If you reload, do you reload your own self defense ammo?

[hardcorehunter5]

ArtP,

At no point did I say gold dots weren't bonded or good, I just said there is better factory loaded bullets that you can't get as components.

 

[GW Staar]

ArtP,

At no point did I say gold dots weren't bonded or good, I just said there is better factory loaded bullets that you can't get as components.

You are free to think what you want, but there are numerous studies and much positive data on the reliability of Gold Dot Ammo (very bonded), both from penetration and expansion, more in fact than any other bullet...including hyrashok.

That said, all such studies use factory ammo and each weapon has to be matched to its ammo...meaning bullet weight versus barrel length...and other factors. Additionally Speer goes to the trouble to make component bullets as well as those that are designed expressly for short barrels.

It remains the responsibility of the handloader to use some intelligence to match bullets to their gun.

As to your comment about practicing with what you carry...I hope it goes bang when you need it to....you'll never know...all guns and all ammo don't necessarily compliment each other.

 

[smartshot]

CHEVELLE427 does raise a valid point/question. Depending on whether or not you qualify with a LE agency or a CCW, and depending on your state, they may have different policies as to what you may carry. The problem is that if you reload the ammo, you take on more responsibility, yes its being responsible for your own life, but nonetheless you take on the responsibility for knowing the ins and outs of that round and who wants to testify about that? Have you always loaded that combination? Have you always qualified with that exact load? You are the manufacturer in a sense. I would just tell the lawyer that I can't speak for the ballisticians at remington, because it would surely be an avenue that a lawyer could explore for his client that was "murdered."

The people that say they can load something hotter than factory ammo, I will believe them. The people that say it makes a life-saving difference, I don't know if that can be qualified. Again, it depends on your department/state/CCW class regulations. I think you can get factory ammo just as effective and accurate as handloads, with regard to self defense encounters. Factory ammo for self defense, handloads for target shooting for accuracy!

 

[ArtP]

You are free to think what you want, but there are numerous studies and much positive data on the reliability of Gold Dot Ammo (very bonded), both from penetration and expansion, more in fact than any other bullet...including hyrashok.

I happen to completely agree with you. But I wasn't going to argue the point with him about the quality of Gold Dot's, as he seems to have the knowledge to make a good decision for himself, and I am no one to try and change minds.

I think we're all guilty at times of trying to squeeze every possible little bit of performance from our work - perhaps obsessing over it. In the end it's placement.

 

[hardcorehunter5]

Gentlemen,

I have no doubt about the quality of gold dot. My ultimate point was that as a handloader gold dot is the only defensive bonded bullet to reload with, as far as I know of. The bullets I prefer to shoot are only loaded at the factory.

Federal fusion is coming to market, but I would assume it would be in hunting handgun calibers. Has anyone been able to locate information on that? Everywhere I look it is mainly rifle bullets with little to no information.

 

[zxcvbob]

I have no doubt about the quality of gold dot. My ultimate point was that as a handloader gold dot is the only defensive bonded bullet to reload with, as far as I know of. The bullets I prefer to shoot are only loaded at the factory.

Does it have to be a jacketed bullet? How about SWC or DEWC or RNFP bullets cast from soft lead and loaded "+P"? (of course I'm thinking like a revolver shooter)

 

[Skip_a_roo]

Does it have to be a jacketed bullet? How about SWC or DEWC or RNFP bullets cast from soft lead and loaded "+P"? (of course I'm thinking like a revolver shooter)

See, I'm with you on this. I have a load that will come out of a 3" barrel @ 1100fps that is a 158gr LSWC. Now, if that don't get r done, what would? A bazooka? (excuse the improper grammer! )

 

[ArtP]

Gentlemen,

I have no doubt about the quality of gold dot. My ultimate point was that as a handloader gold dot is the only defensive bonded bullet to reload with, as far as I know of. The bullets I prefer to shoot are only loaded at the factory.

Federal fusion is coming to market, but I would assume it would be in hunting handgun calibers. Has anyone been able to locate information on that? Everywhere I look it is mainly rifle bullets with little to no information.

Perhaps I'm looking in all the wrong places, but I've never been able to find a Federal component bullet - rifle or pistol. Speer & Federal are both owned by the same company ATC (think), and I wonder if they leave Federal bullets off the market on purpose. I have an interest in loading up some Trophy Bonder Bear Claws too. I just can't find them.

By the way, Rem. Golden Sabers and Hornady XTP's are also available as components. I would take a wild guess that between those three lines (inc. GD's) of handgun bullets, that they capture more than 50% of the market for premium self defense rounds used by civ's and LE. The outdated Hydrashock's probably make up a good chunk too.

 

[hardcorehunter5]

ArtP,

To everyone else sorry we hijacked the thread... ArtP I went to Atk's website recently and saw they were bringing the fusion to the reloaders, which intrigued me, since it should be a fairly inexpensive bonded bullet, not that I totally sold on the idea of needing one for hunting. I found it for sale on some off the wall the website as being listed for sale but not in stock, go figure. I agree with you, ever since they went to the trophy bonded tip they are not being sold to reloaders. Don't know if that's a good thing or not, since the old version sold for its weight in gold. If I remember correctly it was the most expensive bullet on the market.

 

[ArtP]

ArtP,

To everyone else sorry we hijacked the thread... ArtP I went to Atk's website recently and saw they were bringing the fusion to the reloaders, which intrigued me, since it should be a fairly inexpensive bonded bullet, not that I totally sold on the idea of needing one for hunting. I found it for sale on some off the wall the website as being listed for sale but not in stock, go figure. I agree with you, ever since they went to the trophy bonded tip they are not being sold to reloaders. Don't know if that's a good thing or not, since the old version sold for its weight in gold. If I remember correctly it was the most expensive bullet on the market.

I'm famous for hijacting threads, no problem. It's the nature of a thread for the topic to get changed.

Another interesting component bullet is the Barnes TAC-XP. Might it be similar to the DPX? Being all copper, it's certainly a penetrator. Any thoughts?

 

[788Ham]

zxcvbob,

No Bob, it doesn't have to be an SWC, DEWC, RNFP, it can be whatever you feel comfortable shooting in your pistol/revolver. It doesn't have to be Gold Dot, or XTP's either. Skip chooses GD's, I choose XTP's, just as your drive an ________ , I drive a Toyota, whatever trips your trigger. Again, these bullets are of my choosing, I like they way they shoot, I'm not throwing them away because Skips likes his brand. I served in the US Navy years ago, to keep our country free, and to continue to give you, Skip and Chevelle the freedom to choose these things for yourself, get 'em loaded and shoot straight!

 

[hardcorehunter5]

ArtP,

I haven't heard much about the Barnes bullet, but I would imagine it is good. The only thing I would think it bullet length for it being an all copper bullet, seems like it might possibly have issue with +p loads, since they would be light for the dimensions. That may be the reason I only see the corbon stuff maxing out at like 185grs for 45 acp. But I have no experience with either. If I was to recommend factory defense ammo I would have to say Federal HST, then ranger or gold dot. problem is its a little difficult to get since its a LE ammo. If you're really interested in so test results just visit Federal and winchester's website. They have dont some extensive comparison testing with a full line of different factory ammo for Law enforcement. Kind of an interesting read. Gives you an idea of what the stuff can do. It follows the FBI testing procedure... I would like to see more information on the new winchester PDX1 bullet to see how it compares.

 

[smartshot]

why would you ever want to create the possibility of having to testify about SAAMI pressures, loaded primers from an expired lot etc..... regarding your handloads? No disrespect to anyone else's opinions, but with the quality of available ammo today, you really don't need to handload for self-defense, even if you enjoy doing it (please don't tell me that you believe a handload may mean the difference between life and death, because thats impossible to predict). Handload for targets and hunting. Its bad enough your case will probably go through a grand jury and everyone will be stressed, so don't open any avenues and have a paper trail for everything, including your ammo.
Just my 2cents, No disrespect to anyone else's opinions.

 

[ljnowell]

All this "fear" espoused by "experts" only serves one purpose; me giving up one of my freedoms without a law being passed to take it away! I refuse!

It also sells Ammo for the people that advertise in magazines that these experts write those opinions in.

 

[BushyGuy]

i dont reload and i would never trust my life with reloads for self-defense only for plinking and practice.

i buy all my self defense rounds formt he factory and test a couple before trusting it.

 

[Airborne Falcon]

I used to think I would never trust a factory load for my personal carry piece .... but things are changing. I still roll my own for my daily carry piece but I am beginning to look more and more like some of the other available stuff out there.

Here's the dilemma imho.

You wanna practice a lot with your carry piece - and you wanna practice a lot with the ammo you plan on feeding your carry piece shtf.

Premium personal defense ammo is too expensive to run 500 rounds through at a time.

Reloading my own - I am able to practice with exactly what I'll be shooting at the bad guys if it ever comes down to that.

Now, I still like that Critical Defense FTX ammo ..... that little polymer plug thingy really intrigues me.

 

[tommyintx]

i buy my self defense ammunition for my carry .45...

If i ever have to use it, and end up in court, i'm going to play the "they sold it to me with the gun, they recommended this load because that's what police around here use"

Because the last thing i want is them to know i load my own ammunition, and then try to argue me into a trigger happy gun fanatic radical.

Lawyers argue anything these days.

230 grain ball (target) ammunition can turn into "Military grade ammunition that has more killing power", or "Used target ammunition because he wanted to wound my client, and torture him so he could suffer"

and at the same time, we all know how the media portrayed black talons..
"Designed to explode like a thousand razor blades"

 

[Johnny Guest]

Carry handloads for defense? Volume XXXIV

Over half the replies posted today have been deleted as contrary to the original premise of the thead. This topic is pretty well worn out anyway.

Closed.