Comparison of self-defense hollowpoints?

[heypete]

Greetings all,

I currently carry 9mm 124gr Speer Gold Dot hollowpoints in my Glock 19 and Glock 26 for self-defense (well, I still have the ammo there, but I can't carry the guns in California, though WA, NH, and numerous other states trust me enough ).

Fortunately, I have yet to test the Gold Dots in an actual firefight. What SD pistol ammo do you carry, why, and what sort of tests have you done?

I'm currently aware of the following designed-for-self-defense ammo that are currently available on the market:
* Speer Gold Dot
* Federal HydraShok
* Remington Golden Saber
* Winchester SXT
* Federal EFMJ
* Cor-Bon PowRBall

How do "common" hollowpoints, like those found in Sellier & Bellot ammunition and other "generic" ammo (say WWB) compare to the more expensive "designer" hollowpoints? Is there any significant difference between the various types of ammunition and their effects?

Cheers!

 

[S_O_Laban]

I don't know much about actual testing.... but the guys that do know over at Tactical Forums, recomend among other things the following, which I cut and pasted from a thread dealing with service loads.

According to them there is quite a difference in preformance between hollowpoint bullets.

Not included in this list but also considered to be worthy of mention is the new Speer 135gr gold dot in 38special +P. A round designed to work well in the short barrelled (1 7/8") J-frame backup guns many of us carry.

The following loads have all demonstrated outstanding terminal performance:

9 mm:
Barnes 105 gr JHP (copper bullet)
Fed 124 gr JHP (LE9T1)
Speer 124 gr +P JHP (53617)
Win 124 gr JHP (RA91P)
Win 127 gr +P+ JHP (RA9TA)
Fed 135 gr +P JHP (LE9T5)
Rem 147 gr JHP (GS9MMC)
Speer 147 gr JHP (53619)
Win 147 gr JHP (RA9T)

.40 S&W:
Speer 155 gr JHP (53961)
Fed 165 gr JHP (LE40T3)
Win 165 gr JHP (RA40TA)
Win 165 gr JHP (RA401P)
Fed 180 gr JHP (LE40T1)
Rem 180 gr JHP (GS40SWB)
Speer 180 gr JHP (53966)
Win 180 gr JHP (RA40T)

.45 ACP:
Barnes/Taurus 185 gr JHP
Federal 230 gr Tactical (LE45T1)
Speer 230 gr Gold Dot (23966).
Winchester 230 gr Ranger Talon (RA45T)
Winchester 230 gr +P Ranger Talon (RA45TP)

Notes:
-- While the .45 ACP Barnes/Taures all copper 185 gr JHP is just slightly deficient in penetration, I would not hesitate to use this load when a lower penetration projectile is desired--it is more versatile in different potential engagement scenarios and far superior compared to Triton Quickshok, Aguila IQ, Magsafe, Glaser, etc...

-- Although the Winchester service pistol loads (RA91P & RA401P) using the Nosler Partition Gold bullets are rumored to be discontinued, this Alan Corzine bullet design is too good not to be in production and I suspect another manufacturer will be savvy enough to start using them.

-- Obviously, clone loads using the same bullet at the same velocity work equally well (ie. Black Hills ammo using Gold Dot bullets, etc…)

----------------------------------------

The keys are:

-- Cultivate a warrior mindset
-- Invest in competent, thorough initial training and then maintain skills with regular ongoing practice
-- Acquire a reliable and durable weapon system
-- Purchase a consistent, robust performing duty load in sufficient quantities (at least 1000 rounds) then STOP worrying about the nuances of handgun ammunition terminal performance.

I hope this helps.

 

[Ala Dan]

Looks as if someone forgot about Hornady's TAP ammo for handguns.
The serrations are cut nice and deep, to run parallel with its deep
hollow cavity.

 

[moxie]

Don't forget Glasers for indoor use. Great stoppers

but less likely to penetrate drywall, etc., than typical bullets.

 

[armoredman]

I can tell you that someone bugged Evan Marshall long enough, that he bought some of the WalMart bargain ammo, and tested it. Comparing the gelatin to real world results, etc, he decided, surprisingly, the generic ammo, Winchester white box, Remington JHP, are actually quite decent. I carry the generic Remington 115gr JHP in my CZ PO1, because I can't afford the high dollar stuff right now, and the Remington goes right where I want it to go.

 

[Glock19Fan]

I load my G19 with WWB 147 grain USA JHPs. Ive seen several testing in water jugs and wet newspaper, including a test a ammolab.com, and im convinced its good ammo for the money.

Too bad they dont make a 135 grain version though.

 

[griz]

Hornady XTP should also be in the running.

Seperatly:

-- Although the Winchester service pistol loads (RA91P & RA401P) using the Nosler Partition Gold bullets are rumored to be discontinued, this Alan Corzine bullet design is too good not to be in production and I suspect another manufacturer will be savvy enough to start using them.

Winchester made a 9mm partition? IS that right?

 

[The_Shootist]

Winchester White Box All The Way!

Check out this article/pictures:

http://www.ktrange.com/articles/a10/a10-3.html

This mirrors tests on ammolab.com indicating you could do a lot worse than 9mm 115 gr WW Personal Protection ammo (as well as the 147 gr load).

Is it the best? No - but it is inexpensive enough to allow me to practice exclusively with, giving me a higher degree of confidence in my shot placement.

Then if the bullet works (iffy for pistol ammo - even the premium ones I bet), thats a bonus to accurate shot placement.

 

[Glock19Fan]

Griz- Winchester did load PG, but did drop it apparently becuase it wasnt selling to well. It did fine through most barriers (except autoglass) so it wasnt a bad choice, but I guess that the Rangers were taking the sales so they decided to dump it.

 

[griz]

I didn't know that. Judging by the price of the 357 partitions it must have been pretty expensive.

 

[sgt127]

Winchester White Box All The Way!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Check out this article/pictures:

http://www.ktrange.com/articles/a10/a10-3.html

This mirrors tests on ammolab.com indicating you could do a lot worse than 9mm 115 gr WW Personal Protection ammo (as well as the 147 gr load).

Is it the best? No - but it is inexpensive enough to allow me to practice exclusively with, giving me a higher degree of confidence in my shot placement.

Then if the bullet works (iffy for pistol ammo - even the premium ones I bet), thats a bonus to accurate shot placement.

....That sums up my feelings. Decent ammo that I can shoot all the time and I know where it hits and is reliable in my gun is much more important than how it performs once it gets there. I feel even better seeing that it actually works pretty well. If I KNEW my gun was utterly reliable and deadly accurate only with ball, that what would be in my gun.
__________________