Self Defense Handload Bullets

[NMexJim]

Just out of curiosity, I was looking for current FBI issue ammo. I think this is it.

https://press.hornady.com/release/2022/04/28/hornady-critical-duty-awarded-fbi-9mm-full-size-service-ammunition-contract/

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm a big fan of the GoldDots, but... yes... they have been, largely, Unobtanium the past few years. I think I picked up some 115grn 9mm GoldDots last year, and I'm sure I've seen others at the LGS, but it's not what I would call 'plentiful.' Sadly, my favorite bullet... the 230grn .45ACP 'Short Barrel' bullet, has been completely MIA.

Unfortunately my experience has been exactly the same. I dislike having to make different choices than my preferred component but we all have had to do so over these current hard times.

 

[bullseye308]

A few years before the sickness, I bought a few thousand of the 124 9mm gold dots and worked up loads for both of my carry guns. My Springfield Range officer shoots them into ragged holes, but not at top velocity. I'll take the accuracy with slightly less speed and be happy. The Glock shoots them as well as it does many other loads and I can't complain. I'm running low on them and will be switching to the RMR Nukes once I finish my load development and get the accuracy I need. From what I've seen about the nuke it looks to be a good replacement for the Gold Dot and a much better price point. I carry my Gold Dots with utter confidence and once I work up a solid load with the Nukes and run 500 or so through each gun I'm sure I'll be just as confident in those.

 

[Nature Boy]

I’m wondering where you found a phone book these days???

Sears still has them. Right next to the rotary phones.

 

[GW Staar]

Sears still has them. Right next to the rotary phones.

That's a funny one.....we still have a Fisher Price toddler's toy phone with a noisy rotary dial that rings when you rotate it, and an ear piece connected with a string, and the 4 great grandkids don't have a clue what it is....nor do the youngest grand kids. You can't find a Sears Catalog either....oh wait, even a Sears store is rarer than hens teeth. There is still a small appliance Sears store in Durango Colorado, believe it or not......

 

[BJung]

I think of XTPs as Self Defense Handloads against animals with denser bodies and Gold Dots for softer bodied animals like humans. As another option, there is Matt's Bullets and GT Bullets you can consider.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I think of XTPs as Self Defense Handloads against animals with denser bodies and Gold Dots for softer bodied animals like humans. As another option, there is Matt's Bullets and GT Bullets you can consider.

Good advice. Double thumbs up on Matt’s and GT Bullets.

 

[sparkyv]

I just got me some of them: RMR Discount

will be switching to the RMR Nukes once I finish my load development and get the accuracy I need

MPR Bullets has what looks like some good 9mm bullets. I'll have to give them a try.
https://www.rmrbullets.com/shop/bullets/pistol/9mm-355/9mm-124-gr-rmr-jhp-mpr-nuke/
View attachment 1150650

For me, most any HP is adequate for SD. Some are a little better than others.

XTPs are also marketed for personal defense. There's nothing wrong with the OP's (or anyone else's) selection of the XTP for that purpose.

 

[Blue68f100]

Sears still has them. Right next to the rotary phones.

You referring to the Sears next to Gibson's?

 

[Charlie98]

XTPs are also marketed for personal defense. There's nothing wrong with the OP's (or anyone else's) selection of the XTP for that purpose.

True enough... Hornady's literature says that as well. I think the big difference is bullet construction... where the ammo marketed specifically for SD, and has design features to that end, where the XTP doesn't. Not saying the XTP isn't a bad bullet for SD... not at all.

I think of XTPs as Self Defense Handloads against animals with denser bodies and Gold Dots for softer bodied animals like humans.

Contrast the XTP to the GoldDot... where the XTP is marketed as a do-everything bullet, the GD is specifically marketed for SD, much like Hornady's Critical Defense/Duty line.

 

[Thomasss]

Can't find anything on Speer deep cut bullets. I can find Deepcurl. Can you please point me to their deep cut bullets/information? Thanks.

I can't find that info now, probably a typo. Yes, there is Deep Curl and Gold Dot, BUT Midwayusa only has Speer lead .357 bullets and some XTP at the moment. Another Hornady source is Recob Target Shop.
If you decide to hand load for human defense, you could be making a big mistake.
Read the "Legal" t.h.r. section and you will find that if you end up in court shooting hand loads, a lot of good defensive evidence for you will not be admissible. As I understand it, you cannot testify about yourself making your own handloads, only a third party independent "Expert" can do that, about manufacturer ammunition. A lot of defensive info. can be extracted from a manufactured cartridge components.

 

[Nature Boy]

You referring to the Sears next to Gibson's?

That’s the place. Just around the corner from Montgomery Wards

 

[Shivahasagun]

Are the RMR Nuke bullets plated?

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

That’s the place. Just around the corner from Montgomery Wards

Hang on while I fire up the DeLorean and charge the Flux Capacitor. I’ll be back before I leave.

 

[fxvr5]

Are the RMR Nuke bullets plated?

Ask RMR.

 

[Durango_Dave]

Are the RMR Nuke bullets plated?

No they look more like jacketed bullets.

Edit: their web site calls them JHP.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Ask RMR.

No. Jacketed!
Read the description on the RMR website.

 

[daverich4]

Can't find anything on Speer deep cut bullets. I can find Deepcurl. Can you please point me to their deep cut bullets/information? Thanks.

I believe he was thinking of Deepcurl bullets. Speer doesn’t make one called “Deep Cut”.

 

[longdayjake]

Are the RMR Nuke bullets plated?

The RMR nuke is jacketed. The original MPR was designed to be kinda like the Hornady XTP where it was mostly good for target practice but would also expand under the right conditions. The Nuke is a huge upgrade to the MPR in that we actually cut the petals into the lead before we put the point on the bullet. Then we add the HP cavity. So, you get a core that's already scored for opening. We optimized the HP cavity diameter so that they'll expand as slow as 1000 fps. So, basically we got bored with the original MPR and made it better. Still an awesome target shooting bullet, but it's also an awesome SD bullet. In fact, we have seen some evidence that it works well against two legged animals of the thug variety. I can't say which police departments use them, but I can say that we've had reports of permanent results.

 

[Shivahasagun]

I could use some in .45 acp.

 

[GW Staar]

I have Gold Dots in .40 and .45. The old boxes don't say much, but the new boxes say they have "bonded jackets". The scuttle butt in years past said that Gold Dots were "heavy plated"......so is that the same as bonded jackets? Have my doubts.......Berrys Hybrid Hollow Points are definitely "heavy plated" and even the 9mm versions expand pretty good..... (pictured below)



They even make .380 versions....wonder how they expand?

More scuttle butt has it that the Deep Curl name was to replace Gold Dots for reloaders......again....just rumors? Either way, Gold Dots are the performance expanders to beat. These Berry's don't appear to be very far behind.

 

[horsey300]

I don't know. Gel would be best. If I could get the same penetration as gel I would think my setup would have the same average density. I think I got less penetration than other sources that used gel. That makes me think you are right. Maybe I have more expansion and less penetration.
On the other hand I did not get as much expansion with those XTP bullets as I was expecting. I will now look for other self defense bullets.

Ftx, XPB, lehigh controlled fracturing, Matt's.

 

[BJung]

I could use some in .45 acp.

Read how Matt's Bullets .45 cast HP bullets can expand.

.200 Grain Round Nose Hollowpoint (.452)-452-200-RN-HP (mattsbullets.com)

 

[Palladan44]

The best results for me in caliber 9mm have been Xtremes 124gr. X-DEF.
To the regular guy, these look similar to Gold Dots. They are also similar in construction (Heavily plated, which also means they are "Bonded" if you're the type to care about that) They're also available at an acceptable price, one you feel better about putting several hundred downrange in testing.
I also like loading the Xtreme 124 gr hollow point (target version) right alongside the X-Defs (Same charge weight, same OAL) for the same feel recoil and similar accuracy....for a higher volume training round. I've enjoyed this combo for many years now.

 

[Palladan44]

Gold Dots were "heavy plated"......so is that the same as bonded jackets?

More scuttle butt has it that the Deep Curl name was to replace Gold Dots for reloaders......again....just rumors?

Gold Dots are heavy plated, and in their case they are "Bonded" lead and copper fused together or let's call it "brazed" through the heat process of the heavy plating. They are also the original "bonded" defense bullet, or at least the most successful one.
There are other Jacketed bullets that are also "bonded" but they can be traditional constructed "jacketed" regular cup and core bullet, but it may have an additional process that heats it up to Fuze cup and core together. An example of this would be Remington Golden Sabre Bonded or a Winchester PDX1. They might zap them electronically, heat them in an oven, or who knows.

"Deep curl" I believe is more marketed toward hunting. Where Hornadys XTP is and probably always will be suited for both hunting and defensive purposes (as indicated by the print on the box)..... I'm thinking the legal team at Speer wanted to have bullets for "killing" and bullets for "stopping the threat" be different entities.

Come to think about it, Speer doesn't put much of what they are suited for printed on their boxes.