Best ammo

[minnesota oldie]

It seems that at least once a week I see an inquiry about what is the best defence ammo for this or that gun. It seems to me that the best ammo is the one you can put in the COM the most times. I'm not going to risk my life on some strangers idea of a good load. Get several kinds of ammo and go to the range!

 

[Tropical Z]

Thats true,i still like S&B the most however.Its gotta work in YOUR gun.

 

[cheygriz]

The very best ammo in the world is the ammo you have in your gun when the SHTF and your life depends on it!

Having said that, I like Winchester Ranger T and Winchester silvertip, and Remington Golden Sabre.

 

[clubsoda22]

absolutely true, but i'd prefer to put Ranger Talons and Gold Dots COM.

 

[foghornl]

Gotta go with what works in YOUR GUN.

That being said, my list:

In .45ACP, Rem Golden Sabre for both KP-90 Ruger & Springy Champion 1911-A1.

.357 Vaquero, the 158 Gr Speer Gold Dot

Cheapy RG .38 Spl, the Fed 110-Gr 'Personal Defense" NOT the +P load

 

[Sean Smith]

The short answer is "whatever works." However, you can make fair generalizations based on the overall quality of a company's products... not as a substitute for testing it yourself, but as a starting point.

On that basis, my usual preference is Pro Load. Very high-quality, consistent stuff with modern bullets. For 9x19 I've found that Wincehster Ranger-T 127gr +P+ works in every gun I've tried it in, is accurate, low flash, and HOT.

 

[NavajoNPaleFace]

My personal belief is that, with commercial ammo that is deliberately made with tolerances which (hopefully) works suitably in nearly every commercially made handgun, if you find a commercial load that works stick with it (to me suitable is hitting a vital area more often than every THREE shots).

For me, however, I got tired of trying tens of different makes, loads, etc. of commercial loads only to find that hand loading is much, much more accurate.....ones that I can use to hit vital at 15-25 yards with the resulting pattern to be covered with your palm.

I've worked up loads for my handguns that commercial loads couldn't even come close to in terms of accuracy.

Before I began reloading ten plus years ago commercial was the thing for me too...cheap....disposable (as it were) and with the thought that the company has my personal safety and interests at heart (yeah, right, lol).


I don't know about anyone else but I'd rather bet my life on something I know is consistant, reliable and accurate....my reloads, lol.

 

[Kentucky Rifle]

Well, I've got RBCD Ammunition in every one of my carry guns except my PM9 (I haven't bought it in 9MM yet, but I will [hopefully] at the Indy gunshow.) And my .32 H&R Mag revolvers. (RBCD doesn't make .32 Mag.)

Gold Dot & Hydra-Shok are second and third place.

Will

 

[Watch-Six]

It has to work. Hydra-shok or Gold Dot preferrably. Watch-Six

 

[labgrade]

Ammo has to function first ('specially in semis) & I'd just betcha the majority (although not those replying or even reading) never give that a second thought - just load it up & call it good. Bad cess, I think.

Defensive ammo accuracy seems to me to be fairly moot as "defensive ranges" are way close - just by definition. I would seriously suspect any defensive use past about 30 feet - certain circumstances outstanding.

Proper construction for caliber/velocity to acheive decent & as lethal penetration is paramount.

A 9mm may need a higher velocity with "controlled expansion," for caliober, while a .44 spcl/up, .357, etc., could get by with a hard cast for complete blow-through (although that .357 125 still comes up as the one-stop shopper .... ) - varies.

I'd bet the variances between in-caliber (& even between calibers - the 9 v 45 thing) doesn't even bare out bothering with the discussion anymore assuming decent placement - aside from the goat test.

 

[mighty_hunter]

u only need one

I have around 15 hand guns from 22-45winchester mag. and i have found that it dusnt matter what ammo u shoot as long as it will shoot well in your gun and u can hit what u aim at because no matter what u are shooting at if u hit in the right spot its going to stop right there.

 

[dakotasin]

I'm not going to risk my life on some strangers idea of a good load. Get several kinds of ammo and go to the range!

i'm not going to risk my life on some factory's idea of a good load, what w/ quality control, poor accuracy, watered down velocity, and liability issues and all that...

if you want a good load, one you know is good, then fire up the press and make what you want. doesn't hurt to do a little flesh and bone testing, too, to check bullet reliability, wound channels, etc: coyotes, rabbits, hogs, dead cows (dead before the bullet arrived) whatever...