[Chuck Perry]

As I sit and PATIENTLY wait for my 10mm 1911 conversion to be completed, I fantasize about the possibilities with different loadings in 10mm. 135-220 grain bullets offer something for every situation, and is often a point cited by proponents of the cartridge. But does anyone actually utilize multiple loadings? I know myself that I usually settle on one bullet weight/style and stick with it (ie 230g 45ACP, lead for practice, Hydra's for carry.) I'm not talking about so-called "cocktail loading" a magazine, but selecting a specific bullet weight from an assortment before leaving the house, dependant on that day's assumed activities.

[Blackhawk]

I don't.

I use the same stuff for practice and carry. I want things to be the same everytime I pull the trigger.

Plinking, however, is a different story. Whatever goes bang....

[CWL]

I do, but this is mostly due to mood & not application. I change brands but generally stick with 230gr JHPs for my .45, FMJ for my .32ACP although I jump between 115gr-124gr-147gr in 9mm.

I believe in three things regarding pistol ammunition:

1) No magic bullets;

2) Placement over everything else; and

3) People still have an ~80% chance of surviving handgun wounds.

[Flash Hole]

I Have multiple guns for a load. What I mean is I have pet loads that work for all my guns in that calibre. This way I dont have to worry about this load working in this gun and not that gun.

JOHN

[seeker_two]

I'll mix the type of reloads I have. If I'm carrying a .357, I'll load it w/ .38+P & have both .38 & .357 for reloads. My .45 1911 will be loaded w/ 200gr. HP's, but my extra mag will have 230gr. hardball.

My thinking is that, when I first fire, it'll be at relatively close range w/ an unshielded target (i.e. mugger attacking). If I have to reload, I'll probably be behind cover--and so will my target. At that point, I'll have to punch a hole THROUGH something in order to punch a hole IN something...:what:

[Chuck Perry]

That's a good idea seeker two. I have been thinking of doing the same with the 10mm when I place it into service. 135's in the weapon with deep penetrating 180's or 200's in the spare mags.

[jsalcedo]

In my daily carry makarov I have a 9 round cocktail of
2FMJ, 1 nickel plated hollowpoint 1 glaser saftey slug
alternating those 2 for the rest of the mag.

My spare mag is loaded with FMJs in case I need better penetration.

[WESHOOT2]

When I pick up most of my guns I have NO idea were the sights are...............shelves of different loads.

Just me :D.

[MCNETT]

I NEVER settle into just one load for any of my guns. It takes the fun out of it!
-Mike

[Dr.Rob]

Only when I'm carrying in snake country, the first 2 cylinders are CCI snakeshot, the rest are business loads. It took me a long time to decide which 357 load I liked the most, with the 158gr winning out. I still have boxes of 130gr 38, 38+p and 125 gr .357. I'll shoot it up some day.

When I keep my .44 for HD (rarely) I load it with 240gr hydrashocks, when I carry it in the woods it gets a diet of 240 soft points. (Different uses, different loads)

I still go back and forth on .380. I know the HS is a destructive little round, but the penetration isn't very good, esp if it hits bone. I sometimes pack up the .380 with Fiocchi 95 gr fmj.

I had a buddy that carried glasers in his P7, except in winter. He read somewhere that frangibles didn't work well against heavy clothing, so he'd carry golden sabres in the winter.

[Alan Fud]

I alternate every other round in the magazine -- 115grn 9mm ... 147grn 9mm ... 115grn 9mm ... etc. -- subscribing to BOTH schools with regards to heavy/slow bullets and lite/fast bullets.

A closely spaced double tap with this combination produces more damage than two heavy/slow bullets or two lite/fast bullets.

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Alligator Al: Share What You Know & Learn What You Don't.

[Double Naught Spy]

Strangely, I have seen several posts on other threads that refer to cocktail loading as a way to cause malfunctions (in semi-autos). Obviously, y'all don't seem to think that way. I have run up to 5 different makes and models of ammo in one mag, repeated for several mags, and had no problems. If the ammo runs good in the gun, then it does not seem to matter what round went before it if it runs good as well.

Given that I am generally happy with carrying all 230 gr. Hydra-Shoks, the only real cocktail changes I have considered is running the last round of a magazine as 230 gr. ball given that the last round of a magazine is the one most likely to not go into battery if there is a problem. So a ball round should cycle a little better and help to stave off a malfunction. Should? Would? Could? Who knows?

[Detachment Charlie]

I've been flamed for admitting this in the past, but, I do it. I carry a 230 gr. Hydra-Shock in the pipe (loaded from a mag.) and a mag full of 230 gr. ball. Why? My officer-sized .45 does not like to feed anything other than FMJ 100% of the time. But the first shot is the "money shot," so I cheat and load up a big, ugly first.
My gun, my ammo and my life. And, so far, I've lived a long and interesting life.

[Jaco]

I have one Speer Gold Dot in the pipe, and from then on alternating FMJ and HP. But this is with a .32 PPK.

If I would carry a larger caliber, I would keep it all HP. If someone shoots at you from behind cover, you would have enough time to get behind some cover yourself. I have been in such a situation, and even if I had a firearm with me at that time, I doubt it if I would have shot back anyway... But thats my inexpert opinion.

A friend of mine who has been in the army for 20 years, and most of that time operational, alternated HP and FMJ in his 1911 even when on active service.

[New_comer]

I also load a cocktail of ammo in different combinations in three of my 15-rd USP mags.

Bottom 5 are 124-gr FMJ's, middle 5 are 147-gr JHP's, top 5 are 115-gr JHP's in the first mag (my preferred combo).

The other two mags are loaded with the same ammo but different in order as the first.

If it's warm and balmy, and when at home, it would be the 115 gr on top. When it's cold, then I prefer the mag with the 147-gr on top.

When I travel to the forested area/woods in adjacent province, I prefer the FMJ's on top.

That's just the way that I've done it.

[22luvr]

When I was wringing out my P32 to see how it performed, I would load THREE completely different ammo types in the same mag to see if I could make it malfunction. In three years, it never did.

[HS/LD]

In a .40 there are a few different loadings / weights from 135 grains to 180 grains...

They all work. Winter or summer.

That said I carry a couple or three mags loaded with 165grain Golden Sabers.

Put your winter coat on... see if it will save you....

HS/LD

[Jaco]

22luvr,

Your comment makes me think of the time I tested my PPK after all the reliability questions were asked on the net. I loaded 5 different cartridges in a 7 round mag, repeated the experiment six times, and not one failure.