Basic rules for Defense Ammo?

[marklbucla]

I already understand that I need to run at least 100 of each defense round that I'm considering to test for reliability, but what about the other basics for carry/defense ammo?

How often do I need to practice with it vs. regular FMJ?

What is the maximum reliable shelf life? (Federal Hydra-Shok to be more specific)

Should I have a small stockpile like range ammo, or will a box of 50 do?

(or anything else that I should know?)

 

[mete]

Properly stored [cool dry place] ammo will last well over 20 years. At least 200 rounds without failure is the test for reliability. For defense ammo I have at least 100 rounds.Repeatedly chambering a round will push the bullet back into the case and cause dangerous pressures. As long as the point of impact is about the same there is no need to practice with the defense ammo.GET GOOD TRAINING !!!

 

[Preacherman]

Mete speaks wisdom. For defensive use, you should put a minimum of 200 rounds of that ammo, in those magazines, through that weapon, without a single malfunction of any sort, in order to be confident in it. Have a second example of the same gun? - then put another 200 through that one too.

As for ammo on hand, I try to have not less than 100 rounds available, preferably more. Every time I cycle a load into the action, I try to note how many times that round has been loaded. After a maximum of three cycles, that round is put into my "range use" box, and a new one replaces it. This is to avoid bullet setback. (Obviously, in a revolver, this doesn't apply.)

If the round I like is hard to come by (e.g. geographic distribution, scarcity of local dealers stocking it, etc.) I"ll try to buy extra supplies, so as not to run short unexpectedly.

As for practice: my approach is to use the cheapest possible practice ammo, because that way, I do a lot more practising! I've bought a couple of Glocks in 9mm. for use solely as training guns, and have many thousands of rounds through them. My carry weapons are .40 S&W Glocks, but they share identical sights, triggers and ergonomics to my training guns, so everything carries over. I shoot enough .40 to remain familiar with its recoil, POA/POI, etc.

 

[C. H. Luke]

"How often do I need to practice with it vs. regular FMJ?"

That would vary with one's skill level in general.
Have to be tuned in to how the gun acts, recoils and groups with your preferred SD ammo. Can pratice with lower power ammo and some RN that approx. ft. lbs. of your carry ammo.
If your skill levels are good, still need to shoot ca. 200 rounds per month to keep them sharp.
Dry-Practice of ca. 1/2 hr. several times per week helps a lot.

 

[Richard.Howe]

All good points. One is missing:

If you keep one in the pipe all the time, but unload it tor target shooting, be careful. When you finish target shooting and clean your gun, some lube/CLP/etc. might remain in your chamber. Then you re-chamber the self-defense round. Repeat.

Problem is, the solvent/lube/whatever can weep into your in-the-pipe round. Especially if you go through several of these cycles with the same delf-defense round.

So...either make doggone sure your chamber/barrel is completely dry before going back to self-d rounds, or shoot the top self-d round every time you go target shooting.

The best solution would be substituting "and" for "or" in the last sentence.

Rich

 

[R.H. Lee]

Plus you could get some bullet setback in an autoloader, after several chamberings. Not real likely with commerical ammo, but I've seen it happen.

 

[Tall Man]

Basic rules for defense ammo?

My personal rules:

1. Factory loaded. Not negotiable.
1a. U.S. brand ammuniction; U.S. production.
2. +P rating.
3. Proven reliability in the relevant pistol, vis-a-vis feeding characteristics.
4. Maintain two boxes (20 rds. each) per caliber, minimum, at all times.
5. Exclude price during analysis and purchase process.

I prefer Cor-Bon, but am quite amenable to Federal Hydra Shok, too.

TM

 

[Fumbler]

My rules:
-make sure the gun is reliable with it as mentioned above.
-it should be a hollow point or some sort of expanding bullet to reduce riccochets
-US made, factory loaded, and readily available
-no fancy low penetrating extreme SWAT ninja $3/round ammo.
-I keep my defensive ammo in a separate area from my range ammo so if I need it in a high stress situation I don't have to go digging through my range stuff
-keep it in a dry place
-buy a new box every month and shoot the oldest box of defensive ammo I have. Shelf life isn't a concern, I keep the ammo dry and cool, but I shoot the oldest ammo anyway as a way to easy my mind. When I shoot it and it goes bang I think to myself "if I had to use it, it would have worked." hehe
-I usually have about 50 rounds of it, I'm too poor to have more laying around and I don't feel like I need more. If I need more than 50 rounds of defensive ammo then the buckshot comes out.
-my caliber is 9mm, I like +P Gold Dots.

 

[Black Snowman]

For me:

1) reliable (includes acceptable accuracy, if it doesn't go where it's supposed to, it doesn't work)
2) enough penetration
3) bigger hole is better. If I need a non-expanding bullet to get enough penetration give me the biggest meplat available.

I'll reload it if I can't get the above with factory ammo. They can sue me if they want, I'd rather be alive and broke than dead and rich any day of the week. Right now they'd have to garnish my wages to get anything anyway and I don't have a family to support.

If I reload I can practice with my exact carry ammo anywhere between two and five times as much for the same cost as if I buy factory. If I had a family to support and who could be hurt in a cival suit I'd probably use factory ammo, JIC.

 

[SpookyPistolero]

I have little to add to the wisdom already given here, but I can personally attest for the bullet setbacks after repeated chamberings. I had a carry bullet do that to me, so now I keep one in the chamber at all times. But I dont have kids or frequent visitors to worry about should the weapon not be strapped to me while chambered. Best of luck-

-Spooky

 

[Mannlicher]

Reliability is a relative thing. The calls for 100, or 200 rounds to 'insure' reliability are more fad than fact. The only round that you can ever be 100% sure of, is the last one you fired. With modern factory ammo, if a magazine full feeds and fires, I think you are good to go.

Modern ammo, stored in a cool, dry place, will last longer than you will. Don't worry about it.

Practice with what you carry. Sure, shoot a lot of range ammo, but try to use the same bullet weight, and basic design for practice. Then be sure to shoot some with the load you carry. You have to know what it feels like, and you have to know its accuracy in your gun.

50 rounds is a 'small stockpile'? I should have you drop by here sometime

So far as 'factory vs handloads', that is a decision we all make. I base the choice on several factors, NONE of which include psycho babble about lawyers. I use the best load for the gun. Sometimes, as with revolvers, this almost always means my handloads. I don't load for autoloaders, so the question does not come up with those, its always HydraShock.

 

[Fumbler]

He's not saying 50 rounds is a small stockpile, she's asking if he needs a small stockpile or just 50 rounds.

 

[Valkman]

What's paramount is to shoot the same ammo you're going to carry and make sure it works in your gun. My Kimber CDP shot my reloads and WWB great, but with Ranger T it started locking back with rounds in the mag. Don't be cheap with the carry ammo either - to be sure I have enough I buy 500rd cases from Proload. Always have some to practice with.