Best Self Defense Ammo! Please Vote!

Best General Purpose Self Defense Ammo

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GunNut1976

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Hi everyone I'm new to this forum but not to firearms. Just kind of curious what everyone likes as far as self defense ammo. There are so many kinds out there I think most people just say Gold Dot because thats what they see police using. I've done as much research as I possibly can and it seems like there are a lot of really good choices. Not talking about the ability to penetrate barriers. I doubt I will ever have to shoot through a windshield or car door. I'm talking about what performs best on bare gelatin and heavy clothing. 10" to 12" penetration is perfect for me any more or less and they start to lose points in my eyes. I probably should mention theres always one guy who has to pop up in every ammo thread and remind us all that "shot placement is most important" or "whatever your gun shoots best" or "whatever you're most comfortable with". Yeah we got it. Please don't give us that answer as if this talk of bullet technology is so far beneath you and your superior shooting wisdom.

Thanks
 
Last edited:
Can't anyone buy and load Speer Gold Dot bullets? I've bought "Speer Gold Dot" ammo from a local manufacturer. Undeniably a good bullet.

In the home, I selected Hornady because of the low-flash-powder-in-the-dark-thing. Would it really make a difference?
 
Federal HST.

They really are top-notch.
Check out ATK's LE website - they have some really neat ballistics testing they did with HSTs, GDs, GS, and SXTs.
 
I believe you forgot to tell us what firearm and caliber.

Pistol.
Anyhow these are some very good ones:
-CORBON JHP
-Hydrashock

IF you run 9mm make sure it is a +P+ (Corbon is great)
In any caliber look for something you gun likes so that is the best
amunition for you, it must cycle well and it must be somehow accurate
with good penetration.
Don't wait for an emergency to find out how it performs test with it.

By the way the 9mm Federal Ranger +P is very good. Not hollow point but
mill spec horse power.

If you do not have a system look for a Glock 357 sig and buy a 40cal barrel.
You can use either. the 357sig will give you the most penetration with some light loads can aproach the performance of a 357 magnum. It is expensive but the hp loads are very good for antipersonal purpose. There are loads in 90gr that approach the 1800fps with lots of energy and flat trajetory. That's why the 2nd barrel. Train with 40cal and carry 357 sig. 40cal is also good.
Revolver:

-357 Magnum +P, federal or Remington work great.

-For shotgun. Buck shot #4 at home or lower.

-For rifle use TAP ammunition from Hornady. Even the 75gr .223 will take down a mule.
 
1stmarine said:
I believe you forgot to tell us what firearm and caliber.

Pistol.
Anyhow these are some very good ones:
-CORBON JHP
-Hydrashock

IF you run 9mm make sure it is a +P+ (Corbon is great)
In any caliber look for something you gun likes so that is the best
amunition for you, it must cycle well and it must be somehow accurate
with good penetration.
Don't wait for an emergency to find out how it performs test with it.

By the way the 9mm Federal Ranger +P is very good. Not hollow point but
mill spec horse power.

If you do not have a system look for a Glock 357 sig and buy a 40cal barrel.
You can use either. the 357sig will give you the most penetration with some light loads can aproach the performance of a 357 magnum. It is expensive but the hp loads are very good for antipersonal purpose. There are loads in 90gr that approach the 1800fps with lots of energy and flat trajetory. That's why the 2nd barrel. Train with 40cal and carry 357 sig. 40cal is also good.
Revolver:

-357 Magnum +P, federal or Remington work great.

-For shotgun. Buck shot #4 at home or lower.

-For rifle use TAP ammunition from Hornady. Even the 75gr .223 will take down a mule.
Click to expand...
not any particular weapon or caliber I have several guns. Seems like a good manufacturer would make good bullets for every caliber.
 
Imon said:
Federal HST.

They really are top-notch.
Check out ATK's LE website - they have some really neat ballistics testing they did with HSTs, GDs, GS, and SXTs.
Click to expand...
I've been over and over this website several times. I don't think the HST's are available to general public though are they?
 
Gold Dot seems to be the winner in LE . Ill spend my dollars on that one .
 
I've been over and over this website several times. I don't think the HST's are available to general public though are they?
Click to expand...

They are, it's just tougher to find them after the surplus essentially dried up in the election scare. It's not that they're not available, just that Federal hasn't worked any good deals with civilian-centered shops.

There are a few cop shops online that will sell to the public, and that's the easiest way to get them.

As for SD ammo, I've had the same box of 124gr +P HST's across two CCW's now, and keep trying to find more in any weight that aren't overpriced or out of stock.

I wholeheartedly endorse Gold Dots, Golden Sabers and essentially Federal's entire SD line even if HydraShocks are behind nowadays.

All tests are in gelatin, which is essentially the absolute best case scenario. Remember that the human body has plenty of variations in density, including large essentially empty portions, so don't rely completely on gel tests.

Your entire line is fine, except FMJ. Just shoot what's available and cycles in your gun.
 
Most bullets posted are great rounds. The hydrashock are old that means they are supper good and that's the reason they are old since they had the customer support/quality to stay in the market.
The vote means nothing but more people have a preference in this post.
In terms of lethality the most in many calibers is CORBON followed by the god dot and Hydrashocks according to Marshall and Sanow, Street Stoppers and FBI OFFICIAL reports but in some calibers the hidrashock is the winner.
But I will not get too hanged up about a 90.3% lethality vs. 90.1% or something like this as much as the fact that you need to find a round that works for YOU and YOUR SYSTEM. also keep in mind too much power is a liability since the bullet might kill the criminal an continue towards innocent people.

Very simple idea but often ignored:
A Gun fight in a self defense situation is over in a few seconds, sometimes 2 seconds, so train for this situation.

3 words, train train train. Like an old wise Samurai said, we fight at the DOJO, then we play at the battlefield.
 
Just kind of curious what everyone likes as far as self defense ammo.
Click to expand...

I like hydrashoks because they preform well and I can buy them locally for a good price. They may not be the "best" but I've never been real good at splitting hairs.
 
Anyone hear of DRT? Dissapates fully and is frangible. Low flash. In .40 cal Glocks don't get the heavier ammo, it is very innaccurate. The lighter (105 gr.) shoots like match grade.

I also am a big fan of Hornady TAP.

Expanding projectile ammo in .45 ACP is unneccessary, ball works just fine as the projectile is not going fast enough to really work.

Just my opinion.
 
I keep some Federal +p+ rounds in my beretta, Gold Dots in everything else. The one exception is I have some standard pressure Hornady loads for my snubnose .38
 
Hollow points DESIGNED for the .45 expand just as reliable as any other. 230 HSTs consistently expand to the size of a quarter.

But I still roll my eyes when someone is mocked for carrying 'old, obsolete' Hydra-shoks. A lot of people see to think that they magically became useless when Federal released a new bullet.
 
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