Best Self Defense Ammo! Please Vote!

[Ben86]

Its like geez were just talking about what we think works well or what we've seen perform well and you just want to sit here and nitpick details go away.

Yeah, Shawn you big meany with your helpful info! Lol

Any one else carried various extremeshockusa.com rounds?

I generally think frangibles are a bad idea for self defense. You are taking a great risk of causing only a shallow, but nasty wound that doesn incapacitate if they are a determined beasty.

Stick with a name brand hollow point of decent weight that works in your gun and that should be good enough.

 

[GunNut1976]

GunNut1976, I don't believe anything meets your criteria better than Federal HST.

Thats kinda what I was thinking too I mean did you see those .45 hst's expand to a full inch in diameter. I 've been looking though and I can still only find them at a few online stores and some of those sites look kinda shady. Anybody have any suggestions where I should purchase them online?

 

[Erik M]

Im suprised to see Gold Dots running away with the lead. Another forum I visit is overly fond of the Winchester Ranger LE ammo, even though I have found it nigh impossible to order from any online retailer.

 

[32 Magnum]

A good question to add to this "opinion" poll is: How many people have first hand experience in the use of any of these rounds in a deadly confrontation? The leader in that poll would be the round that we should seriously seek out - just in case.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I'm a gold dot user, they are proven, affordable, and readily available. I like the 165 grain in 40 S&W. I also bought 2 boxes of Hornady TAP 155 and 180 grain, because I got a really good deal on them.

 

[JTHunter]

While I agree that both the Speer Gold Dot and the Federal Hydrashocks are good SD/HD rounds, this poll doesn't include Glaser Safety Slugs while it DOES include the Cor-Bons.
I like both of these rounds for INSIDE the home, but the first two are a better "general purpose" choice.

 

[gga357]

Thanks for the poll.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

Forgot Winchester Ranger.

I voted for Gold Dot. HST and Ranger-T and bonded Golden Saber are mostly just as good, I think, but the Gold Dot has a longer record than the rest of them, IIRC.

 

[Dunkelheit]

Fiocchi EMB

 

[mokin]

Didn't vote.

I like Speer Gold Dots (in my 9mm) but unless I go on line they're hard to obtain on a regular basis. As a result, I keep it loaded with 124 grain Federal Hydroshocks. For my Glock 29 I like Winchester Silvertips. Ammo for that is really hard to come by if I want anything other than Blazer 200 grain FMJs.

Also, I have better things to spend my shooting budget on than shipping charges for ammo. Someday, (I'm hoping to get around to it this coming summer), I plan on buying several different types of ammo and test them (accuracy and chronograph) and see how well the advertised specs for the 10mm Auto against reality in that short barreled pistol.

 

[Erik M]

I have had Winchester Ranger-T mentioned to me but I am sticking with Speer Gold Dot and Hornady xtp.

 

[Pacsd]

I sure got a lesson with this topic!!!! I didn't know there was something better then #4 hi-brass lead out of a 20 inch shotgun barrel.

 

[Erik M]

Are the Federal hst rounds the same as what Federal markets as 'hi-shok' rounds? I read somewhere that hst is an abbreveation of 'hydra-shok two' but never knew if that was true. I have some 9bp ammo put back and was reading up on it apparrently being a standard LE load for many years.

 

[altitude_19]

I like Pow'rBall in semi-autos. The round nose profile makes for good reliability even in guns that choke on hollowpoints. Critical defense in revolvers.

 

[timney t]

i only own hunting revolvers so anything will bring them down. if i was to choose i would say FMJ if nobody was in my place with me but bad guys. if there are friendlies i choose something with low penetration.

 

[eazyrider]

I went with the Critical Defense for both of my SD guns. A Glock 17 and .357 Mag. I read a lot and I really liked what I was reading. I can find no fault to their idea of the insert to fend off clogging while also providing uniform expansion. I have nothing against any other ammo out there this was just my informed decision.

 

[KosmicKrunch]

I am an old school Hydra-Shock guy and my wife likes them as well> I agree with MLJ... they are still very viable, reliable and reasonably priced compared to the new smokin jet rounds for three times the cost.... remember, placement and ability to control and master the firearm you have with ONE shot means way more than a magazine of 32 rounds of the hottest bullet you have that misses their target. Aim Small, Miss Small...I think Elmer Kieth used to say that.

 

[moonman16]

The one YOU shoot the best from the firearm YOU plan upon using it in. Always remember that ballistic gel NEVER attacked anyone, doesn't move or run and never fired back at anyone. Train and Practice to be an expert because in real life and under fire at your best you'll most probably only be mediocre.

 

[Ben86]

Has anyone ever tested Remington UMC JHPs? I find this to be the best budget brand of hollowpoints, even better than Winchester USA. Not only have they proved accurate and reliable for me, they also expand consistently, even out of short barrels. For about $25 I get a box of 100 9mm or about $40 for .45.

 

[P5 Guy]

Best SD

12 gauge 2 3/4 OO buckshot. I prefer managed recoil Winchester.

 

[12ga Tactical Superstar]

Hornady TAP or CORBON DPX

 

[lokpyrite]

Depends on what gun and caliber combination. But I'd probally go Gold Dot if I could only choose one.

 

[Ben86]

I took a chance and went with winchester pdx1 for my new .45 instead of gold dots. The pdx1 looks good, and the price is reasonable.

 

[pioneer461]

I don't think there is a single "best" ammo, or gun for that matter. We all have our favorites that we buy and carry, but the only way we will ever know if it works, is to use it in self defense. Until then we are simply relying on our experiences, word of mouth, advertising, gun store ninjas, and old wife's tales. Some brands may look better on paper, or in laboratory tests, but that doesn't mean it will be more effective in real life & death.

Ammo makers are all competing for our dollars and each of the major companies put out quality self defense loads.

I look for ammo that will penetrate and expand in human flesh and bone 100%. In my experience investigating major crimes, I've personally seen too many failures of hollow point ammo that gets clogged by leather, denim, etc, so I tend to favor Federal EFMJ in my .45's and Hornady Critical Defense in my .40's. Modern ammo makers are modifying their hollow point bullets to enhance expansion through barriers, and we use Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel loads in our .38+P j frames (my backup and wife's carry gun).

But that's just me. Your mileage may vary. ​

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[Hypnogator]

Federal HST in service-length barrels

Federal Tactical Bonded or Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel loads in short barrels.

Cor-Bon DPX in lightweight guns or for recoil-sensitive shooters.