Your choice of self-defence pistol bullet?

[rommelrommel]

If you were putting away a substantial amount of ammo, would you want:

Speer Gold Dots
Remington Golden Sabers
Hornady XPBs
Or something else?

 

[CeeZer]

All three are very good, just pick one YOUR gun likes the most.

 

[B]

All three are very good, just pick one YOUR gun likes the most.

x2 I use Winchester Silvertips only because I can't get Double-Tap.

 

[rommelrommel]

Glocks eat everything :O

 

[Boomer]

My primary self defense load is a hard cast 325 gr WFN ahead of 20 grs of H-110 in Winchester .44 magnum brass.

My secondary self defense load is a 195 gr hard cast SWC ahead of 13 grs of H-110 in Winchester .357 magnum brass.

Of course, this might not be what you have in mind.

 

[Wendell]

If you were putting away a substantial amount of ammo, would you want:

Speer Gold Dots
Remington Golden Sabers
Hornady XPBs
Or something else?

Generalizations are dangerous.

The actual-shooting record of the given load is what you should consider, and this will be specific to the chambering, projectile weight, and velocity.

 

[kombayotch]

For self defense, I wouldn't use reloads. Federal 9mm+P 147gr. HST.

For reloads, of the bullets you listed, the Golden Saber is the nicest IMO. That reduced diameter allows you to load them to any length you want to. Not true of the other bullets.

 

[t-star]

For self defense, I wouldn't use reloads. Federal 9mm+P 147gr. HST.

For reloads, of the bullets you listed, the Golden Saber is the nicest IMO. That reduced diameter allows you to load them to any length you want to. Not true of the other bullets.[/QUOTe
For self defense , i wouldn't use factory- i've seen too many factory loads from the big three that "missed" something in the production line- typically a MISSING FLASH HOLE- a good hand load that's been known to feed and shoot reliablily , that's the ticket- and it's something you're supposedly used to- i'd just go with a hollow point and pull the old nam trick with the allen screws

 

[calgaryshooter]

I use the Gold Dots but my Beretta also liked the Hornady TAP ammo.

 

[gushulak]

Stock up on factory loaded. CCI/Speer Gold Dots are a great round, bonded bullet whereas the others aren't.

Rem. GS is a great load as well as Win Ranger T's and Federal HST's. These are my four top performers in my pistols and would be my recommendations.

 

[rommelrommel]

To clarify a bit:

this is in 9mm, 115gr.

I don't have the financial ability to spend two thousand bucks to put away several thousand hollowpoints. I have some factory for EDC should that ever happen, but I would like to save more.

 

[Ganderite]

Why ask the question and then say it has to be 115gr?

Seems to me that in 9mm a heavier bullet is supposed to be better at penetration.

FWIW the first requirement is 100% reliability in your gun.

I load for 3 different pistols in 45 ACP. They have 3 different sizes of chambers. The Firestar is tight. Factory ammo chambers perfectly but I have to be very careful to make handloads that will work well.

My 1911 has a custom barrel that is less fussy than the Star.

My Colt officer's Model digests everything.

 

[rommelrommel]

The question more was if one particular bullet was better. Most of the "prevailing wisdom" says that a high velocity 115gr JHP is the preferred 9mm self defence load.

 

[Wendell]

115gr Gold Dot at 1300fps

To clarify a bit:

this is in 9mm, 115gr.

I don't have the financial ability to spend two thousand bucks to put away several thousand hollowpoints. I have some factory for EDC should that ever happen, but I would like to save more.

In that case, definitely the Gold Dot (at about 1300fps). (Assuming also that you are using a modern pistol, because this is a higher pressure load.)

 

[Grizz Axxemann]

125gr Speer Gold Dot .38SPL +P is what I use daily.

 

[OldRanger]

No Reloads for self defence. Factory ammo only!

From actual cases of self defence and the testing of GSR, they can tell how close you were when you fired. It will sink or float your defence!

 

[joe-nwt]

A substantial amount for self defense? With a pistol?

I think most self defense situations are over in a few rounds, a few mags at the most. When the smoke clears from your self defense situation, the police will just confiscate the rest of your substantial amount of ammo regardless.

If you have a situation where you need a substantial amount of ammo, perhaps some other firearm might be better suited.

Could be that I completely mis-understand your definition of substantial....

 

[rommelrommel]

This is to put a thousand rounds away in cans, "just in case." I don't really give a crap about all the armchair ranger ideas about why to not use reloads. I trust my reloads as much as I trust factory ammo. I have like 4k rounds of 7.62x39, 5k .22 LR, 9mm and 12g are next to stock up on.

 

[OldRanger]

This is to put a thousand rounds away in cans, "just in case." I don't really give a crap about all the armchair ranger ideas about why to not use reloads. I trust my reloads as much as I trust factory ammo. I have like 4k rounds of 7.62x39, 5k .22 LR, 9mm and 12g are next to stock up on.

Well JICSHTF stocking up reasons is different.

But raising the information of GSR and factory ammo for your defence in court is valid here as well.

Armchair pffft...Lazyboy my friend

 

[rommelrommel]

Well JICSHTF stocking up reasons is different.

But raising the information of GSR and factory ammo for your defence in court is valid here as well.

Armchair pffft...Lazyboy my friend

Hehehe, all my money is "invested" in guns and ammo, no lazyboy for me.

I have some Corbon 9mm 115gr +P for carry. Wish this would come to Canada more regularily so I could get at least 1-200 rounds.