hollow points and defensive ammo

[BP Hunter]

I am curious as to the effectiveness of hollow point/defensive ammo for SD. I carry a .38 special snubby with hollowpoint/defensive ammo. Will these type of ammo including ther 9mm defensive ammo be as effective in stopping a BG versus a .40SW or .45 full jacketed bullet. Let's say also the bullet placement is also equally placed. I am trying to avoid carrying a .40SW of .45cal pistol. No, no name calling. I am just more comfortable and and more confident with bullet placement with 9mm ammo.

 

[carebear]

Any modern hollowpoint will in general expand and impart its energy to the target as designed. If your placement is adequate it will, in general, do just about as well as any other round.

You are fine with your .38 or 9mm.

In many ways the caliber and bullet design is the least important part of armed self-defense. Too much time is spent worrying about round selection, too little is spent on mindset, tactics and developing / maintaining shooting skills.

 

[CoRoMo]

Here's a good thread I found through the search.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=206165

 

[psyopspec]

I am just more comfortable and and more confident with bullet placement with 9mm ammo.

Then that's fine.

One can't deny that if two shots are equally placed, and one is a 9mm, and one is a .45, that the .45 hole will be larger. However, the differences are incredibly minute, and very relative. Shot placement still matters more than anything else, and for whatever reason, if 9mm or .38 Special is what you can be accurate with, you've made a good choice.

 

[BeltfedMG]

I carry RADWAY GREEN NATO 9mm 95gr jacketed soft point, in a mp5 for car gun.

My 45 is Hornady TAP

The others are just what i grab

 

[GodGuns&Guitars]

LEO

In my time of LEO duty I've seen two men go down and die from 22 long Rifle, and in another instance/case one man took 6/357 158 grain magnum hollow points to center mass and was still standing. He did however go down after a well placed 12 guage 00buck. A 22 is better than no weapon at all. Carry what suits you and I hope and pray you never have to resort to deadly force.

 

[DeepSouth]

In many ways the caliber and bullet design is the least important part of armed self-defense. Too much time is spent worrying about round selection, too little is spent on mindset, tactics and developing / maintaining shooting skills.

AMEN!!.......And this from a guy who doesn't own a 9mm and loves his .45's

 

[Superlite27]

I am trying to avoid carrying a .40SW of .45cal pistol.

I had the same problem. I only wanted to carry a .380, but those darned 1911's kept catching my eye. I fought the urge to buy one for the longest time, but my resolve finally cracked, and I bought one "just to shoot, not to carry".

Lot of good that did. Now I won't leave the house without my STI, Springfield Armory, or Kimber in my holster. As a matter of fact, I went so far as to take advanced, tactical, and low light professional training with them. Seems those pesky .45's that I would never, ever, under any circumstaces carry, have become the one and only pistol you will never find me without. Familiarization has proven to be the deciding factor. I picked up a Jericho 941 the other day, and although it fit my hand perfectly, and felt very comfortable, its method of operation is different than what I have formed my "muscle memory" on, so I won't carry one.

I am unable to base my accuracy on type of ammo, as I believe accuracy is the result of many variables. Each and every person has their own preference for any particular firearm. It is what you are comfortable with. As stated earlier, it is shot placement, not size of hole that effectively "stops" a bad guy. Some hollow points in .38 sp have had problems expanding out of short barrels due to lower velocities. I've fired both Federal Hydra-Shoks and Hornady FTX's out of my .38 snubbie into gallon jugs of water at about 20 yards (further than I'd be comfortable engaging a target in real life with the same firearm) and they expanded just fine.

I'd say a good "name brand" hollow point would be very effective out of a .38 sp when it hits a critical area.

Fortunately, I carry a .45, so I only need to hit them in the pinky to incapacitate them.

 

[hardluk1]

Do a search for AYOOB and search around threw some of his treads and one thing you will learn . Its more about placement of bullets then good bullet design and fps than just bullet size. No not all bullets are as good as others and there lays the problem. Even the fbi with there test find sometimes after a shootout that a bullet design they thought would do the job ,did not, and the circle starts over for them. Just practice with fmj ammo so all becomes natural to do and if you ever do need your gun it will already be there and you can hit your target.

 

[BP Hunter]

Thanks for all your responses. These are the answers I was looking for. I am looking at a 9mm for carry. I'mn looking closely at the Walther PPS 9mm. They are sooooo thin, so concealable and so 9mm. But for $600 plus, it's going to have to wait on my wish list.

 

[Shadow 7D]

have you looked at some of the small nines like a kel-tec or kahr?

 

[hinton03]

A must read. Search on line for:

FBI Handgun wounding Factors and Effectiveness study.

 

[ByAnyMeans]

I go with a nine millimeter myself, but it goes without saying that .40s&w and .45acp are great calibers. I shoot 9mm well and can get in more practice with it. A good hollowpoint for defensive work and i'm fine.

 

[RP88]

caliber should be based on preference other than 'stopping power'. Since you can't carry a shotgun or rifle very well, and because a .357 magnum is probably not the best weapon to use in a crowded area, stopping power is not going to be a very consistent or absolute factor. Your preference and ability to shoot and control the gun quickly, smoothly, and accurately is going to be a bigger factor than how hard it hits or how big the hole is if you hit someone. That is what points me toward 9mm; I'll leave the 45acp to the bigger guys. But, remember: if you have something bad to say about 9mm, then say it while looking down the barrel of one and see if you'll be able to say it with any real conviction

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I've only used one caliber (in two shootings), the .357. My advice is, don't forget bullet placement, and don't forget power and bullet design. When the chips are down, you need every advantage you can get.

 

[hardluk1]

bphunter , I bought one of kel-tecs pf-9 and i have to admit that i did not know what i would think of it after some range time. I have carried mainly a wheel for decades and a 32 as backup. I relly like the KT pf-9, a long da trigger that groups suprizeingly well . light weight and 2 finger grip does make me regrip after 3 or 4 shoots but have a couple idems comeing for that. Gun seems to like differammo with out any problems . very pleased. For 300bucks ,you can't touch it . Not the prettyest pistol but works well. And i guess with this gun i will shoot the corbon dpx115 or there standard hp rounds.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

A must read. Search on line for:

FBI Handgun wounding Factors and Effectiveness study.

Dated 1989, twenty years ago, and basically a "literature" study that seems aimed at inflating Marvin Fackler and deflating his opponents.

I note there were no concrete recommendations -- no specific cartridges were discussed in depth, let alone recommended.

 

[hardluk1]

To many folks like to spout about fbi info and then some turns out to thhis old,,,it's not even relevant today. Even some of there latest 40 cal shooting has talked about it being of mild fps loads being used.