Self Defense Ammo Choices???

[shavedforbattle]

Just for fun, what kind of self defense rounds are you guys and gals using in your guns? I think it will be interesting to see the similarities and differences between different guns and calibers. Here's what I am currently using:

Remington R1 1911 - Hornady Critical Defense .45acp (185gr)
Ruger LCP - Federal Hydra-Shok .380acp (90gr)
Mossberg 500 - Remington Express Buckshot (00bk)

 

[MtnBiker6510]

Any of my firearms could eventually be called in for use as a self-defense gun. My reference would be the pistols I carry regularly and my HD shotgun. My carry pistols vary depending on what tool I need to carry that day. My SR40 really favors Winchester Ranger 135gr or Golden Saber 165gr, while my 2 .380's get PMC 90gr FMJ's for penetration. The HD Shotgun carries 8rds of 20ga #3 Buck. I just hope I never need any of it.
I've always practiced the 12 inches of penetration rule. Any expansion getting there is a bonus.

 

[Spinaltapls1]

Anything that goes bang. I dont think the bad guy is going to ask after you shoot him. Right now in my sr9c i have some Winchester white box. Ar15 i think it is PMC bronze.

 

[Cemetery-man]

All of my semi-auto handguns seem to like Federal Hydra-Shok's. They were the first I used and I was pleasantly satisfied as how well the guns performed with them so I haven't tried any other SD round.

 

[goinggreyfast]

Handguns are pretty much all Hornady Critical Defense. My wife has the Winchester Elites in her 410 and I use #3 Buck in my 20 Ga for HD.

 

[Chase515]

I run in the Hornaday FTX crowd. Good ammo and goes boom

 

[WyldeShot]

I have Winchester PDX1 in all of my guns. I alternate PDX1 and 00 buckshot in my shotgun.

 

[NIFT]

Go here, and read among the first 25 "sticky" threads for the best information available on terminal ballistics and choices for defensive ammunition.

Terminal Ballistic Information - M4Carbine.net Forums

 

[upchurch67]

45 = 230 grain federal hydra shoks
38 = 148 grain lead hollowpoints
357 = 158 grain semi-jacketed hollow points

 

[Sweetums]

All of my handguns (45 ACP) get fed the 100 round JHP box of Remington/UMC from Walmart. They usually cost just a couple bucks more then FMJ ammo, so I use them for plinking too. As soon as I get my .40 carbine broken in, it'll get the same thing.

My shotgun gets Hornady Critical Defense Buckshot, and I keep a couple of Brenneke Home Defence Reduced Recoil Slugs sitting in the side saddle.

 

[Mackey]

Hornady Critical Defence 9mm 115gr

 

[jve153]

m&p 9mm compact (EDC) gets the federal hydra shocks. it seems to like them, have not tried anything else.
m&p15 gets either federal fmj 5.56 or american eagle fmj .223, both are as accurate as i am and put a nice hole in a tree, good enough for people.
sig mosquito .22lr really likes the cci mini mag hollow points.
if at home the order of grabbing goes ar (6 mags) 9mm (4 mags) and if all else fails the .22lr is there as a back up to the back up.

 

[netsecurity]

9mm Federal HST, and some Rangers. I only use 9mm for defense for the sake of accuracy.

Check out this link, comparing expansion:

Bullet results after firing

 

[45fan]

My 442 is loaded with Blazer 125gr gold dots, the 1911 is loaded with 185 gr Hydrashocks, Glock 26 is loaded with Federal 9BPLE, and the LCP is loaded with Fiochi extrema XTPs.

 

[3point5]

9mm gets federal hydrashoks, it used to by loaded with corbon's-but it didnt like to feed them, bullets were too soft, and crushed into the feed ramp.

.38 also has hydrashoks, but are low recoil loads.

 

[sloughfoot]

CCI QUICK-SHOCK for my 22. I shot a groundhog with it that was starting a criminal attack. One shot to the chest and it about cut him in two at 20 yards. It is a truly awesome round that splits into three long pieces when it strikes flesh.

True story. (the criminal attack part might be stretching it because I have no proof)

As far as centerfire, I carry what my local PD's carry.

 

[Meister]

380-ball- I want two bleed points.
9mm- Federal tactical 124g JHP +p
357- Federal 130 Personal Defense
40- Speer Gold Dot 165
10mm- 175 silvertips
44 spl- Federal 240g JHP's
45- Federal HST 230g JHP +p
223- Hornaday 55g TAP
300 BLK- 110g TAP
12g #5 shot

 

[sloughfoot]

380-ball- I want two bleed points.
9mm- Federal tactical 124g JHP +p
357- Federal 130 Personal Defense
40- Speer Gold Dot 165
10mm- 175 silvertips
44 spl- Federal 240g JHP's
45- Federal HST 230g JHP +p
223- Hornaday 55g TAP
300 BLK- 110g TAP
12g #5 shot

I like all of your choices. I am somewhat baffled by your 12G choice. #5 birdshot for SD? Is that a typo? I have seen bird dogs that were shot with birdshot. They survived the initial shooting.

Do you mean #4 buck?

 

[Mike_Indy]

Handguns:
45's are mostly Federal HST 230's. Sometimes Hornady Critical Defense 185's
9mm Federal HST 124
Bodyguard 308 is Hornady Critical Defense.

Mossberg 930 SPX is OO Buck

AR is 5.56 Black Hills 77gr

 

[kilo11]

Glock 32- Double Tap- 125gr Gold Dot or 115gr Barnes Tac-XP
S&W 442- Speer- 135gr +p Short Barrel Gold Dot
Kahr PM9- Carbon- 95gr DPX (Barnes X Bullet)
S&W M&P9- Winchester 127gr +p SXT (defense load) Hornady Steel Match 115gr (competition)
AR15- Silver State Armory 70gr 5.56 Enhanced (SHTF Load) 55gr Carbon DPX (Home Defense)
Remington 870- Winchester PDX1 (Defense Load) Remington LE Slugs (Slug Load)
Surgeon XL .308 Precision Rifle- Black Hills M118LR/MK316 MOD1 175gr SMK