Concealed Carry Ammunition (Info/Poll/Discussion)

[Skiprr]

Problem is, I have more than one carry pistol, and I use different loads in them, so I can't answer the poll.

Yep; this. Barrel length and caliber are generally the main criteria for me...assuming, of course, I've proven that the gun runs happily with a given choice.

My preferred carry is a 1911, and the round I settled on several years ago is the Winchester Ranger T-Series, RA45T. I like staying with 230-grains for the .45 ACP. When dress makes the full-size less practical, I'll generally go with a small form-factor 1911-style pistol with a 3-inch barrel. For that one, to help compensate for the short barrel, I use the Ranger T-Series RA45TP, the +P version. The downside is that the higher pressure in a much lighter gun makes follow-up shots more difficult. I feel I shoot it well enough to get the job done, and at five yards I'm just about equally fast. Move it to 15 yards with equal accuracy, and the full-sized 1911 is definitely faster.

My second-favorite carry is a full-sized Springfield XD(M) in .40 S&W. Usually an OWB winter carry. I also used to use a 180-grain Ranger T-Series, but recently switched to the Hornady Critical Duty 175-grain. The specs seem impressive; it generates about 20 fps greater muzzle velocity than the Winchester in a bullet that stays close to 180 grains; and I like the extra attention to dealing with setback with the cannelured bullet and crimping. The Springer has eaten every type of ammo I've ever given it, and the Hornady is no exception.

For my primary pocket pistol, a Kahr PM9, I similarly switched to Hornady Critical Duty, the 135-grain +P round. It has the same features of the other Critical Duty ammo types, but boasts a 135-grain bullet in +P. The muzzle velocity is 1,100 fps--so fractionally slower than comparable 124-grain +P ammo--but I like the extra bullet weight, especially when combined with the Critical Duty penetration specs. It's a tiny gun, and I don't use mag extensions (kinda defeats the purpose of a tiny gun, IMHO), so once again I'm sacrificing some control on follow-ups shots.

Quick comment on that. If ever forced to use a carry pistol in an urban environment, the best statistics we have show that encounters are far more likely to occur at distances of less than 10 feet, not at 10 yards. In fact, 81% of fatal encounters are at six feet or less; an additional 9% occur between six and 15 feet. So to be honest, I'm not terribly worried about being able to execute a tack-driving Mozambique at 15 yards. I'm not on SEAL Team 6. If I can--while moving off the "X"--get a fast controlled-pair on an 8-inch target at 5 to 7 yards, I'm okay with that. So I don't view +P in a small gun to be much of a detriment.

[stroo]

Corbon DPX which is not on your list.

[Charlies.Contingency]

Corbon DPX which is not on your list.

I've been doing ammunition for a while, but I haven't seen what you're talking about. Reference maybe, and where it can be bought?

[Charlies.Contingency]

I can't be suprised at this point, but so far, Critical Duty, Gold Dot, and HST are taking a run. I've always appreciated the 100% reliability I've had with Hornady, and the impressive ballistics only support my choice.

Has any ody had any cycling issues, bad primers, damaged casings, poor crimping, corrosion, or any other type of anomally relating to our ammunition listed on the poll?

[The Annoyed Man]

Corbon DPX which is not on your list.

I've been doing ammunition for a while, but I haven't seen what you're talking about. Reference maybe, and where it can be bought?

Google 'Corbon DPX' and their page will be at the top of the listings.

I use Corbon DPX 110 grain in my PM9. Corbon makes some of the very best SD ammunition you can buy, and the solid copper DPX HP bullet holds together very well with good penetration. Like Skiprr, I use 230 grain bullets in my full sized 45s.....make mine a Federal HST. XDS45 gets 180 grain Critical Defense (not +P). That is a load engineered for short barrels and delivers impressive numbers without the higher pressures. My .357 scandium snubby gets 125 grain Critical Defense .357 loads (not .38 Special).

Ditto what Skiprr said about distances in urban shootings. Even suburban shootings are not likely to be at much longer distances. We are not engaged in trench warfare here......or if we are, we're in the same trench as the bad guy. I don't carry a gun so that I can stand and fight in a gun battle. I carry a gun to buy myself the time to get the hades out of there. If a gun battle it is, then an AR15 is a much better alternative, and I don't usually have one of those in my back pocket. But I am a old poot with bad eyesight and a gimpy back, and I'm not interested in gunfights. I'm interested in finding rear exits, and my gun is for covering my own retreat......my version of getting off the X. I'll shoot someone if I have to, but my days of closing and grappling are over.

[C-dub]

My preferred carry is a 1911, and the round I settled on several years ago is the Winchester Ranger T-Series, RA45T. I like staying with 230-grains for the .45 ACP. When dress makes the full-size less practical, I'll generally go with a small form-factor 1911-style pistol with a 3-inch barrel. For that one, to help compensate for the short barrel, I use the Ranger T-Series RA45TP, the +P version. The downside is that the higher pressure in a much lighter gun makes follow-up shots more difficult. I feel I shoot it well enough to get the job done, and at five yards I'm just about equally fast. Move it to 15 yards with equal accuracy, and the full-sized 1911 is definitely faster.

I guess I've found my answer on the Ranger T-series +P ammo. I'll have to get it out to the range and cycle some rounds before shooting up my current PDX-1 carry ammo and loading up the Ranger. I like to do this every year or so and think I've have the PDX-1 stuff loaded at least that long.

Also agree on the distances a SD shooting is likely to occur. Public ranges are difficult places to practice for that type of thing. Fortunately, I am able to practice this where I shoot and have been practicing drawing and shooting COM within 10 feet without aiming. Hitting COM at this distance is not hard, but getting the gun out of the holster and keeping a good enough hold on the gun to ensure that it cycles properly is something to practice and keep in mind for a semi-auto. Also practice the same thing as if going through the house with two hands and not aiming in the traditional way. I've done well enough to be satisfied that I won't have any problems with this, but my BIL was a little surprised the first time I had him try this. He doesn't have his CHL yet, but was concerned about how to hold the gun or aim at night if searching the house for an intruder.

[Abraham]

Speer Gold Dot, 124 Grain, JHP, +P

[One Shot]

Anybody stack penetrator/expander in a magazine to cover a variety of scenarios?

[Charlies.Contingency]

Anybody stack penetrator/expander in a magazine to cover a variety of scenarios?

I've met some that had, but I suggested them against it. When I carry a full assortment, I usually have one displaced mag of some ball ammunition incase I get in a shootout with somebody behind cover I could punch through. I would never use it any other time, last thing I want to do is punch through two steel doors and put one in a kid. (Somebody shot a .45 at a near by business, and it went through a heavy steel door, a second door, and stopped in the wall.)

[TresHuevos]

Anybody stack penetrator/expander in a magazine to cover a variety of scenarios?

I do something like this with my shotgun so that the 3rd and 4th rounds fired are slugs. My thinking is that if we get past two rounds of .00 buck and are still a threat they will likely be hiding behind something.

[Charlies.Contingency]

Anybody stack penetrator/expander in a magazine to cover a variety of scenarios?

I do something like this with my shotgun so that the 3rd and 4th rounds fired are slugs. My thinking is that if we get past two rounds of .00 buck and are still a threat they will likely be hiding behind something.

Is your maximum capacity four?

I normally like to load a moderate bird load like #6, and I keep 3in 00buckshot on the saddle, because if they're not dead or mortally wounded, they got some distance, and it's time for penetration and power. (Note that deadly force would've only been used of needed, and if the threat was hostile at the time)

[The Annoyed Man]

Anybody stack penetrator/expander in a magazine to cover a variety of scenarios?

Far better to pick a good JHP that is more or less barrier blind. Then you'll have identical recoil characteristics on subsequent shots, and you don't have to try and remember which kind of bullet is next up in the stack. There are perhaps a half dozen or so bullets that have a barrier blind reputation. Read up on them, buy a few different ones for side by side testing in your gun, then buy that load and carry it......and practice with it once in a while. If you have more than one carry gun, don't assume that the bullet/load you've just researched will be appropriate for the other guns. Rinse and repeat.

[JSThane]

I'm not really loyal to any particular round, so long as it functions reliably, both in the gun and in the target. For example, I'm currently carrying Gold Dots in my S&W 19, have Winchesters for my .380, Federal HST in .40 (issued from work), and green-box Remingtons in my .45. I think my 9mm is also loaded with Gold Dots.

Shot placement is, IMO, far more important than brand name, and somewhat more important than bullet performance/expansion.

With regard to shotguns, it's buckshot all the way for me; the slugs are kept in a sidesaddle. If I need a slug, it's there, but I don't want to forget how many rounds I've fired (happens a lot in a gunfight) and put a slug through and past where I intended buck to go.

[TresHuevos]

Anybody stack penetrator/expander in a magazine to cover a variety of scenarios?

I do something like this with my shotgun so that the 3rd and 4th rounds fired are slugs. My thinking is that if we get past two rounds of .00 buck and are still a threat they will likely be hiding behind something.

Is your maximum capacity four?

I normally like to load a moderate bird load like #6, and I keep 3in 00buckshot on the saddle, because if they're not dead or mortally wounded, they got some distance, and it's time for penetration and power. (Note that deadly force would've only been used of needed, and if the threat was hostile at the time)

Mine is a 5+1. After the slugs it's .00 buck again.

[C-dub]

Anybody stack penetrator/expander in a magazine to cover a variety of scenarios?

I do something like this with my shotgun so that the 3rd and 4th rounds fired are slugs. My thinking is that if we get past two rounds of .00 buck and are still a threat they will likely be hiding behind something.

Is your maximum capacity four?

I normally like to load a moderate bird load like #6, and I keep 3in 00buckshot on the saddle, because if they're not dead or mortally wounded, they got some distance, and it's time for penetration and power. (Note that deadly force would've only been used of needed, and if the threat was hostile at the time)

Mine is a 5+1. After the slugs it's .00 buck again.

That's just mean.