Change Ammo, Change Underwear

[Vanzpp]

Am I the only one who does this? I change my ammo almost as often as I change my underwear.

My main carry piece is a S&W 642. I have all kinds of ammo for it--Buffalo Bore, Cor Bon, Speer Gold Dot, Federal Hydrashocks, etc...

I love to add variety by changing ammo. There are so many variables behind the efficacy of hollow point ammo if you ever need to fire in self-defense. I love the Buffalo Bore +P LSWCHP--powerful stuff! However, the ability of such ammo to expand when fired through clothing is iffy. So sometimes I'll carry Speer Gold Dot--not as powerful, but better expansion. Sometimes I'll carry the lighter Cor Bon ammo for less felt recoil (compared to the Buffalo Bore ammo, that is).

So is this weird? Does anyone else do this, or should I pick one and go with it constantly?

:banghead:

 

[ZeSpectre]

I like to play with a lot of different ammo...when I'm playing. For "Just in case" carry I have settled on a few well-known brands/types and that's what I'll stick to until/unless someone scientifically proves something else is better.

Cor-Bon DPX in .380 Auto
Ranger SXT in .40 S&W and 9mm
Hydrashock in .357 Magnum

Been thinking of trying some Gold Dot or Golden saber but haven't gotten around to it yet.

 

[Hypnogator]

I'd be concerned that by switching ammo as often as you profess to that your weapon will shoot to different points of impact. In an emergency, you may forget which round you're carrying and exactly where it will hit.

 

[JohnBT]

Underwear?

 

[CWL]

Would you ever fear someone who tells you that they have studied every martial art for only one week?

Makes no sense if you are serious about self-defense. If you just wanna play with your toys but never get good at anything, then it's OK.

Each round will have different characteristics from wt., recoil, muzzle blast, point of aim, accuracy, etc. A true martial artist will train often and long using the same gun+ammo combination to develop a 'feel' for the gun. Try them all out to find one load you like best and then stick with it.

 

[Vanzpp]

Would you ever fear someone who tells you that they have studied every martial art for only one week?

Makes no sense if you are serious about self-defense. If you just wanna play with your toys but never get good at anything, then it's OK.

Each round will have different characteristics from wt., recoil, muzzle blast, point of aim, accuracy, etc. A true martial artist will train often and long using the same gun+ammo combination to develop a 'feel' for the gun. Try them all out to find one load you like best and then stick with it.

The thing about that, though, is most self-defense shootings occur at arms-length or less and are over in 2.5 shots on average. That's why the common nomenclature for snubby revolvers like the 642 is "belly gun". Accuracy is always inportant, but not as important at such a close range.

Also, it seems to me to make sense to carry different loads for different conditions. For example, during the winter I don't think I'd carry the LSWCHP round because it has a spotty record for expansion, especially through heavy clothing. In that case, I'd carry Speer Gold Dot 135 gr. That round has been tested through heavy clothing, car glass, etc. It expands pretty consistently. However, in the summer, it would make more sense to carry the LSWCHP when people aren't wearing heavy clothing.

With my 642, I practice point shooting a lot at the range. It doesn't make much difference which ammo I use. The shots all wind up pretty much in the same place within the sillouette target--all in the abdomen/chest area.

To me, the important thing is to practice--period. When you're talking about self-defense shooting at near point-blank range (most civilian gunfights) I think it makes more sense to choose ammo based on external conditions.

 

[TimboKhan]

I have magazines that have been loaded for 2 years, so no, I don't change ammo. Also, to fend off any responses to 2 year old loaded magazines, those aren't the ones that I carry. In fact, since I carry a revolver, I don't have to worry about magazine springs at all!

 

[Kali Endgame]

For plinking I buy the cheapest stuff, just like my choners. (I don't plink with my choners, perv)