profile as FMJ's.

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

Volumes could be written on this subject; but
Federal Hydra-Shok's have always worked
well for me!:) :rolleyes: :uhoh:

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[Black_Talon]

For me it's WW RA45T (the "Ranger T" 230gr JHP).

You should add that and Gold Dots to your poll.

[makdaddy03]

Remington all the way...;)

[The Silver Bullet 1719]

Speer Gold Dots for me

[sig970]

Simply, I'm a hydra-shok fan

[Thumper]

Massad Ayoob and "Case Number Three" be darned!

My fave defense loads are my handloads.

Oh...except for 9mm...9mm I carry 115 gr. Cor-Bons.

[notbubba]

I like Cor Bon the best.
I shoot it better than the Hydra Shoks.

I also like Speer Golddot.

[landon74]

Of the provided choices I chose the Hydra-Shoks, but I prefer 185 gr Gold Dots in my carry gun.

[dbfort]

Cor-Bon or Triton Quik-Shok's


http://www.triton-ammo.com/products/images/QSSteps.jpg


http://www.triton-ammo.com/images/HiSpeedQS.gif

[firestar]

I vote for Black Talon or second choice would be Cor-Bon.

[Smoke]

Whatever is in the gun, whenever I need it.

[cratz2]

You've left off two of the best choices... Winchester Rangers and Speer/Geogia Arms Gold Dots. My gawd man!

Of those listed, prefer the GoldenSabers as the Hydrashoks seem to be among the least consistant expanders. Still pretty well proven though. ;)

[Berg01]

Hey, hold up! add Pro Loads or Gold Dots, and then Black Hills JHPs, then take your poll!

[GlocksRock]

I voted Golden Sabres, but I still prefer Gold Dots, and Cor-Bon. I also have some Hydrashoks in my G19 right now. It's all good, I feel confident that any good HP ammo will do it's part, as long as I do mine.

[Nathan Alexander]

A few of my police buddies showed me some fired hydra-shock 124 gr. 9mms in +P+ that look like they could be reloaded...absolutely NO expansion! Wouldn't trust my life with that...I prefer Remington's GS all the way!

[P95Carry]

A few of my police buddies showed me some fired hydra-shock 124 gr. 9mms that look like they could be reloaded...absolutely NO expansion! Nathan ...... you don't state what they were supposed to have hit!! Were they all retrieved from human tissue??

[Nathan Alexander]

Actually, no...they were retrieved from gelatin...from test rounds when the dept. was considering a chance in their carry loads...

[P95Carry]

Hmmm ... gelatin eh .......... surprised (and potentially disappointed) ....... can't find any right now but am sure I'd seen pics before that showed at least adequate expansion.

Mind you ... I doubt very much I'd be any more keen to get zapped by a round!!:p

[Nathan Alexander]

I agree...I wouldn't wanna be hit by it either. Do not be mislead...not ALL of the rounds they fired through it did not expand, but several did not AT ALL. Very odd, IMO.

-Nathan

[GlocksRock]

For what it's worth, mine are +p+ 124 grain rounds, in Hydra Shok, and the Gold Dots are +p.

[yucapote]

Speer Gold Dot

[riverdog]

Gold Dots and XTP's

[Frohickey]

I need to find some normal non +P 45 ACP loads with Gold Dots.

A wonderfully petalled Gold Dot is a beautiful sight.

I've seen a Hydrashok separate itself from its jacket. Nekkid bullets don't perform as well. :D

[Jim March]

The Gold Dot is so far the best design across the largest number of calibers. So far.

But I wouldn't trust it in all situations. 38+P in a snubby is one, 230grain 45ACP in a 3" tube is another. And it's not the top in all cases: I think the Corbon 165 Pow'R'Ball in 45ACP tops it's Gold Dot nearest competitor (185grain).

You have to figure out what works for each caliber, barrel length and application.

[CaesarI]

which caliber? HydraShocks have performed poorly through clothing/denim barriers in most calibers.

Golden Sabers generally do well.

The new all copper ones are doing well, but not as good as conventional hollowpoints.

The Nytrillium rounds are just a joke.

The PMC Starfires tend to do poorly in denim/clothing testing too.

Gold Dots, and Winchester Rangers are the two brands that can be said to be nearly universally good.
124gr GD
147gr GD
155gr GD
180gr GD
230gr GD
127gr R
147gr R
165gr R
180gr R
230gr R

All do well, according to the FBI, IWBA.

-Morgan

[Akurat]

Cor-Bon without a doubt, IMO.

[Pappy John]

I voted for, and carry Hydroshocks, mostly because that's what I can find most of the time in most any gun shop and I've tested them enough to know they cycle fine in my .45.

Placement, placement, placement.

Put 'em where they'll do the most good and I think it won't matter all that much what you're shooting, within reason.

The Powerballs kind of caught my attention in ads, but I have yet to see a box on the shelf. Of course I reload a lot so its been a few months since I looked for any "store bought" ACP.

[P95Carry]

Ahh Powerball ...... that was what I couldn't remember.

The spec is more than interesting ... should perform well .... just hope they'll show in stores soon

[Jack T.]

i prefer Triton Quik-Shoks, but voted for hydraShocks simply because i carry them in a S&W 360. . .

[George Hill]

What? No one listed an APHE round?

Odd.

[Desert Dog]

Corbon's or Triton Quikshoks...