LE Department Ammo Choices

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SharpDog

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I'm not a LEO and never have been. I do factor in what I perceive departments use but my info is based on blogs like THR and educated guesses as well as a lot of gelatin terminal performance studies.

For 115 gr. 9mm standard pressure I have settled on 115 gr. Gold Dot in my 'mouse guns'. For EDC 9mm it's 147 gr. HST +P tactical heavy for caliber and for home defense it's 165 gr. .40 S&W HST Tactical. These decisions were made before the Underwood screwdriver rounds came on the scene.

The video below just surfaced in my Youtube feed and it describes a poor situation in LE departments wrt. ammo selection. Just wondering what you guys think of this situation. Note that it's a 2016 video so things may have improved:

 
I'm a retired LEO who was switched from .40 to 9mm.
I'll mainly carry 9mm, but also own various other handgun calibers and will occasionally carry those handguns in those other calibers.

When it's time to buy more carry/self-defense ammo, I'll typically check two websites, to compare against what I've found to buy:

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/#9mm

https://pistol-forum.com/member.php?8-DocGKR
&/or this thread in the same forum,
https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?4337-Service-Caliber-Handgun-Duty-and-Self-Defense-Ammo

The video discusses how various LE agencies have policies regarding its LEOs' firearms. The video seems to stress how some LE agencies just keep issuing/mandating old Federal Hydra-Shok ammo. If the mandated-use of Hydra-Shok is the main point of the video, I'll agree that product-line is outdated with Federal's "HST" line is "Hydra-Shok's" better replacement.

My agency used Winchester Ranger, first RA40T, then RA9B, which I believe it's still issuing/using. There are/were very few who had trouble qualifying with his/her handgun. In my opinion, the individual LEO who has/had a problem in handgun qualification should take it upon himself/herself to strengthen this skill, even it takes personally buying ammo and going to the range or taking additional classes.
 
You will find LE agencies all over the place when it comes to duty ammo. Pick a quality hollow point that first feeds reliably and is accurate in your gun.

You don't need the $1 a round stuff.
 
Pick a quality hollow point that first feeds reliably and is accurate in your gun.

You don't need the $1 a round stuff.
I agree. I'm not going to argue that Winchester White Box JHP's work better than HST or Gold Dots or whatever other reputable brand 20 round box JHP is out there, but WWB does work and is half the price per round. That's not an issue for someone just wanting a few rounds for self defense and wants the best ammo, but for someone who's serious about being proficient with their gun, practicing with the same ammo you carry will go a long way and stuff like WWB will not break the bank.

It's only when you get into the pocket gun calibers (.380, .38 Special, .32) that you have to get the premium ammo to get good performance.
 
practicing with the same ammo you carry will go a long way

I don't buy that. I think if you're shooting something of generally-similar power levels, bullet weight, and total recoil, there's no magic whatsoever in shooting exactly the same JHP for your practice.

When I switched from plated to coated bullets in my USPSA gamer gun, but otherwise kept the same projectile weight and powder type, and only adjusted the powder charge a little bit, I didn't experience any difference in my shooting one way or the other.
 
The most common round used by LEOs in my area is HST. And when I can, I get HST for my carry firearms. When pickings on the shelf get low or money is tight, I will get pretty much any JHP I can find as long as I test feeding at the range first. The one exception is WWB JHP rounds. I never use those for carry, as I have had too many malfunctions for those to work as carry ammo for me.
 
I agree. I'm not going to argue that Winchester White Box JHP's work better than HST or Gold Dots or whatever other reputable brand 20 round box JHP is out there, but WWB does work and is half the price per round. That's not an issue for someone just wanting a few rounds for self defense and wants the best ammo, but for someone who's serious about being proficient with their gun, practicing with the same ammo you carry will go a long way and stuff like WWB will not break the bank.

It's only when you get into the pocket gun calibers (.380, .38 Special, .32) that you have to get the premium ammo to get good performance.

Agreed. WWB JHPs have always run well for me.
 
I retired in 2015. I know for the last 10-15 years I worked we were issued 165 gn. standard pressure HST for issued glock 22/23s. Street results: Excellent
Edit: 40 s&w
 
I bought a few thousand ranger T in 165 and 180 when police traded in their 40s. (One says bonded and one has nickel plated brass. I don't recall which) So some large departments were obviously using those as well. It was 16 dollars for 50 rounds so I figure if it old or defective, if nothing else I can plink with it. Ive shot a few hundred and had no issues.


A NC state trooper relative is issued speer gold dots in his 357 sig.

Aside from the sig 220 magazine not accepting some brands of 45 ammo, I'm not picky about brand as I have used all the major brands with no issues. Gold dot, hst, ranger, all are fine duty ammo assuming you hit your target. I love hornady xtp for hunting, but not so much for sd. The xtp/tap/nor critical series impressed me much. But if that's all I had I wouldn't feel at a disadvantage either
 
We weren’t issued ammo, except for re-qualification. I always made a point to shoot my old ammo and keep their new stuff.
Policy was 9mm 147g HP, brand was up to us and our pocketbooks.

As moribund as our agency was, I don’t doubt it’s still the same.
 
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