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Self defense round, which do you choose?

Posted on 3/19/16 at 7:46 pm
Posted by Gaston
Dirty Coast
Member since Aug 2008
38901 posts
Posted on 3/19/16 at 7:46 pm
This is meant to be a choice between a heavy, slower round or a faster lighter round...and the introduction to different ballistic options inside one of those data points. I've included specific example for my pistol as points of reference. These are numbers off of Underwood's site. LINK

A) 90 grain Xtreme Defender
Muzzle Velocity: 1700 fps
Muzzle Energy: 578 ft. lbs.
Penetration: 17.5 inches


B) 115 Grain Nosler JHP
Muzzle Velocity: 1550 fps
Muzzle Energy: 614 ft. lbs.

C) 124 Grain Nosler JHP
Muzzle Velocity: 1475 fps
Muzzle Energy: 604 ft. lbs.

D) 124 Grain XTP JHP
utilize Hornady’s eXtreme Terminal Performance (XTP) bullets which are designed for deep terminal penetration, great accuracy and controlled expansion.

Same numbers as C


E) 125 Grain Bonded JHP
Speer bonded bullets which employ an exclusive Uni-Cor process where they bond the jacket to the core one molecule at a time. This essentially eliminates core-jacket separation, maximizes weight retention, and allows for unparalleled penetration and controlled yet fatal expansion.

Same numbers as C.

F) 147 Grain XTP JHP
Muzzle Velocity: 1250 fps
Muzzle Energy: 510 ft. lbs.

A) costs twice as much as the others. I'm leaning to one of the 124/5 grain options because the FMJ practice ammo numbers are the same...and it seems smarter to practice with what you carry.
This post was edited on 3/19/16 at 7:58 pm
Posted by Easternrio
Member since May 2014
3755 posts
Posted on 3/19/16 at 8:12 pm to
Mine loaded with 124 gr fmj always.
Posted by Carson123987
Middle Court at the Rec
Member since Jul 2011
66361 posts
Posted on 3/19/16 at 8:12 pm to
Posted by Bleeding purple
Athens, Texas
Member since Sep 2007
25315 posts
Posted on 3/19/16 at 8:15 pm to
FMJ is a horrible SD round unless you are carrying a 380 or smaller
Posted by Gaston
Dirty Coast
Member since Aug 2008
38901 posts
Posted on 3/19/16 at 8:16 pm to
My backup magazine is FMJ, but the 12+1 in the gun is Speer gold dot JHP at the moment. The company I referenced uses that projectile in one of their offerings.
Posted by Gaston
Dirty Coast
Member since Aug 2008
38901 posts
Posted on 3/19/16 at 8:24 pm to
I've never shot 147gr out of my pistol. Is there a difference in recoil, flash or report?
Posted by El Segundo Guy
SE OK
Member since Aug 2014
9542 posts
Posted on 3/19/16 at 9:03 pm to
I use 135g Hornady Critical Duty
Posted by Ace Midnight
Between sanity and madness
Member since Dec 2006
89450 posts
Posted on 3/19/16 at 9:13 pm to
HST in all major calibers. 9mm are fine in both weights.

Speed Gold Dot and Winchester PDX are close behind.
Posted by Gaston
Dirty Coast
Member since Aug 2008
38901 posts
Posted on 3/19/16 at 9:13 pm to
Damn, $1.56 a bullet. I don't practice with self defense rounds though, and still not as expensive as A) in the OP.
This post was edited on 3/19/16 at 9:14 pm
Posted by ctiger69
Member since May 2005
30576 posts
Posted on 3/19/16 at 9:15 pm to
40 s&w Remington Golden Saber 165 grain

Real world data with this round:

146 shootings, 137 one shot stops

94% one shot stopping power percentage


Posted by Gaston
Dirty Coast
Member since Aug 2008
38901 posts
Posted on 3/19/16 at 9:17 pm to
The Underwood's I linked seem hotter than anything else I've seen. I shoot Speer right now though, when I don't buy bulk. I can't shoot a whole lot of rounds through my gun per range trip anyway, so I try to be fairly deliberate.
This post was edited on 3/19/16 at 9:20 pm
Posted by VaBamaMan
North AL
Member since Apr 2013
7649 posts
Posted on 3/19/16 at 9:20 pm to
I use Hornady Critical Defense, I've never heard, or read, a bad word about them.

They are 115 grain, but the +p really makes them come out screaming. The somewhat lacking penetration depth on the charts in the link Carson sent really don't bother me. The critical defense rounds are designed to mushroom out and grab as much tissue as possible. Makes a much bigger hole that way.
Posted by Purple Spoon
Hoth
Member since Feb 2005
17742 posts
Posted on 3/19/16 at 9:21 pm to
3" #4 Turkey load
Posted by baldona
Florida
Member since Feb 2016
20364 posts
Posted on 3/19/16 at 9:22 pm to
Personally it's nothing that I'd ever worry about. Any decent manufacturer today makes a dang good and reliable round. Worrying about 115, 119, 124, or 125 gr bullets are like fighting about whether a sig, glock, or HK is better.
Posted by Gaston
Dirty Coast
Member since Aug 2008
38901 posts
Posted on 3/19/16 at 9:26 pm to
Well I started the thread since ballistics were referenced so much in the 9 vs 40 thread. I tried to keep the discussion to one manufacturer and use the numbers and projectiles to open up the discussion.


Yea, frick it now.


ETA: HK is better.
This post was edited on 3/19/16 at 9:27 pm
Posted by ctiger69
Member since May 2005
30576 posts
Posted on 3/19/16 at 9:27 pm to
quote:


The Underwood's I linked seem hotter than anything else I've seen. I shoot Speer right now though, when I don't buy bulk. I can't shoot a whole lot of rounds through my gun per range trip anyway, so I try to be fairly deliberate.


Underwood makes some very hot rounds. They have a 40 s&w, 135 grains, 623 ft.lbs.

Buffalo Bore also makes hot rounds.


I own both a Sig and HK, and HK is better.
This post was edited on 3/19/16 at 9:29 pm
Posted by public_enemy
Member since Feb 2015
4363 posts
Posted on 3/19/16 at 9:42 pm to
Yeah that thread is my bad.... really was just looking for advice. Not a full war
Posted by lsufan1971
Zachary
Member since Nov 2003
18072 posts
Posted on 3/19/16 at 9:52 pm to
quote:

Mine loaded with 124 gr fmj always.


Unless your intended target is always paper that is a poor choice.
Posted by Jenar Boy
Elsewhere
Member since Aug 2013
12518 posts
Posted on 3/19/16 at 10:03 pm to
Federal 45ACP Persinal Defense
165gr Hydroshok JHP

Remington 3" 00 Buckshot

This post was edited on 3/19/16 at 10:04 pm
Posted by Ace Midnight
Between sanity and madness
Member since Dec 2006
89450 posts
Posted on 3/19/16 at 10:03 pm to
quote:

Underwood makes some very hot rounds. They have a 40 s&w, 135 grains, 623 ft.lbs.

Buffalo Bore also makes hot rounds.



Not sure I've fired any of the Underwood offerings. I like Buffalo Bore.

But Federal, Winchester, Speer, and Cor-bon have gotten most of my ammo business over the years, especially pistol ammo.
This post was edited on 3/19/16 at 10:04 pm
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