Calculation for ammo grain?

[CredibleDefense]

Recently acquired my first handgun and foolishly went to BassPro to pickup ammo thinking the only variables were FMJ and JHP. Thought I'd pickup some FMJ for the range and some JHP for home defense. Assumed the caliber was all I needed (40). The guy helping me selects some 180 grain FMJ for the range and then proceeds to tell me about the consequences of getting a JHP that was too large a grain and the implications of a through and through that might kill a someone behind the initial target. He advised a Hornady Critical Defense 155 grain wouldn't pass through based on tests. They didn't even have it in stock so it's not like he was lying to make the sale... So ok, I still have to locate the JHP per his specs but how do I select range ammo? I have 100 rounds of the 180 for the range, but is that the right choice? And if so, how was it derived? Thank you in advance for your time. Finally recommended ammo manufacturer?

Sig Sauer P226 Stainless Elite 40

[Glocked@45]

^^^Listen to HopetonBrown^^^

[fritztkatt]

What they said...

Anything that is safe to use and will work in your gun for paper punching.

Something from the above list will serve you well against the more fleshy targets.

Also, what hopeton suggested, get some training. It will only help.

[b.thomas]

I had a gun store clerk tell me I should only shoot 147 grain ammo out of my 9mm................
Since I was shoot 9mil about thirty years before he was even born.............. I told him I'd stick with a 115g stuff I've been using the last 40-50 years.

Some folks the work in a gun store................ just think the know more..............just because they work in a gun store.................

[CredibleDefense]

ok thanks gents... I did tons of research before I bought the gun and got THE gun I wanted but hadn't done the legwork for the ammo yet. Before this, the only pistol ammo I'd ever fired was with the rental handguns I'd always rented... so never thought much about it.

[Cody]

Was this the name of the gun store?

[5ZS]

Here is your research for range ammo: http://www.wikiarms.com/group/40SW
Lower price the better, brass preferred, so you can reload one day or brass exchange.

JHP, what ever is in stock that run's 100% thru your gun.

[CredibleDefense]

Cody, it was a BassPro. He said he used to be in charge of purchasing ammo forms police department and he conducted extensive tests and his conclusions were based on experimenting with types, caliber and firing into pork as well as wet newspaper wrapped in twine to determine how deep and how much pass through with differing grains. He seemed knowledgable and his conclusions were based on methods that seemed sound. I think he was a retired cop basically doing this to kill some time.

Thanks for the link 5ZS. I guess I overthink things.

[nothingextra]

My 229 likes 180gr.
To clarify, with stock #8 rear and #6 front I was printing under the front dot at 25yds from a rest.
I swapped in a #10 rear, I print just above the front sight @25yds.
A shooting buddy had 165gr Blazer brass, my SIG didn't like it.
His Glock didn't like my 180gr.
My Glock likes either just fine, couldn't care less.
I don't really like my Glock, but it sloppily does everything the same everytime.
The SIG, its annoying when you know you could be printing better when you swap different loads in the same session.

Long story short make sure your sights are where you want them to before adding ammo to the mix, and practice with range ammo similar to your hd ammo.

Speer TMJ's and Gold Dots really seem to be really the combo as far as fmj/hp performing the same