Is choosing defense ammo based on available practice ammo rational?

[DMK]

Is it wise to base your choice of JHP defense ammo on the fact that it has similar ballistic performance to common and cheap FMJ practice ammo?

For sake of argument, here's an example: Say I've decided to use 165gr. Golden Sabers in my CZ40B. However, 180gr. FMJ is much more common than 165gr, FMJ and goes on sale more. Since I don't buy as much 165gr. FMJ because it is not as cheap, I don't practice with this gun all that much, compared to other, cheaper to shoot guns that I own.

One argument for keeping practice and defense ammo similar would be that felt recoil and POI would be the same. With practice, you can predict where those bullets are going to go with better consistency.

On the other hand, perhaps you won't be using the best ammunition available for your gun. Perhaps it's not as accurate. Perhaps it doesn't have the best terminal performance. In essence, you'd be sacrificing some performance for additional consistency.


Any thoughts?

 

[PaulS]

DMK,
It is wise to be as comfortable with your CCW load as it is to be comfortable with your weapon. It is also wise to have the most accurate ammo you can get for your weapon. If you don't reload then find the most accurate ammo in your weapon that is available to you and stock up. Use it for practice and CC. At realistic combat ranges the difference in point of impact is neglegable but the psychological effect on the shooter is very different. Confidence is a prime concern when you have to use your weapon under duress, so take the time to get comfortable with both your load and weapon.

PaulS

 

[9mmepiphany]

it is not so much the weight of the bullet as it is the amount of recoil and similar point of impact to you carry load.

major plus for .45 acp as most common loads are strike pretty close to each other.

major plus for 9mm is wide availability of SD ammo and practice ammo in the same weight classes.

 

[treeprof]

DMK - I think it's real wise to do that.

Have you checked into Ga Arms? They load hot 155 and 165 gr that shoot pretty closely to my Speer Gold Dots of the same wt., and the prices are quite good.

http://www.georgia-arms.com/

Link to Canned Heat.

 

[jc2]

So long as you stay fairly close in terms of muzzle blast, flip, perceived recoil, I don't think it's that big of deal. Chances are you really aren't going to notice the difference. Where you get into trouble is when you practice with something like .38 Special 148-grain wadcutters and carry .357 Magnum 125-grain JHPs (a real bad idea).

 

[9mmepiphany]

would you believe?...back in the day of wheelguns...that i actually found a duty load that held the same point of impact, inside 25yds, as the 148gr HBWC!!!

Speer's 140gr JHP .357 magnum...my load of choice in my 4" python

 

[Jim K]

Choosing a practice load that is similar to the carry load is a good idea. One of the problems cops used to have with the .38 was that wadcutter ammo was issued for the range and when they had to use the service load they had noise and control problems.

What you DON'T do is practice only with the practice load and never with the carry load. Some folks buy expensive ammo for carry, but then never practice with it because of the cost. When they have been persuaded to actually shoot some of the high priced stuff, not a few have been surprised to find that it didn't work! Luckily they found out on the range, not at a less propitious time.

Jim

 

[Preacherman]

There are a couple of options here. One is to have two guns, one set up for whatever cheap practice ammo. you can buy or reload, one set up for your "defence" load. Main thing is to ensure that both sets of sights are regulated to the same point of aim/point of impact. I've done this with S&W Model 66's. One is set up for S&B .38 Special practice ammo, the other for my carry load in this caliber (Remington .357 Magnum 125gr. JHP). I shoot plenty with the .38's, and now and again shoot a couple of cylinders of the hot stuff through the other gun just to make sure I'm familiar with the recoil and blast. The sights are set up so that I hit at the same place with either gun/ammo combination.

Another option is to buy a smaller-caliber gun in the same format as your carry gun. I've done this with my Glocks. I carry a G23 (or G27 for deep concealment), but practice ammo. in .40 S&W isn't cheap... So I got a couple of G19's, and buy 9mm. ammo by the case, which I can get cheaper than I can reload the stuff. All of these guns have the same sights, trigger weight, etc. All of my practice with the 9mm's carries over directly to my social-use weapons. Again, I fire a couple of magazines of the heavier stuff from time to time to make sure I remain accustomed to the noise and blast.

By using techniques like this, you can maximize your training and minimize your costs. Worth considering...