Do you keep more than one type of ammo in a single magazine?

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Rockrivr1

Rockrivr1

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I was at the range over the weekend and talking with an "senior" who was next to me. I started the conversation because I noticed that he was loading his 1911 magazine with two different types of ammo. Basically he was alternating JHP and Ball into the mag. I asked him why and he indicated that in his mind it covered all his bases. If he didn't get the penetration he needed with the first JHP shot, his next shot would be ball and that he would definitely get penetration with that shot.

I've always loaded the same ammo in my mags but I'm wondering if many people on this board do the same thing. If so, what is your reasoning? My thoughts went more to reliability in feeding, but the guy said he never had a failure. He didn't either when I was there. His groups seemed pretty decent at 25 feet.
 
I put the exploding tip in third and the tracer in fifth.

I figure if he's behind a car I can blow the car up, and then if I'm still missing it's probably because it's dark so the tracer will let me know if I'm close.

:rolleyes:

Unless he has magic ammo that has the same point of impact using the same sight picture I'd think it was a goofy idea personally.
 
Rockrivr1 said:
I was at the range over the weekend and talking with an "senior" who was next to me. I started the conversation because I noticed that he was loading his 1911 magazine with two different types of ammo. Basically he was alternating JHP and Ball into the mag. I asked him why and he indicated that in his mind it covered all his bases. If he didn't get the penetration he needed with the first JHP shot, his next shot would be ball and that he would definitely get penetration with that shot.

I've always loaded the same ammo in my mags but I'm wondering if many people on this board do the same thing. If so, what is your reasoning? My thoughts went more to reliability in feeding, but the guy said he never had a failure. He didn't either when I was there. His groups seemed pretty decent at 25 feet.
Click to expand...

I do alternating ball and JHP with my tiny Beretta 950 as a backup, just because that small a caliber has issue of penetration vs. expansion.

But I wouldn't carry ball at all as CCW with the .45 or 9mm. I'd be too worried about overpenetration endangering innocent bystanders. I'm also trying to picture just how a .45 JHP could have problems penetrating, unless it's a really crappy brand.
 
I've loaded three types of .22 ammo in a 10 round Ruger Mark II magazine then rapid fired 'em at the right interval and played Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. :D
 
2 tracers, 25 ball, 3 tracers... but that's only for anti-gopher ops.

But with handguns, even at the range just plinking, I never mix them up.

ONE exception: Snake shot. Sometimes I carry snake shot in the first two cylinders of a revolver and the rest are 'business' but only on fishing trips in snakey places.
 
yes in the home defense mag , it has a mixture of self defense loads
 
Ruger GP-100 alternating 125gr JHP / 160gr JSP +P+

Same reasons stated by original poster. First shot is the JHP so I won't be pulling the trigger twice indoors unless it's worth permanent deafness.
 
Only in my shotgun

The first shell is birdshot, second comes rifled slug, then it alternates the rest of the way between slugs and #4 buck. My standard HD load.
 
Yes I do. The first two rounds (one in pipe, and first "mag fed" round) are 230gr. +P Cor-Bon JHP , next 11 are 185gr. +P Cor-Bon JHP .

Why? On the one hand, I want the "biggest" bullet with the most weight I can accurately handle, should I need to use it. On the other hand, speed may become an issue.

I can shoot the 230gr. just fine, but I am just a touch slower with it then the 185gr. (Good front sight pic.)

I look at it this way:

Point 1) If I should have to use my weapon, chances are good that 2 230gr Cor-Bon +P JHP's are going to end it.

Point 2) If the (ONE) BG is still up and a threat, (Or there is MORE then one BG,) then I'm gonna need to pick up the pace so to speak.

Some may ask "Why don't you use the 185's across the board then?"

Simple, while I belive both rounds to be "good" I belive the 230gr to be the better of the two. I also know that should "Rapid fire" (Beyond 2 rounds) be needed, then (FOR ME) the 185gr. is the better choice.

YMMV
 
Rupestris said:
I've loaded three types of .22 ammo in a 10 round Ruger Mark II magazine then rapid fired 'em at the right interval and played Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. :D
Click to expand...
Can we get that on CD?

:evil:

;)

This is an interesting thread about a topic that I've wondered about a lot.

It first popped up for me while wondering about the 870.

"Straight buck, straight slugs, straight bird shot...or a mixture?"

Still wondering, but seeking opinions.

Nem
 
MSgt B said:
The first shell is birdshot, second comes rifled slug, then it alternates the rest of the way between slugs and #4 buck. My standard HD load.
Click to expand...
Oh, yeah. Resonating with that idea. :cool:

Only change I might suggest is, birdshot 1st, buck 2nd, slug 3rd. :scrutiny:

I'm not suggesting it's "better".

But in terms of mass progression,
it seems reasonable...me thinks.

Nem
 
airmonkey said:
First three No. 4 buck last two slugs.
Click to expand...
AM, I've considered (but haven't yet tried) a slight variation on that theme:

2 reduced recoil #4, 2 full load #4, 1 slug.

Could also be 1:2:2 or 1:3:1, etc,
or even involve 00
(the other 'shot' available in rr).

Nem
 
Load CC with JHP only. I would be more concerned with a miss hitting a bystander than over-penetration. But at distances where self defense is justified, a miss would perhaps be indicative that one should not have a firearm! So, on second thought, maybe I need to have a third gun, loaded with FMJ, tungsten core and a few lighting rounds...you know the ones, the flares with the little parachutes above :D :D :D .
Yep, no doubt about it. A sawed off with bird shot! Debilitating at self defense distances but relatively safe to bystanders and folks on the other side of walls etc. Not too swift if more than one offender unless you have a perpetual buddy. Which one would make YOU sweat [pee] more?
 
If you mix same bullet weight JHP and FMJ they should hit close together - I use mixed load in carry guns up the pipe jhp, fmj following, then alternate.

45 acp same thing.

Shotgun buck with slugs on the saddle to single load - leave tube down enough that you can put one up the spout, then schuck buck pump slug.

Your mileage may vari but try shooting various object that are commonly used as concealment and see if you need more penetration than you JHP's are giving...
 
It depends on the gun and where I'll be carrying. If I'm going to be in the car a lot, I'll load a single round of hardball in the pipe of my .45 in case I have to shoot through a closed window. The rest of the mag will have hollowpoints.

In wintertime, I'll load FMJ only in my .380, in the summer I'll alternate HP with FMJ.
 
Let me explain the bird shot...

The first round of bird shot can be a heck of a convincer, but not necessarily deadly, depending on the circumstances.

It can also be an effective noisemaker that can be spackled over in no time.

After the bird shot has been fired, nothing says "You should have left after the first shot" like a 12 ga rifled slug.
 
my first and second are balls.. 3rd 4th are HP's. the 5th is a tracer.. the 6th is a laser guided missle and the 7th is an ICBM followed by 8 and 9 which are uraniam tipped hydrogen fusion railed guided big bang theory einstien nukes.
 
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