Personal Defense Ammo?
- Thread starter nikonNUT
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Historically, there has always been a design tradeoff between manufacturing tolerance and discharge reliability with some firearm applications. For military and some LE markets, the priority starts to lean more towards discharge reliability. For an older military issue design, you don’t want them jamming and misfiring in a combat situation. So the manufacturing tolerances are sometimes a little looser. This also translates into a more forgiving gun with variations in ammunition. The tradeoff can be a higher rate of accidental discharge. I was involved with some design litigation involving that priority balance in the 1980s with certain Combat Commander models that, IMO, were not the best choice for a safe civilian street carry.
Of course, for civilian specification and for many LE markets, it’s a tighter call, literally. And the tradeoff is that some models are less forgiving of some off-specification ammunition, and can be more prone to jams and misfires as a consequence.
A civilian personal defense firearm really needs to balance the two priorities more in favor against accidental discharges, as we are carrying them into crowded city streets, not combat zones. So some more marginal designs that would be more ammo-tolerant in a military issue can get a little persnickety in a tighter civilian build.
I suspect that the plastic Sigs are primarily a civilian market issue, unlike some of the other models that are/were primarily designed for LE and military applications, or have such versions. Practically speaking, my recommendation is that short of a time-proven LE carry design in a semi, the safest and most reliable choice in a personal defense handgun is a revolver model. Probably an obvious point for all the old timers.
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HST.
- Thread starter
- #44
I like Speer Gold Dot 124gr, carry something that law enforcement carries. Just don't use any of that Zombie Killer ammo or anything stupid like that!! God forbid you had to defend yourself a Liberal Prosecutor or DA will have a field day with that ammo! If you are new to carrying please get a good carry insurance, Legal fees will ruin your life!
Another vote for Federal HST!!
Some good ammo there nikonNUT! Be safe and enjoy your day at the range!Just for funsies here is the ammo I'm taking with me to the range tomorrow...
L to R... Federal HST 150gr, S&B 115gr RN, CCI blazer brass 115gr, Federal HST 124gr, Speer Gold Dot 124gr, Remington Golden Saber 124gr +P, and Sig V-Crown 124gr.
I carry Federal HST 124gr in my HKs and my Sig P365.
The Federal HST has one of the largest diameter hollow point cavities of all manufactured HP brands. I always worry about using them with smaller pistols with small skinny feed ramps, because the large cavities of the bullet has been known to get hung up on small feed ramps.
Your post speaks very well of the P365's design & reliability if it feeds HST's well.
- Thread starter
- #51
Had a blast at the range today! Learned an important lesson and that is that AIWB and running a gun hard results in roasted nuts but I digress... The results!
A note about the HST target. After running all 40 rounds of the 124gr I loaded up the 150gr sub-sonics I had and did a mag dump so a little more spread that I would like. All and all I think any of these three would do the job if the SHTF! Oh, the V-Crown? 3 FTFs in 20 rounds <sigh> I put that stuff away and did El Presidente's with S&B 115gr RN for 100 rounds.
A note about the HST target. After running all 40 rounds of the 124gr I loaded up the 150gr sub-sonics I had and did a mag dump so a little more spread that I would like. All and all I think any of these three would do the job if the SHTF! Oh, the V-Crown? 3 FTFs in 20 rounds <sigh> I put that stuff away and did El Presidente's with S&B 115gr RN for 100 rounds.
What was your yardage distance for the targets?
Good shootin!
kelbro
Alfred Spatchcock
I guess that I have been fortunate. None of my H&Ks or Rugers have ever hiccuped with any commercial ammo. I've only ben through a couple brands with the wife's new Sig but no issues so far with it either.
I often wonder if some of the guns that I read about having issues were purchased used and the original owner was just moving a problem down the road.
I often wonder if some of the guns that I read about having issues were purchased used and the original owner was just moving a problem down the road.
- Thread starter
- #55
Fired at 10 yards, two handed grip, and eyeballing center mass. A dot might have been a good idea for aimings sake...
Always get good at shooting with iron sights first before moving on to scopes & dots
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- #57
I meant a dot on the target for a reference point
Sorry nikonNut, I thought you were referring to Red Dot SightsI meant a dot on the target for a reference point
- Thread starter
- #59
No worries! I might grab an RMR someday but my eyes aren't that bad... Yet!
No worries! I might grab an RMR someday but my eyes aren't that bad... Yet!
Whats that song? Tomorrow, tomorrow, there's always tomorrow...
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