Best Carry ammo in .40S&W

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kd7nqb

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So I like to replace my carry ammo every 3-4months in my carry gun which is a .40S&W M&P. In the past I have carried Federal Hydra-shok. Currently Using Hornaday TAP. I didnt like the Hydra-shok because even after a few weeks of chambering and unhambering a round would show early signs of bullet setback (or at least I think it was setback either way it was a rather interesting cri
mp as seen in this thread ) I have no real complaints against the Hornaday TAP but am always open to something better.

I know a lot of guys, including Michael Bane swear by Hornday DPX I have never tried that. The idea of the Pow-R Ball seems like a great idea but I have heard pretty bad things about those as well.

So here are my requirements and any suggestions are welcome.

1. Reliable feeding
2. JHP (although I might be interested to test out the idea of an expanding full metal jacket)
3. Good penetration
4. at least some what reasonably priced (in general I consider $1/rnd or less reasonable for carry ammo) While I hate to ever put a "price" on my safety I like to be able to buy a few boxes of any new ammo so I can confirm that it feeds and shoots alright before I actually make the switch.
 
golden sabers, XTP's HXT's, GOLD dots, not in any particular order. I'm almost positive that you could find those for around 1$ or less per round.

1500 posts and you dont know the answer to what kind of hp's??

people sometimes put the round that was in the chamber in the bottom of the mag so it takes longer for bullet setback to come into play. I dont do that because it seems like it compresses and decompresses mag springs too much.

Personally, when I go to the range I shoot the first mag that is full of my defensive/carry rounds, the mag that is in the gun all the time. Then I use the target rounds I have. I do this because I IWB carry and it gets some lint in some places. When you just pull it out and shoot your carry rounds you know you will be good if you ever have to use your gun in a defensive situation and you've been carrying for a few weeks.
 
Hornadys critical defense ammo seems like a solid round, very consistent expansion. Although I don't think they have a .40 load yet. I just picked some up in 9mm and am excited to do some testing.

I'd look for a .40 load sometime in the near future.
 
call your local PD and ask them what they use.

that way when you have to shoot someone they can't say you were using "super fancy expanding man killer hollow point choir kid life ruiners". You were using what the cops use.
 
Federal Tactical HST 180gr.
(Gold Dots are my second choice)

As someone else said here, anything less than this expansion and weight retention is simply unacceptable:

a7698140ce325d46aea925c2d4c6a3e6_small.jpg

call your local PD and ask them what they use.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily good advice. PDs usually carry what the bean counters tell them to, and not typically a decent round. A local PD around here carries WWB FMJ in their Glock 22s... :what:
If you know someone from the local SWAT team, ask them - THEY usually carry the good stuff (Federal HST, or Winchester Ranger).
 
My Favorites are the Hornady Critical Defense. YES, Hornady makes it cause I have it! they have a black shell with a center gold dot. It's really WEIRD though that they don't even list it on their website. I have the 140 grain. I feel the lighter weights are more accurate. I shot three rounds off at the range as my first fires on a new target and all were bullseye within a 2 inch group at 28 feet. Oh and used my Glock 23 pistol.
 
I like Golden Sabers myself. They are cheaper than Speer Gold Dots, but just as effective. That said, if I could find some Federal HST's, I would love to try them out. They just appear amazing in all the test fires I have seen.
 
I use a .40 S&W as my primary CCW, so I spent some time on this question. I just ordered a case of DoubleTap 165 gr Gold Dots. Local PD uses Gold Dots for a reason, and DT loads them hot @ 1200+ FPS. I stick wih the 165's because they are light enough to be effective from a short barrel G27, but heavy enough to do the trick. Great energy figures as well, trumps most factory .45 ACP; even +P offerings.
 
Speer 180 gr goldots. I've put down 2 muledeer with these rounds and they work exceptionally well.
 
I like the Gold Dot in both 155 and 180, depending on the season. My Sig is more accurate with DT's load than Speer's, so that's what I carry. For outdoors and auto-traveling, I have a mag loaded with the 200 grain HC.
 
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