What ammo should I carry?

[strider67]

If something has escelated to the point where I have been forced to draw and fire my weapon, the last thing I want exiting said weapon is a rubber bullet. I love the line I saw somewhere on The Forum stating, "Keep shooting until it changes shape or catches on fire!".

Stop the threat...period.

[JALLEN]

You didn't say what make and model gun you were using.

I would read the manual to see if there are any recommendations or restrictions on ammo. Usually there are not but in the case of my P7M8, I was having vexing issues shooting 147 gr. ammo which I had for use in my 226 Navy. I asked on HK Forum and learned that the pistol was designed to work with 124 gr. rounds. With 124 grain rounds, everyone is happy. Sure enough, just like it said in the manual. a recommendation rather than a restriction.

Some guns are just happier with a particular make of ammo than others, although I think this is more common in rimfire than centerfire pistols.

Conclusions you draw from reading the brochures and sales pitches for the different brands are worthless. People who shoot other people for a living almost unanimously agree that nobody ever died as a result of being hit by a Gold Dot who wouldn't have been just as dead if hit with Federal, or Winchester, or Remington. It is difficult to say with confidence that someone who died after hit by JHP would not have died if hit by FMJ. They agree that the dead guy would be dead whether the gun was a Glock, a Sig, a S&W, etc. All this is a dramatic way of saying that shot placement is far, far more important than brand, +P, JHP.

SEALS used to use 147 gr. FMJ manufactured by the lowest bidder in their pistols, which are required by Geneva convention, no "cop killer" hollow point stuff etc. They do OK, because they are really good shots, usually.

[maxx2893]

In my experience, the reason your instructor said what he did is this: For legal purposes, you never want to say you tried to kill him. You never try to kill an attacker. You only tried to stop the threat.

Again that is for legal purposes. If you are being attacked, stopping the attack usually means a dead attacker. Also, I would try to prepare for what you would do, after an attack, should that ever happen. You will be treated like a criminal. There are several schools of thought on what to say after something happens. Some believe you should tell the cops the whole story. some believe you shouldn't tell the cops anything other than basic information they will need from you like name, etc. and you will be fully willing to comply with their investigation after you speak with your legal council. And there are several in between.

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Here's a couple more videos, pretty long-winded

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Edit: I don't know how to embed these videos, if somebody else wants to embed them, feel free

[Richard_B]

"And lastly, welcome!!! You'll find lots of opinions on this site (if you haven't noticed that already). Don't take any of it personally. We really are just a trying-to-be-helpful bunch."

This is not. To disagree with any of the other comments, but one should remember that drawing a handgun and firing, even if using rubber bullets as a form of less deadly force, presents the appearance of the use of deadly force and the bullets coming back probably won't be rubber.

Ultimately, you alone must decide whether you are prepared to use deadly force. If you find that you are not, evaluation of whether to carry a gun you would not use would be in order. It is a personal decision.

[kde71450]

I too need to know the best defensive ammo choices out there. But what's in a name. ZOMBIE to me is just a Sci Fi trend. About the same to me as Romantic Vampires and Werewolves. I was given a good piece of advice by a shooting instructor. I hung a target in my garage that I was pretty proud of my shooting.... BAD IDEA. I was informed that in case I do have to use my weapon. That if an investigation is done, the hanging target could be viewed that I was looking for a fight

[jmra]

Another vote for the HST. Makes a pretty flower too.

[Pecos]

I use Critical Duty & Hydro-Shock mainly thats easy to get localy in SA TX. I hear Critical Duty ammo doesnt have a bullet set back issue because it's crimped below the bullet. They both work well for me in my 9 lugar Glock 17 Gen 4. Fast expansion eliminates over penitrsation dangers.