Don't Care About Bullet-Type?

[Bobson]

With the virtually endless debate and constant new threads on bullet and/or ammo options for SD, I'm curious how many of us do not care about the type of bullet or ammo they carry for SD. I'll go first.

I just started carrying (a Glock 19) a bit over a week ago. For now, I don't care. I'm fully conceded to the shot placement > ammo/bullet design/caliber thing. My mags are loaded with American Eagle 124gr FMJ. Inexpensive ammo that functions flawlessly, but its not the cheapest thing money can buy, either.

Am I opposed to carrying high quality JHP? Of course not. But I wont pay $1 per round for it, that's for sure. I'm just not convinced that it makes that much more of a difference.

I already know I'm a minority here, in this respect. But am I alone completely? Just curious.

 

[rcmodel]

JHP Only!
It makes a difference to me.

Because 9mm FMJ is known for over-penetration issues.

And if I ever did have to use one in SD?
I don't want the bullets going through the target and continuing on down the street.

Besides that, I know JHP does much more tissue damage and is more likely to result in a quick stop.

I don't insist on the JHP being $1.00 a pop premium ammo.

There are less expensive JHP alternatives that work as well, or at least better then FMJ.

rc

 

[Revoliver]

I'm sure you're not alone, but I believe what you are 'supposed' to do is only buy like one box of the high end SD stuff, and load that when you plan on using your firearm in any other situation than the range. For the range, you buy and use the cheaper stuff, and only occassionally fire off some of the high end stuff.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Rule number one of winning a gunfight

BRING A GUN!


I don't know, I sorta ride the fence on this. It seems to me if you don't care about what bullet you don't care about caliber either.

I kinda have a minimum preceved effectiveness threshold I go by. For me 44 or bigger non expanding is fine assuming reliability is good.smaller than that I put some effort into bullet selection. Then under 9mm I carry non expanding again as IMO penatration is more important than expansion. With penatration being something mouseguns lack with jhp.


Now just because I'm not too concerned with projectile performance on the street/woods doesn't mean I don't enjoy discussing it here.




posted via that mobile app with the sig lines everyone complaints about

 

[JohnBiltz]

I believe that when you shoot something its the bullet that does all the important stuff, not the gun. A $3,000 gun or a $500 gun is only a support platform for getting the bullet where it needs to go.

Using a dollar a round ammo costs so little more than cheap ammo for carry I don't understand the cheapness. 50 rounds to test the ammo and another 50 for carry and that will last for a year. Next year buy another 50 and that one will last for a couple of years.

 

[TAKtical]

I cant afford to NOT use a quality JHP. Parking lots and gas stations are target areas and the risk of over-penetrating and hitting a bystander is too great. Being a civilian, Im responsible for every round that leaves my barrel. I hear the rules are different for police.

 

[kanook]

But I wont pay $1 per round for it, that's for sure. I'm just not convinced that it makes that much more of a difference

If I ever have to use my firearm for self defense, I would be happy to mortage the house for the one that work the best to stop the problem.

I feel my life is worth more than a dollar and I shoot what is the most accurate in firearm, but not FMJ

 

[kanook]

and I didn't vote, sometimes the most expensive whizz banger isn't the best. But I will buy it and try it to make sure.

 

[silicosys4]

I'd suggest much reading. Poor terminal performance is only part of the issue with using FMJ for SD ammo. Overpenetration and risk to bystanders is another. Maybe you would even want to ponder the propensity for an FMJ to glance off of bones such as the skull, especially rounded bones...That shot placement isn't going to do much good if the rounds don't penetrate.
I'd also question that you are carrying a pistol when "you don't care".
I do care, and I hope that with time you "do care" as well, otherwise you are just another idiot with a gun that I potentially have to worry about. Your statement about "shot placement" is also worrying to me, since you seem to be relying heavily on shot placement with a gun that you've owned for a week, and I would bet don't have a lot of time or ammo through. You would do wisely to spend some time reading, the shooting, then reading some more, with the caveat that not everything you read on the web is true, lol

Yes, I do care what SD ammo I carry. I take that very seriously, as it is what is going to save my ass, or convict me if the wrong person eats one. Brand isn't so important as type and capabilities.

Here read this, and tell me about the awesome stopping power of the 9mm FMJ.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/military/teeth.asp

 

[Sheepdog1968]

To a large degree, the name brand JHP self/home defense ammo should all work reasonable well. At least that is my personal opinion.

 

[Bikewer]

I've commented before on "shot placement".... But I'll repeat. Under the exigencies of actual combat, shot placement may be unattainable or illusory.
This for all sorts of factors...
The important thing is to hit. You may have to be satisfied with peripheral hits... In which case you want your projectile to do the maximum amount of damage.

Bigger vs. smaller, HP vs. Fmj, etc.

Jeff Cooper used to keep files of shooting incidents from military, police, civilian.. Wherever he could get 'em. Now admittedly he was a big-bore fan and likely more than a bit predjudiced. Still, he had an impressive file of instances where individuals in combat took hits from FMJ projectiles and were not only not disabled.... They were sometimes unaware of the wound till it was pointed out.

 

[mavracer]

Neither answer is completly correct. I don't need the best, but I ain't gonna carry ball in a 9mm either. I have no problem finding good JHP ammo for 40-50c.

 

[Inebriated]

If over penetration weren't a concern, I wouldn't care much. I'd probably use FMJ...

But since it is a concern, I only use the most reliably expanding rounds I can find, which happen to be Federal HST's or Speer Gold Dots.

 

[Captcurt]

I want something that opens up quickly and stays intact. Most of the time it is PMC Starfire. I have shot them thru several kinds of media at different ranges and they are very consistent. Double their diameter and stay together. They would have to blow chunks.

 

[jon86]

For me, the smaller the caliber, the more it matters. For example, I care an awful lot about what I carry in my 38 airweight. I care a bit less about 9mm. I will carry a 4 inch 45ACP with almost any JHP. Same would go for a 3 or 4" 357.

 

[Fotno]

As others have already said, I don't want to be responsible for loss of life or injury because the round I fired into a bad guy ended up in someone I wasn't shooting at.

 

[R.W.Dale]

In this and the other threads folks cite overpenatration concerns for using jhp. IMO there are many completely valid reasons to use them if they suit your needs, however they ARE NOT a replacement for or should be relied on as "insurance" against rule number 4

I think you guys are placing way too much faith in jhp loads performing in flesh EXACTLY like you see in you tube videos going through water or gelatin . A jhp that clogs with clothing is a FMJ and should be treated as such. Especially if shooting at someone wearing clothing








posted via that mobile app with the sig lines everyone complaints about

 

[beatledog7]

You're more likely to hit something you shouldn't by missing than by over-penetration. Shoot what you can hit with (but learn to hit with JHPs).

 

[huntsman]

not the best or the cheapest but the middle of the pack.

 

[Texan Scott]

Third category, no vote. My preferred ccw is 38+p. JHP is a must because FMJ or LRN in 38+p is MASSIVELY overpenetrative (making it leas effective on assailants, but more dangerous to bystanders). That said, I'm not hung up on a particular BRAND of JHP
.. anything that'll hold to center mass at close range will do.

 

[Sharps-shooter]

There is ammo out there that i dont like; but decent ammo that functions without malfunctioning, it will do. So not a fan of super hightech gimmick rounds.

 

[holdencm9]

I am not too picky about range ammo. My motto is 'anything but Rem UMC' for centerfire pistols, and 'anything but rem golden bullets' for .22LR.

As for SD/HD ammo, I am also not finnicky. I think once you find something that works, stick with it. I use Speer Gold Dots in pretty much everything.... .380 acp, 9mm, .38 special, .45 acp...it has never failed me or caused issues....but I don't think anyone using any one of the plethora of other SD options is wrong. I have tried Hornady Critical Defense, Cor Bon DPX, Winchester PDX, etc. I just found that Speer Gold Dots worked for me and a good balance of cost and performance.

I think in general most people worry too much about this ammo or that ammo being superior by .02" expansion or 1/2" of penetration.

 

[Texan Scott]

Deleted ... stupid Android.

 

[Tcruse]

There are some proven JHP that are very reasonable in price, only about 20% above range ammo. Federal 9bp and 9bple have a good and long track record for being effective and reliable. They are priced low enough that I can shoot enough to know that there are no issues in my guns. Probably would not use ammo that has no record or testing results when the cost is e same. The best sd ammo is probably worth the price but I would not shoot enough of it to verify itssuitabili in my guns. The 9bple is running $17 per box of 50 locally.

 

[savanahsdad]

BLACK TALONS 45acp oh and not voteing , some days I carry rubber bullets