Researching carry ammo

[DMK]

I'm always looking for data to validate the effectiveness of various self defense rounds. Obviously reliability in your weapon is paramount, followed by relative accuracy (can't stop an attacker if you can't hit COM right?). Then there's the whole issue of "one stop shots" and effectiveness of stopping bad guys in the field. This is pretty much always a survey of police use of various rounds, sometimes ER or coroner reports.

I have to wonder about these field reports. Even the whole "one stop shot" thing aside, wouldn't field effectiveness reports highly depend on where the rounds struck? I mean one shot to the heart with one brand 45ACP might stop an attacker DRT, where 6 shots in chest only hitting one lung with another brand 45ACP could allow the attacker to continue for a quite a while.

It seems to me that there are really four factors to consider, in order of importance:

1) Reliability in your gun, with your mags; ammo that goes bang and feeds every time.

2) Penetration of more at least 10-12"

3) Accuracy in your gun (obviously less important at conversation distances)

4) Reliable expansion.

Thoughts?

 

[Shadan7]

I'd have a hard time...

...believing that accuracy in any decent commercial ammo would be far enough off to matter at defensive handgun distances. So I'd either drop that one down to #4, or drop it altogether. Otherwise, I'd agree with your list.

7

 

[DMK]

Good point Shadan7. Originally I was thinking about rifles too, but decided to limit scope to handguns.

Still, center of mass at 25 yards isn't a huge target and you pretty much want to be in the center of it.

 

[Outlaw Man]

I agree. You want it to go bang every time, and you want it to hit vitals and do as much damage as possible to those vitals.

I have a buddy that works for Remington who was telling me about some tests results he was reading on defensive handgun rounds. I don't remember who all the competitors were, but the ammo from the major manufacturers did just as well as, if not better than, some of the specialty manufacturers in penetration and expansion. Of course, there were exceptions on both sides.

I'd say pick a real personal protection round (not just JHP range ammo) that you like and make sure it works in your gun. Then make sure again. Everything else will probably do the job it's supposed to do.



Otherwise, you can carry a katana and hope the BG isn't a better ninja than you.

 

[mpmarty]

What's all this "one shot stop" stuff anyway? If I am justified in pulling my .45 and there is only one BG he is going to absorb eleven rounds or hit the ground before I empty the gun at him. I don't care how much ammo I expend to stop the threat, the idea is to STOP it.:banghead:

 

[Rinspeed]

Just my opinion but it's a huge waste of time. They are just handgun rounds and on a good day they will all work about half the time. Chose one from the bigger companies that feeds reliably in your pistol and go on with life.

 

[shadowalker]

Nothing wrong with doing your research, all ammunition is not made equal and there is better and worse self defense ammunition for each caliber. It does us no good to spend countless hours picking the best self defense firearm and then randomly pick the ammunition to go with it.

Most of the "premium" bullets are within a few dollars of each other per box but their performance can be drastically different. Some brands offer more penetration than others, some offer dramatically more expansion.

I use different brands for my 9mm, 40 and 45 because no single brand delivered what I wanted for all three calibers.

Good ammunition test results are hard to find but they are out there.