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When I teach at a federal agency firearms instructor school, recruit academy, or in service training class, one of most frequently asked questions is which ammo has the best stopping power or which one is the best ammo. My standard answer to that question is whichever ammo that the agency issues, because they cannot carry any other ammo.
Likewise, I am frequently asked by other shooters which ammo is the best. My answer to them is whatever is available at their budget. I have tested many different premium brand ammunition. Federal Hydra-Shok, HST, Winchester SXT, Speer Gold Dot, PMC Starfire, to name a few. All of the ammo tested performed very well in the water tank and gel shooting. The bullets expend just like in the catalog photos. When it came to the actual shootingin real scenario, it is a different story, although Winchester Ranger SXT has the best track record simply because many police agencies use them. By the same token, for a snub nose revolvers, Speer Gold Dot 135 grain JHP bullet worked wery well.
It all depends on what the target is wearing, where the target was shot, etc. In one particular case, an off duty deputy shot at a suspect with his 2 inch revolver. The bullet went through the clothing. However, the thick clothing plugged up the cavity and the bullet essentially became a FMJ. The bullet went through the body and hit the door. The suspect survived. And in the cases more than I can count, the suspect did not die because of the location of the shots.
As I have posted in some other threads, I see many bullets recovered during autopsies. Vast majority of the bullets are 22 LR, and small to medium caliber LRN or FMJ bullets. In some cases, the victim was shot once with a 22 LR. I believe that 38 Special LRN killed dmore people than any other caliber or bullet types. The bad guys, believe or not, don't know whole lot about guns and ammo. They just use whatever is available. That is why I see a lot of mismatched guns and ammo. 357 Mag ammo stuffed in a 38 SPl revolver, 32 Auto ammo in a 32 revolver or vice versa, 40 cal in 10mm and the list goes on.
Yes, if all else is the same, better designed ammo will perform better, and we spend more money for the premium ammo. But, I see far too many shooters are drawn into the concept of the better ammo and neglect another aspect of shooting. A pecision shooting. A well placed shot will beat 15 shots that were not hit the right place.
Shooting is a perishable skill. I would rather shoot 100 rounds every month than 1000 rounds once a year. I suggest shooters to spend more time and money for practicing than trying wasting time and money on expensive ammo. Well, that's my $.02.
Likewise, I am frequently asked by other shooters which ammo is the best. My answer to them is whatever is available at their budget. I have tested many different premium brand ammunition. Federal Hydra-Shok, HST, Winchester SXT, Speer Gold Dot, PMC Starfire, to name a few. All of the ammo tested performed very well in the water tank and gel shooting. The bullets expend just like in the catalog photos. When it came to the actual shootingin real scenario, it is a different story, although Winchester Ranger SXT has the best track record simply because many police agencies use them. By the same token, for a snub nose revolvers, Speer Gold Dot 135 grain JHP bullet worked wery well.
It all depends on what the target is wearing, where the target was shot, etc. In one particular case, an off duty deputy shot at a suspect with his 2 inch revolver. The bullet went through the clothing. However, the thick clothing plugged up the cavity and the bullet essentially became a FMJ. The bullet went through the body and hit the door. The suspect survived. And in the cases more than I can count, the suspect did not die because of the location of the shots.
As I have posted in some other threads, I see many bullets recovered during autopsies. Vast majority of the bullets are 22 LR, and small to medium caliber LRN or FMJ bullets. In some cases, the victim was shot once with a 22 LR. I believe that 38 Special LRN killed dmore people than any other caliber or bullet types. The bad guys, believe or not, don't know whole lot about guns and ammo. They just use whatever is available. That is why I see a lot of mismatched guns and ammo. 357 Mag ammo stuffed in a 38 SPl revolver, 32 Auto ammo in a 32 revolver or vice versa, 40 cal in 10mm and the list goes on.
Yes, if all else is the same, better designed ammo will perform better, and we spend more money for the premium ammo. But, I see far too many shooters are drawn into the concept of the better ammo and neglect another aspect of shooting. A pecision shooting. A well placed shot will beat 15 shots that were not hit the right place.
Shooting is a perishable skill. I would rather shoot 100 rounds every month than 1000 rounds once a year. I suggest shooters to spend more time and money for practicing than trying wasting time and money on expensive ammo. Well, that's my $.02.
What I tried to say was although the type of ammo maybe important, more important is how accurately you deliver the bullet on the target. And to do so, you have to do your part.
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