Defensive ammo recommendations.

[Foxtrot40]

What do you run and why?

Thanks in advance for the input!

[Whatisthis?]

I like Hornady critical duty. It has reliable expansion, a good weight and M.E. to it, and the big decisive factor to me (a cannelure and a crimp). With the cannelure and crimp, I don't have to worry about bullet setback.

I ran a test with a standard SD round and Hornady critical duty. After cycling the standard round 8-10 times, bullet setback could arguably result in too much pressure. With the critical duty round, I cycled it 15+ times without a thousands of an inch of setback.

[Sam]

Federal HST in 9mm 147 gr.

See:

http://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?4337-Service-Caliber-Handgun-Duty-and-Self-Defense-Ammo

[Paperchasin]

What caliber are you asking about??

[Socalmedix]

I run Speer Gold Dots in my home defense weapons... 9mm, .40 and .45

[dc2allday]

In 40 Winchester ranger T series, or black talons yes I still have some. 357 Sig hornady zombie ammo. 44 magnum Winchester supreme (the round that looks like a Coors light can)

I have ran several boxes with no issues, and all will do considerable damage, especially my 44.

[appagohm]

Federal hst, speer gold dot, hornady critical defense, and Remington golden saber. ran each of those in 9mm and 45acp. Depending on the gun i'll put any of those brands in. Guns that have a steep feed ramps, I like using hornady critical defense b/c it's sharper, and lighter grain.

just make sure you check If the ammo cycles.

[CasperSYTFU]

Hornady Zombi Max because I like the green.
Its Critical Duty with a trendy marketing pitch.

[tommyboy619]

Whatever is on sale: Gold Dot or Federal HST. (9mm 124gr. +p)

[dobek]

Winchester ranger T (love the bonded) and Critical Defense (went to a ballistics class and got to see critical defense shot into gelatin through various materials) - the nose plug really makes a difference - and has extremely (almost boring) consistent expansion

Couple of comments from above: I just tossed into the practice pile a critical defense that had setback and seated deeper after 8-10 rackings

Zombie is similar to critical defense - but critical defense has a low flash powder - zombie has std flash - might mess with your night vision during the zombie apocalypse

[dobek]

PS - whatever you decide - get several boxes and run them thru your gun at the range to make sure YOUR gun likes the round - you don't want to be in a defensive shoot and have a FTF or FTE

Steve

[Barang]

Hornady critical defense and Remington golden saber perform flawlessly through my guns.

[roger1022]

PS - whatever you decide - get several boxes and run them thru your gun at the range to make sure YOUR gun likes the round - you don't want to be in a defensive shoot and have a FTF or FTE

Steve

Would you recommend shooting about 50 rounds through the gun is a good enough test?

With the price and availability of ammo these days choices are a bit limited.

[sholling]

Anything on DocGKR's list is proven good to go. Good defensive ammo is hard to come by right now but I keep Federal HSTs or Ranger-Ts in most of my 9s, 40s and 45s, and Gold Dot Short Barrel rounds in my compacts. Plan on putting at least 25-50rds (100 is better) of your chosen defensive round through your pistol to make sure it feeds reliably.

[latigidyblod]

Hornady Critical duty and Winchester PDX-1.

Did try Federal hydra-shok for a little bit but bullet setbacks, unreliable feeding in glocks and damaged bullets when chambering proved to be too much of a liability.