Defense ammo
- Thread starter skeptiq
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geronimo509
Member
do a search, you will find what you are looking for
I did search and there are 1115 threads about defense ammo... I scanned the first couple pages of threads for subjects that might relate, but I didn't see any. It's a pretty simple question and if you don't feel like answering then don't.
Maybe the mods should stop allowing new threads to be created unless a new product comes out, I am sure it's all been discussed on here at some point or another so we can just keep reading the same posts over and over again...
Maybe the mods should stop allowing new threads to be created unless a new product comes out, I am sure it's all been discussed on here at some point or another so we can just keep reading the same posts over and over again...
calaverasslim
Member
over and over ad nauseum
I always run a number of rounds of a new ammo or thru a new gun before I carry. Don't want any suprises.
I bought a new CZ several years ago and for the life of me I couldn't get ammo to feed until I had run almost 300 rounds thru it. Now it's a dream but I still carry my 44 or 45 DA revolver
I always run a number of rounds of a new ammo or thru a new gun before I carry. Don't want any suprises.
I bought a new CZ several years ago and for the life of me I couldn't get ammo to feed until I had run almost 300 rounds thru it. Now it's a dream but I still carry my 44 or 45 DA revolver
MCgunner
Member
More the better.
CoRoMo
Member
No harm in asking questions. That's what this site is here for.
I'll buy a box of 20 and shoot all but the amount that I plan to carry, if it all cycles smoothly.
Example...
I carry the P11 which holds 10 rounds in the magazine.
I'll load one full magazine and fire it empty, and if all goes well, the other 10 rounds will simply be what I carry in the pistol until I decide to replace the ammo. If there was any hiccups in the first mag whatsoever, I'd fire off the remaining rounds and start over with a new box and probably a new brand depending on what seemed to be the cause of the issue(s) experienced.
hth
I'll buy a box of 20 and shoot all but the amount that I plan to carry, if it all cycles smoothly.
Example...
I carry the P11 which holds 10 rounds in the magazine.
I'll load one full magazine and fire it empty, and if all goes well, the other 10 rounds will simply be what I carry in the pistol until I decide to replace the ammo. If there was any hiccups in the first mag whatsoever, I'd fire off the remaining rounds and start over with a new box and probably a new brand depending on what seemed to be the cause of the issue(s) experienced.
hth
Cool, thanks... I have 'broken in' my gun, and now I am starting to look for JHP ammo for SD and was just wondering how many most people 'test fire' to make sure the ammo feeds well with the gun. Looks like I'll get a couple boxes of the ammo I want and we'll see what happens... Thanks.
moxie
Member
For SD, I'd run 250 rounds throught the gun to check for reliability, using the ammo and mags I intend to use in that gun for SD. Any problems, fix them and start over. I know that sounds like a lot, but you're talking about self defense. You need to shoot that many rounds anyway to get proficient with any particular gun. Now as to which SD round, what caliber and gun are you talking about? You will get lots of input on that. Once you are sure (positive)that your gun will operate with your chosen SD ammo, you can practice with cheaper stuff, such as Blazer, W-W white box, or UMC.
yeti
Member
Maybe a box through a revolver, 250 or so, with no failures, through an auto.
Boba Fett
Member
I purchased three boxes of RA45T for my carry gun and I put a box through it to make sure it worked well and to see what, if any, difference there was in recoil and the like.
I use a little common sense. If a gun just isn't ammo sensitive - if it eats everything with no failures - then I figure a box is sufficient to assure myself that a particular ammo is also safe. If a gun is picky about what it likes to eat, then I'll go further, and test it more often with the carry ammo. Either way, once I make a decision, I like to cycle through a magazine of my carry ammo every month or two to keep things fresh and confirmed.
7
7
KBintheSLC
Member
As for a new gun... I like to run about 200 rounds through to make sure there are no gun-related issues, and to break it in well. As for new types of ammo, I usually just run one full mag's worth of that particular ammo through each one of my carry mags to make sure it feeds, fires, and ejects ok. If your gun does not like a particular choice of ammo, it will become apparent rather quickly.
One more thing. Make sure you closely inspect each and every defensive round you will be carrying for CCW. Look at the case, rim, primer, etc and make sure you don't see any abnormalities before loading them for CCW. Also, inspect your carry mags with the same scrutiny. Look at the follower, feed lips, mag catch notch, etc on a regular basis.
One more thing. Make sure you closely inspect each and every defensive round you will be carrying for CCW. Look at the case, rim, primer, etc and make sure you don't see any abnormalities before loading them for CCW. Also, inspect your carry mags with the same scrutiny. Look at the follower, feed lips, mag catch notch, etc on a regular basis.
I appreciate the input! I was not talking about "break in" though. My gun has already been broken in and I am starting to look for SD rounds. The question really wasn't intended to be about types of SD, or caliber... What I meant was, when you buy new SD ammo, how many do you run through to test feeding in your particular gun before using that SD ammo?
Remington Golden Saber
Speer Gold Dot
Federal HST
Winchester Ranger-T
Hornady XTP
These are the bullet designs to look for, three of them are sold as components so there are plenty of manufacturers using them, the other two (Ranger-T and HST) are classified by the manufacturer as LE ammo, meaning they don't want their distributors selling any of it to anyone not in some agency or department or other. Still, they can be found from time to time. I don't really like the XTP much personally as a load for use against people, but only because the other four bullet designs all expand quite a bit better. The XTP is a very accurate bullet though and penetrates well.
Most bullets will work just fine, but as far as designs that are current duty loads designed specifically for defense against people, those five take the cake.
Speer Gold Dot
Federal HST
Winchester Ranger-T
Hornady XTP
These are the bullet designs to look for, three of them are sold as components so there are plenty of manufacturers using them, the other two (Ranger-T and HST) are classified by the manufacturer as LE ammo, meaning they don't want their distributors selling any of it to anyone not in some agency or department or other. Still, they can be found from time to time. I don't really like the XTP much personally as a load for use against people, but only because the other four bullet designs all expand quite a bit better. The XTP is a very accurate bullet though and penetrates well.
Most bullets will work just fine, but as far as designs that are current duty loads designed specifically for defense against people, those five take the cake.
Jim PHL
Member
In a newer gun, at least a couple hundred rounds of any ammo I plan to carry. If the gun has proven itself with hundreds (preferably thousands) of rounds of reliable shooting with a variety of ammo, then just a few trouble-free mags is enough for me.
I guess I didn't read the question well... I usually try out a variety of different bullet styles in my carry gun, for instance when I picked up my CZ PCR I ran probably 300-350 rounds of GA canned heat 115 grain FMJ, Federal 9BPLE 115+P+, GA loaded 124 Gold Dot, some WWB, and some Remington UMC through it, I figure if it will not have any malfunctions and feed a wide variety of ammo, isn't much to worry about and I can test a specific carry load a little less thoroughly than I would if I had a finicky pistol. The PCR has never malfunctioned with any ammo, and I usually carry 147+P HST in it, which it seems to like. It also likes the 124+P HST.
LoneStarWings
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I started doing reserach on ammo right after I bought my weapon, and made a decision on which dedicated defense ammo to purchase within about 2 weeks. I based my decision on research from various balistics test, talking to LEO's and instructors, and opinions on boards like this.
I bought a box of 50 and went through 20 rounds at the range with no problems, leaving me 2 mags worth of ammo for defense. I've got 5 more boxes on order but unfortunately it's backordered.
Personally I went with Federal HST 180gr for my S&W .40 M&P.
I bought a box of 50 and went through 20 rounds at the range with no problems, leaving me 2 mags worth of ammo for defense. I've got 5 more boxes on order but unfortunately it's backordered.
Personally I went with Federal HST 180gr for my S&W .40 M&P.
orionengnr
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It is fairly accepted practice to put 200 trouble-free rounds of your intended carry ammo through your intended carry semi-auto pistol to ensure reliabilty.
Any failures of any type, start over.
If you are shooting a revolver, this number may be deceased dramatically--anywhere from 50 to six rounds.
Any failures of any type, start over.
If you are shooting a revolver, this number may be deceased dramatically--anywhere from 50 to six rounds.
Good call, that's what I carry too, love it. I think the best way to replicate running your carry load through your gun several hundred rounds is to just get a variety of range-cost ammo. Get differently shaped JHPs, FMJs, RNL, anything. Just so you can tell if the pistol has any underlying reliability problems (that's right, if it doesn't feed a bullet profile it is a problem with the pistol, not the bullet) and so you can single out the shape that causes it.
elktrout
Member
All the advice here is good to consider. It appears that you are talking about a semi-auto (your reference to mags). Just be sure the gun is well broken in and that you shoot at least a few magazines of the ammo you intend to carry.
I once had a Glock 26 that handled 115FMJs for several hundred rounds without a hitch. I cleaned it each time after shooting. Then I tried some 124Gold Dots in it and had a jam every fourth or fifth round. The gunsmith at the shop where I bought it tried everything and could not solve the problem. I gave up and used 124 Golden Sabers and never had another problem. But, it disturbed me so much that I eventually traded it on my HK USP40, which digests everything I put in it.
Just be sure with your carry ammo. Jams are confidence shattering.
I once had a Glock 26 that handled 115FMJs for several hundred rounds without a hitch. I cleaned it each time after shooting. Then I tried some 124Gold Dots in it and had a jam every fourth or fifth round. The gunsmith at the shop where I bought it tried everything and could not solve the problem. I gave up and used 124 Golden Sabers and never had another problem. But, it disturbed me so much that I eventually traded it on my HK USP40, which digests everything I put in it.
Just be sure with your carry ammo. Jams are confidence shattering.
Interceptor_Knight
Member
When I get a new auto, I run a few of boxes of cheap ammo through it and clean it often. I like to see what it will run on and if I am going to fire it alot, there is no sense in making it hurt my wallet.
After this, I fire a box of my carry ammo and see how it functions and groups.
After this, I fire a box of my carry ammo and see how it functions and groups.
usmc1371
Member
since your gun is broken in and I asume you are happy with how it is functioning I would say at the least fill the mag or mags you intent to carry and run them dry. If all goes well you are off and running. I really like golden sabers in my glock 35 but my carry gun springfield 1911 doesent feed them 100 percent so I carry gold dots that work every time. I probabely shot a few hunderd of each befor I made my choice.
This one reason I carry a revolver a lot. I can test fire 6-12 rounds of my SD ammo, done. It works, now I can move on.
On my Kel-Tec .380, I shot a couple hundred rounds of FMJ and 20 or so of my SD rounds and it was not fun. Autos seem to need 'breaking in' and most revolvers are good to go out of the box. Funny how that works.
On my Kel-Tec .380, I shot a couple hundred rounds of FMJ and 20 or so of my SD rounds and it was not fun. Autos seem to need 'breaking in' and most revolvers are good to go out of the box. Funny how that works.
obiwankabaldi
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As with any question you ask on a forum, you will get a million different answers. And It is hard to tell the experts from the wannabees. Go with the most popular answer. Shoot a few mags of cheap ammo to check for obvious flaws then load up at least a couple mags of what you intend to carry. Load by racking and from battery, you never know what state you will be in when necessary to use the weapon or how it will react when you reload after expireing a mag. Good luck with you new weapon.
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