Why use HP or SP for self defense?

[Longbow]

Wouldn't that be three holes? (The entry hole, the exit hole, and that long hole connecting the two of them together.

The long hole I think, is called cavitation. It's more pronounced and permanent in HP's.

 

[Third_Rail]

Looks like .45 hollowpoints are the way to go afterall. Any brand suggestions?

 

[Quartus]

Okay, just some quick notes to all the young (apparently) folks that are posting strong opinions here:

1. Don't drive your pegs so deep so young - you might have to re-arrange them. (As said to me by a wise man many years ago! ) Experience counts.
   
2. "Dr. Martin Fackler's excellent findings" are the subject of much debate among highly qualified people. Don't take it as gospel, take it as information in an ongoing debate.
   
3. Jeff Cooper is a great man, but he hasn't allowed any new information into his thinking in decades. Don't put your faith in old information.
   [/list=1]

 

[Longbow]

Looks like .45 hollowpoints are the way to go afterall. Any brand suggestions?

Pow'R ball!

 

[Third_Rail]

Corbon makes those, correct? Can the bullets be bought for reloading?


EDIT:

Oh, and Quartus, I guess I do have quite strong opinions. I blame being exposed to my two opinionated uncles for 17 years running!

 

[No4Mk1*]

I think FMJ is warranted when the shooter must limit the quantity of practice ammo due to cost. In that case I would just buy cheap FMJ and carry what you practice with. That way you maximize practice, which is most important. If you can afford to test and routinely shoot at least one magazine of carry ammo at every range trip you would be better served with JHP. I use JHP ammo now that I can afford it. I avoid light weight bullets an any given handgun caliber since I believe there is no such thing as too much penetration with handguns. Missed shots should be worried about as they are much more dangerous and likely to occur than "overpenetration."

 

[Ivy Mike]

Fackler's findings may be the subject of many debates, but they are generally accepted much more readily than some others. Marshall and Sanow for one. Energy transfer is not of much importance when dealing with handgun bullets. Let me give you a simple reason why. Handgun bullets are relatively weak (compared to rifle rounds) You can get the same amount of "energy transfer" by hitting someone with a baseball bat. Don't forget that human tissue is very elastic. The bullet may dump all of it's energy into a body only to create a larger temporary cavity. The temporary cavity can be likened to a bruise. Yes, it's painful and there is damage, but it isn't life thretening. The low velocity bullets (and low energy) from a handgun have to hit a vital structure directly in order to cause serious damage. They do not cause the same type of damage that higher velocity rifle slugs do. The reason that energy transfer is important (but not all-important) in rifle slugs is that the permanent wound cavity gets stretched so far and so fast (from the high velocity round) that tissue damage is spread to surrounding tissues. This is why rifle rounds don't have to be as large to cause massive damage. i.e. 5.56NATO. Pistol rounds rely on size to damage structures, rifle rounds rely on their velocity. Read some of the information at http://www.firearmstactical.com and compare it with what you learned in high school physics. It adds up. I've always wondered what it would be like to be shot with a vest on. I'll take you up on that offer with one stipulation. You can shoot me with a pistol round of your choosing as long as I get to shoot you with a rifle round of my choosingn, and I get to shoot first.

On another note, the CZ75 P-01 is a NATO spec pistol and can fire NATO ball ammo. I would assume the Beretta 92FS as well as the H&K USP's will too since the 92FS is our military service pistol (well, the M9 is but you know what I mean) and the USP is rated for +p+ (compacts are rated for +p) right out of the box. I'm sure there are others too, but they elude me at the moment.

OBTW, I forgot the whole purpose of this thread. I load Winchester Supreme SXT's in my Makarov (.380) and Gold Dots in my FN Forty-Nine. I recently switched from Hydra-Shok's in the FN because I removed a few rounds from a magazine and found the bullet pressed WAY too far in the case. Glad I didn't run any of those through the gun. Maybe I'll go back to the Hydra's one day, but Gold Dots are proven rounds as well and are approved for use by my local PD.

 

[Quartus]

Fackler's findings may be the subject of many debates, but they are generally accepted much more readily than some others.

Yep. Didn't say he's wrong.

 

[MrMurphy]

I shoot 230 grain Federal Hydrashok, if those are not available, Remington Golden Saber (The FBI's .45 load). Both have proven track records in .45.

I shoot my two mags of carry ammo off every six months, then get a fresh box and reload from my stash, so my ammo gets rotated.

Put about 40-60 rounds of your particular flavor of hollowpoint through your pistol to ensure they feed well. They should be fine, but check.

 

[riverdog]

I chose Black Hills version of the 230 gr Gold Dot; Pro-Load also uses Gold Dot bullets.