Best "universal" .45acp cartridge for me.

[NG VI]

One big and rarely discussed reason proper defense ammunition (I didn't just say 'JHP', because not all of it fits the description) is a better choice than any range ammunition of any flavor, is because ammunition loaded for defense generally has much tighter quality control.

Range ammo is just that, it's stuff turned out for relative consistency and price, price first.

 

[56hawk]

It would really do you a lot more favors to have a plinking and a defense round. Federal HST only comes in 230 grain, I think that says a lot about the designer's thoughts on the matter. It is a pretty reasonably priced defense bullet, but it's usually best/easiest to order it online. No big deal, buy five boxes and you've made shipping a non-issue and you'll have plenty to find out if you like it.

Ditto on this. Use whatever is cheapest for plinking, but get quality ammo for defense. You will probably only ever need to buy one box anyway.

 

[huntsman]

Range ammo is just that, it's stuff turned out for relative consistency and price, price first.

yeah that's the problem with today’s ammo market, too much focus on the price point.

I guess the ammo companies figure the guys who want quality ammo will reload and the rest buy with there wallets in mind so IF you want quality factory ammo you pay through the nose because there ain't as much made.

You will probably only ever need to buy one box anyway.

is that because the risk level of ever using a gun in SD is low or because they're magic bullets? if it's the first then by all means carry the cheap stuff if it's the second then forget about carrying a gun

 

[thecarfarmer]

Two pieces of advice: the silver tipped Winchester SD ammo seems to work well in my G21, and should probably do so in your G36, and semi-watcutters are reputed to cause jamming in Glocks. Hand cycling some through mine, I can see why they might. I've used up several dozen SWC projectiles through mine without a hiccup, attribute that to luck.

FWIW, I took some of that Winchester out to the ol' gravel pit with some 2 gallon plastic bottles, and 5 gallon buckets of water. The only time the rounds didn't expand out to about 7/8" was when shooting through plywood into the bucket (theory is that the tip of the bullet jammed w/ wood, and acted like ball ammo - going straight through that bucket).

-Bill

 

[56hawk]

is that because the risk level of ever using a gun in SD is low or because they're magic bullets? if it's the first then by all means carry the cheap stuff if it's the second then forget about carrying a gun

I was suggesting buying a box of the best ammo available for defense since it's unlikely you are going to get in enough shootouts to make the price of ammo an important consideration.

 

[huntsman]

^ok but I at least want to shoot some to keep consistent with it, maybe 100 rounds a year.

 

[Nushif]

Yeah that's the problem with today’s ammo market, too much focus on the price point.

I fail to see how cheap plinking ammo is a good thing. This reloader got into reloading specifically to get even cheaper plinking ammo. Are you saying companies should make more expensive plinking ammo? Am I missing something here?

 

[smalls]

^ok but I at least want to shoot some to keep consistent withit, maybe 100 rounds a year.

I really don't buy the "you need to shoot your carry loads all the time to be proficient with them" crap. Maybe when you rotate your carry ammo out, but that's about it. Shoot it once or twice to make sure it works, and shoots to point of aim.

Really, how much different does your plinking ammo shoot from your self defeense ammo?

Now, I could understand if you carried +P rounds, but that's apples and oranges.

 

[huntsman]

I fail to see how cheap plinking ammo is a good thing. This reloader got into reloading specifically to get even cheaper plinking ammo. Are you saying companies should make more expensive plinking ammo? Am I missing something here?

because of the popularity of the UMC line I believe Remington has to charge more for the Express line because they don't sell the volume they used to, hence the cheap ammo has replaced a quaility do-all cartridge and we're left with cheap bottom line and an expensive top line(SD ammo)

 

[MistWolf]

The only person that can tell you what ammo to adopt is you. Go shoot the pistols and see what works for how you use the them. If that costs too much, then simply shoot what's on sale and quit worrying.

If you really want to go cheap, buy a Walther PPQ in 9mm and shoot whatever ammo is on sale. It's a great pistol with a trigger that will spoil you and 9mm is cheaper than just about any other pistol caliber