Using cheaper ammo for defense purposes?

[Slugz]

So should i try running some HPs through it and see how well it does before attempting to polish it? How many rounds should i realistically feed through it before making a determination as to the wraps reliability and necessity for modification to the feed ramp?

And lastly, where's a good resource to buy those HSTs that actually has em in stock? Lol

[Sam]

So should i try running some HPs through it and see how well it does before attempting to polish it? How many rounds should i realistically feed through it before making a determination as to the wraps reliability and necessity for modification to the feed ramp?

And lastly, where's a good resource to buy those HSTs that actually has em in stock? Lol

HST currently are only available in 50 round packs that are not usually sold in local gun shops and so have to be typically bought online. I've only purchased from ammotogo.com and kylesgunshop.com. Kyle's Gun Shop has a disclaimer about not selling to certain locales but I emailed them about the purported Sacramento ban for online sales and they are reasonable people. Good luck finding HST in stock.

You may have more luck finding actual stock of other acceptable duty rounds at your local gun store, but expect to pay more than you would for HST online.

[Cyc Wid It]

Well it's been a while since we had a ridiculous apocalyptic/zombie/civil war/revolution/whatever thread in the handguns section.

[sholling]

So should i try running some HPs through it and see how well it does before attempting to polish it? How many rounds should i realistically feed through it before making a determination as to the wraps reliability and necessity for modification to the feed ramp?

And lastly, where's a good resource to buy those HSTs that actually has em in stock? Lol

I usually test 100 rounds of any cartridge I intend to rely on - using the magazines I intend to use for defense. I'd say 50rds is a bare minimum. Magazines are always the weakest link so you want to test them together. That's usually affordable with $25-30/50rd-box HSTs, less so with $25/20rd-box ammo. Some brand/products will feed better than others, for example the old "flying ashtray" so nicknamed for its huge hollow point didn't feed well in much but most modern LE ammo usually feeds well but you may want to try a couple before making a change to the weapon.

[neouser]

If not for the liability of over penetration, my first choice would be the heaviest flat point FMJ I can find.

[paul0660]

In theory this is a sound idea, but im thinking about building up a cache of ammunition on a budget. I want to have thousands of rounds at my disposal should the sh*t hit the fan, but changing the price per box by even $5 changes the total amount spent on that amount of ammo by a CONSIDERABLE amount... I we are talking thousands of dollars here.. I mean if im just loading up a couple of mags to keep in and around my gun on the bedside table, sure... some hot loaded +P+ or something, perhaps even some black talons if I can get my dirty hands on em lol but im talking SHTF preparation. whats a "mid range" ammunition style that can be depended on in a sticky situation that is cheap enough to be practical to stockpile on. See what im sayin?

The military uses ball. HP is great in theory, and doesn't have much real world data. I don't know about 1911's ramps etc, sounds like a consideration.

If you are going to buy a lot of ammo throw whatever your monthly budget is into the cookie jar, and jump on good deals when they come up. SHTF is not going to happen next week, month, or, imo, ever.

Consider a gun that shoots 9mm. 1911's don't hold enough anyway.

[Slugz]

Well it's been a while since we had a ridiculous apocalyptic/zombie/civil war/revolution/whatever thread in the handguns section.

Its also been a while since the government dangled the threat of full out weapons confiscation at the American public

[Slugz]

[OTE=paul0660;10487932]The military uses ball. HP is great in theory, and doesn't have much real world data. I don't know about 1911's ramps etc, sounds like a consideration.

If you are going to buy a lot of ammo throw whatever your monthly budget is into the cookie jar, and jump on good deals when they come up. SHTF is not going to happen next week, month, or, imo, ever.

Consider a gun that shoots 9mm. 1911's don't hold enough anyway.[/QUOTE]

That video i saw was reported to have shown an officer using 9mm rounds against that crazy veteran. Speculation if course, but looking at the entire history of why the .45 was created to begin with i i tend to lean most heavily toward trusting the cartridge to do the job over other calibers. Ignorant assumption? Perhaps. Just going off what i know of history. Besides, 10 rounds is the CA limit anyways. 1 bullet is 1 bullet, and the 1911 is an entire 3 rounds short, but with 70+ years of military service it was enough for most people. Just added incentive to make every shot count.

As for the SHTF theory, yea it will probably never happen but i like to stock up on ammo anyways. I don't need thousands of rounds, but 5 or 10 boxes per caliber certainty isn't going to hurt. Rather have too many than not enough.

[Roland Deschain]

That video i saw was reported to have shown an officer using 9mm rounds against that crazy veteran. Speculation if course, but looking at the entire history of why the .45 was created to begin with i i tend to lean most heavily toward trusting the cartridge to do the job over other calibers. Ignorant assumption? Perhaps. Just going off what i know of history. Besides, 10 rounds is the CA limit anyways. 1 bullet is 1 bullet, and the 1911 is an entire 3 rounds short, but with 70+ years of military service it was enough for most people. Just added incentive to make every shot count.

The latest US military sidearm is 9mm, just saying

As for the SHTF theory, yea it will probably never happen but i like to stock up on ammo anyways. I don't need thousands of rounds, but 5 or 10 boxes per caliber certainty isn't going to hurt. Rather have too many than not enough.

Wrong, you (and we all) do

[Oliver_Charles]

***

[billmaykafer]

military ball ammo will get the job done. center mass and pull. there is a reason why M1911 has a 7 round mag while a 9MM has 15..

[Roland Deschain]

military ball ammo will get the job done. center mass and pull. there is a reason why M1911 has a 7 round mag while a 9MM has 15..

Yes, the size of the human hand and what constitutes a comfortable/controllable grip

[Sam]

That video i saw was reported to have shown an officer using 9mm rounds against that crazy veteran. Speculation if course, but looking at the entire history of why the .45 was created to begin with i i tend to lean most heavily toward trusting the cartridge to do the job over other calibers. Ignorant assumption? Perhaps. Just going off what i know of history. Besides, 10 rounds is the CA limit anyways. 1 bullet is 1 bullet, and the 1911 is an entire 3 rounds short, but with 70+ years of military service it was enough for most people. Just added incentive to make every shot count.

As for the SHTF theory, yea it will probably never happen but i like to stock up on ammo anyways. I don't need thousands of rounds, but 5 or 10 boxes per caliber certainty isn't going to hurt. Rather have too many than not enough.

By believing .45 ACP ball is more effective than 9mm modern hollow points you are ignoring modern advancements in bullet technology and all of the modern testing that has been done with today's bullets. Besides, just because the .45 ACP cartridge has served the military for 70+ years doesn't necessarily mean that it performed effectively or that 9mm couldn't have performed effectively.

[Roland Deschain]

By believing .45 ACP ball is more effective than 9mm modern hollow points you are ignoring modern advancements in bullet technology and all of the modern testing that has been done with today's bullets. Besides, just because the .45 ACP cartridge has served the military for 70+ years doesn't necessarily mean that it performed effectively or that 9mm couldn't have performed effectively.

You're also ignoring the fact that the military uses 9mm now... Just saying

Certainly not looking to get into the caliber war debate here but let's be reasonable...

- Any handgun caliber is not likely to stop a threat w/o proper shot placement
- Most handgun caliber HP ammo will expand similarly
- You can (not in CA [unless you only have 7 rounds...]) carry more rounds of 9mm vs .45

[Sam]

You're also ignoring the fact that the military uses 9mm now... Just saying

Certainly not looking to get into the caliber war debate here but let's be reasonable...

- Any handgun caliber is not likely to stop a threat w/o proper shot placement
- Most handgun caliber HP ammo will expand similarly
- You can (not in CA [unless you only have 7 rounds...]) carry more rounds of 9mm vs .45

I think we're thinking the same things but I'm not being clear enough and I completely agree with everything you've just said.