Is it best to stick to one type of SD ammo?

[DustyVermonter]

Is it best to use only one type of ammo for personal defense? More specifically, would there be any adverse effects if you had 1 magezine loaded with 124gr 9mm hollowpoints and the other backup mag loaded with 115gr hollowpoints? Kind of like swinging two bats before you step up to the plate, not that I think there would be any real serious tactical advantage but would there be any negative effects such as throwing the gun off its timing, etc... Just curious

 

[speaksoftly]

I don't see any major problem as long as you are familiar with both rounds. That being said, I like things simple and keep one brand and type of ammo per caliber stocked.

 

[jfdavis58]

IMO the single most important thing about self defense ammo is that it function as nearly flawlessly as possible. Sometimes only one profile/weight/brand meets this criteria, sometimes more than one fits. A close second criteria it that is be available in the necessary quantity. This would be enough to fill the mag/loaders you actually carry, plus replacements for 'set-back' (in an auto) plus practice. 500 rounds is a nice number for me but YMMV.

 

[DustyVermonter]

SpeakSoftly, I think keeping things simple is a great practice. I have about 6 different calibers I stock and don't want to venture out of these calibers if I can help it. I see you have put a great deal of faith in the .40, why? Not saying anythings wrong with it at all, in fact I've only shot 1 .40 in my life and it was a H&K usp and I didn't shoot it very well. I kind of find it interesting I havnt ended up with one. I have heard it is kind of a difficult round to master, not too sure how qualified those statements were but I'm just kind of curious about it.

 

[speaksoftly]

I've always been a fan of .40. I think it stems from the evolution of my knowledge about calibers. When I started shooting I was ignorant as hell about guns and listened to all the morons who went on and on about how 9mm is a girls round and so on. I wanted something bigger and at the time .45 was expensive. My first pistol was a .40 and I was always able to find affordable rounds for plinking AND self defense. I've since become familiar with a myriad of calibers and still like the .40 best. It's light on the recoil so I feel safe with my level of accuracy and it's large and powerful enough that I feel protected while carrying it (not to say that I wouldn't about 95% of other calibers). My plinking .40 ammo costs about $12 per 50 rounds and my Federal Hydra Shock JHP .40 rounds cost about $26 per 50. Also, I get a large bang out of the round but it's small enough that I don't have to worry about single digit magazine capacities. For me .40 just fits and it's common enough that I'll always be able to find it. There's probably a million other reasons why I choose .40 but that's basically it. Other than the 20 rounds of 9mm that I have for me PF-9, I feel glad knowing that my stock of .40 will run equally well in every one of my handguns. I also only store one type of rifle ammo (5.56) and one type of shotgun ammo (12 gauge). I believe 100% in Murphy's Law and the fewer variables I have in my home defense equation, the lesser the chance I have of one of those variables biting me in the arse. Hope this answered your questions and if not feel free to fire away with more.

-Marcos

 

[Myles]

Personally, in my 9mm HD weapon, I keep a full magazine of Federal 147 grain +P+ JHP, the 2 backup magazines are loaded with Remington 124 grain +P JHP. Truly, it's because I have a very limited supply of the 80's vintage +P+ ammo that I got from an FFL friend. If I can not grab a spare mag, that's what I want. I have practiced with this loading extensively. If I had more, all 3 mags would be loaded likewise. My backup mags are loaded with what I believe are the next best option, which I have also practiced with, at length. (and expense)

My main go-to revolver, a beauty of a S&W 66, has the heaviest loads that it can bear. For bear. Hornady 158 grain XTP, or Buffalo Bore 180grain Hard cast LFN.

EDIT: To answer your main question - can it affect your shooting? Yes, it can. If you practice with different loadings than those that you might be called upon to use in HD/SD. It might, yes. Practically, not much really beyond real-world SD situations. In self defense, you are not bulls-eye shooting at 100 yards prone. Your adrenaline level, breathing and lung function, general health and cardio, and more specifically your special circumstances will have more of an affect on your shooting than the loading of your first magazine. If you truly need your HD/SD weapon, you will either be successful or be dead before you need to reload. Real world gunfights are not Hollywood. I do not mean this to be negative, but reality is brutal, fast, and unforgiving. I am sorry, but the real world moves much faster than you think that is does. Suddenly, everything changes. Forever.

 

[KBintheSLC]

Nothing wrong with using different SD/HD loadings as long as you test them to make sure they work. I usually run 2 or 3 full mags with each mag I intend to carry when trying a new loading.

Sticking with one load can become restrictive if you can't find it in stock. Best thing to do is get 3 or 4 different kinds from the beginning and test them all.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

My battle carry cartridge is 124gr +P Gold Dot. I've developed a 124gr FMJ cartridge, which duplicates my battle carry cartridge, that I handload for training.

One problem I contemplate is difference in felt recoil between two different cartridges. If there is a substantial difference it may affect your ability to manage recoil.

Personally I try to keep everything consistent because I believe consistency contributes to consistent performance.

Cheers!

 

[DustyVermonter]

SpeakSoftly, I sort of wish the .40 was something I had invested in way back when, I can remember thinking this last year when the ammo draught was in full effect. It was maddening, I went store to store looking for 9mm and .45 and it seemed like the only thing I could see behind the counters were 250rd value packs of UMC .40 , 100rd value packs of winchester white box .40 and every other brand known to man was fully stocked in .40 cal. I was on the verge of breaking down and getting a Glock 22 but ammo started popping up here and there and believe me I relieved a few stores of their inventory. I can actually recall a few clerks letting out a collective sigh and acting like they were doing me a big solid by selling me 4 boxes of ammo when apparently there was some 3 box maximum.

 

[DustyVermonter]

I'm actually a few keystrokes away from doing some research on the .40 but I'm afraid of how much I may like what I read. Probably be best not to or ill be forking out about $600 for a G22 and spending a few hundred bucks a month stocking a new caliber. I don't want my 9's getting jealous and touchy anyway. I probably crossed the line askin you about the .40 already.

 

[huntsman]

Is it best to use only one type of ammo for personal defense?

Once you find your magic bullet why not just stick with it? Makes shopping easier, even for plinking I try to keep one favorite brand on hand.

 

[speaksoftly]

I can remember thinking this last year when the ammo draught was in full effect.

Don't stop thinking that way. I will bet my life that there will be another major ammo shortage in the next few years. In the last few years of ammo shortage, I haven't been unable to place an order for .40 at any point in time. Not even once.

 

[DustyVermonter]

I like Hornady TAP and happenned to stumble across some Hornady Critical Defense that was fairly priced but was lighter that what I usually keep on hand. I guess I just got a little restless and wanted to change things up a bit, if that makes any sense. I like the way the lighter stuff shoots, I just like to keep a heavier grain loaded for PD.