Would having to use non-expanding ammo change what handguns you prefer?

[Nightcrawler]

Let's imagine for a moment that for whatever reason, the only ammunition available to you was Full Metal Jacket, Lead Semi Wadcutter, Lead Round Nose, and similar rounds (let's say you signed on to the Hague Convention, LOL). No JHP. No Soft Points. No Expanding Full Metal Jacket. Just hardball, AP, and lead.

Would it change what you carry? I don't think it'd affect my handgun choices too much; expanding bullets or no, .45ACP, .45 Colt, and .41 Magnum all make pretty big holes to begin with.

But how would your carry weapons selection be effected? Would you carry +P FMJ ammo? Would you carry flat-pointed ammo?

 

[Tamara]

Nah.

I'd still carry a .45 on my belt, a .44 in my purse, and a .380/.38 Spl in my pocket. Pass the semiwadcutters, please.

 

[Nightcrawler]

You know, if I were carrying a .380, I might opt for FMJ ammunition anyway. I'd feel better about it being able to reliably penetrate a frontal skull plate of a person, or enter from the side of the torso and go deep enough to hit something important. *shrug*

I guess I'm not one of the big "load selection guys".

 

[Tamara]

I'd feel better about it being able to reliably penetrate a frontal skull plate

Funny, that's the reason I prefer JHP's in little guns. It seems to me that round nose bullets that meet rounded surfaces (like a rib or the bad guy's melon) would be more likely to skid off, where as something blunt in front may have a better chance to "bite" and penetrate. I don't buy them with magic expansion in mind, although if they do, I won't complain. *shrug*

(147gr +P+ HydraShoks in my J-frame and 90gr Ranger SXT's in my .380 currently because... well... it's what I have on hand. )

 

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

Solid bullet ammo

When I was a consultant to the Los Angeles Police Department on their reloading systems it was interesting that the county sheriffs were allowed hollow point ammo but Los Angeles officers were only allowed round nose bullets. The theory was that the LA officers came into closer contact with crowds and being more likely to have their weapons taken from them and shot with their own ammo, a round nose would cause less damage than a hollow point and the LA officers being closer to hospitals were more likely to survive. (In the middle of a riot??)

I was in the first Watts Riots and was Glad I was with another department that was only called out once as backup.

John Paul

 

[Landric]

Howdy,

My primary off-duty carry gun is a HK USP45 Compact, so if I was limited to non-JHP ammo, I would go with plain jane 230 grain FMJ instead of my 230 grain Gold Dot JHP.

My backup is a S&W 342PD, so if limited to non-JHP, I would go with a 158 grain LSWC, or switch to the 642 and use a LSWC(+P).

I carry 71 grain FMJ in my P32 anyway, so no effect there.

It would really hurt my duty gun though a S&W 6946(GAG!) 9mm. I guess I would go with NATO 124 grain ball, at least I could shoot through stuff, and I don't trust lead bullets in a semi-auto when my life is on the line.

For the .40S&W pistols a sometimes carry, I would go with 180 grain FMJ FP I suppose.

 

[Mike Irwin]

I'd still likely carry a .38 or .357, just with SWCs.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

I'd carry some handloads with 255 grain keith type bullets in my .45. just to be different.

 

[Blueduck]

My 357's would stay with a nice sharp shouldered semi-wadcutters replacing the current HP's. I prefer my HP loads but would not feel too bad about it. On the other hand auto wise I'd have to say my 9mm's WOULD get swapped in for 45's pretty quick.

Wouldn't mess with +P rounds, but likely would try to find some nice flat tip ammo that fed well.

Then again if I was bound only by the Hague Convention I could carry a lightweight commander in 45 super and shoot 80 grain zinc bullets at 2400 fps and noone could say a thing

 

[badgerrr]

Wouldn't effect me a bunch either.

45LC Man, you see.

And when I use a .38 or 357 it is usually throwing a hard, lead, flat nosed SWC.

(I'd miss being able to toss in a good 125 JHP into the 357, when I felt like it, though)

 

[sm]

Change-Nope.

My carry guns have always been 45 ACP, 9mm and .38 spl. I used FMJ, Hard cast SWC's...before the newer loading of today were available.
Brief use of 44 spl, 20 yrs ago , again I used a HC SWC.

Boils down to gun reliable with ammo, shot placement...with luck thrown in.

 

[boing]

Don't put much stock in must-have-expansion. A hole is a hole.

I already like 1911s, anyway, but ball in my P11 would be fine, too.

It's just holes.

 

[Jim March]

Yes, it would have one effect: I wouldn't trust either the 22Mag or 38Spl near as much.

My top choice would be a strong 357 (GP100/Blackhawk class) firing fully jacketed full wadcutters as fast as I could get them hauling. 1,500+ FPS if possible. That's a rare projectile, but I've seen them as loaded ammo, dunno about components. If I couldn't score those, I'd take hardcast 158grain Keiths and cut the whole nose off, should be around 140grains, get that up around 1,600fps for a similar "big splash effect".

Somebody (Magsafe?) tried coming out with a "New Jersey Special" load for...38Spl+P if I recall...this was some years back. They jacketed an *aluminum* slug(!) and got it up past 2,000fps from a snub! It sucked past 25 yards or so, naturally, but at across-the-room ranges it could really screw somebody up .

 

[Ala Dan]

Not At All-

as I simply would fill my SIG-Sauer P220A up
with the "230 grain hard-ball" ammunition.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[CZF]

Since hundreds of people die from 9mm FMJ each year around
the world. whether it be in wars or police action shooting..
or self defense. 9mm works..i know it can't be true, but it
does.

I'd rather have 16 rounds of Hardball in my gun than 5 jhps
in a snubby.


Having been restricted from carrying 'dum-dum' bullets.
I cheated and carried 9mm Glasers..

Seems that one of today's best stoppers is what??

a .355 bullet @ 1,450 fps..kinda what Marshal found out
years ago when ISP started racking up an impressive
number of One Shot Stops with the dynamic new +P+
load.

For 9mm Hardball ( if i can't use my Sentry +P or Gold -Dots)
i'll opt for the 124 gr NORMA..what a blast!!

Shot placement is what really counts. With a hi-cap 9mm
you get many chances to make an impression

 

[Soap]

Full size 1911 in .45 ACP for me still.

 

[Freightman]

Would not carry anything that didn't start with a 4. No wouldn't change a thing as I don't carry anything that doesn' start with a 4 any how.

 

[Black_Talon]

As the old saying goes "the 45ACP comes pre-expanded" so I wouldn't have to change anything.

45ACP 230gr Hardball for me after the hollow-point ban.

 

[556A2]

I'd be contempt with 15 rounds of 9mm NATO

 

[Quintin Likely]

I supposed I'd break down and buy something in .45 auto...230 gr ball, please.

 

[Dobe]

I sometimes carry 230 hardball anyway.

 

[Shaughn Leayme]

FMJ only?

45 ACP 1911A1

200 trunctuated cone +P
230 trunctuated cone or RN standard or +P

It's not what you shoot them with but where you shoot them

 

[P95Carry]

For the P97 I am switching over too (until full summer carry is necessary) ... then FMJ no big deal.

For summer snub tho .... I'll switch to my home cast and loaded 158 swc's!

 

[Standing Wolf]

I'd pack jacketed hollow points, anyway.

 

[Freightman]

O I forgot to say I have a new revolver it is a Taurus in 45 Colt. just finished putting 150 rds through it some loaded very hot I am in love with it. 2" barrel 28 oz's