Carry Ammo

[NumberCruncher]

Do you all carry personal defense ammo only, or do you carry FMJ? I stopped by Gander Mtn today thinking they would have some personal defense ammo, but no luck.

Just curious if I should worry about it, or just carry my FMJ range ammo.

 

[lonehoosier]

I would carry self defense ammo but if you can't find some carry FMJ

 

[msk]

Carry what you have...It all works the same, just some not as effective as others. FMJ is all they can use in the military....

 

[Bigtanker]

Depends on the caliber you carry. Anything under .380 its fmj. (.32, .25 etc). For .380 and up it's SD ammo. There are a few members that will insist .45acp ball ammo is the best there is so be ready for that.

If all you have is fmj, carry it until you can get some good sd ammo THAT YOU KNOW WORKS IN YOUR GUN. Don't just buy a box and load it up. Buy at least 100 rounds to shoot to make sure they work in your carry gun. I'd rather have fmj's that I know will shoot every time I pull the trigger than hollow points that will jam when your life depends on it.

What gun are you carrying?

 

[msk]

Depends on the caliber you carry. Anything under .380 its fmj. (.32, .25 etc). For .380 and up it's SD ammo. There are a few members that will insist .45acp ball ammo is the best there is so be ready for that.

If all you have is fmj, carry it until you can get some good sd ammo THAT YOU KNOW WORKS IN YOUR GUN. Don't just buy a box and load it up. Buy at least 100 rounds to shoot to make sure they work in your carry gun. I'd rather have fmj's that I know will shoot every time I pull the trigger that hollow points that will jam when your life depends on it.

Agreed!

 

[Bull1315]

I prefer self defense ammo, but as they said "carry what you have".

 

[NumberCruncher]

I have 9mm Ruger P95 and Kahr CW9. I would like to carry the Ruger, but it's pretty big, which is why I got the Kahr. I don't carry either yet, but I've been training with both so I can carry either.

 

[dusterboy49]

My guess is that most people use "self defense ammo" aka hollow point ammo.
Some use FMJ ammo due to feeding problems with their weapons.
Use what your weapon likes.

 

[GNRPowdeR]

Depends on the caliber you carry... There are a few members that will insist .45acp ball ammo is the best there is so be ready for that.

Like THIS

 

[TheSpark]

Hollow point ammo is likely to do more damage. However in most cases I think FMJ has the same stopping power as hollow point (many will disagree) despite that internal damage. I agree on hollow point being more lethal, but all I'm concerned about ultimately is stopping power. The main advantage to hollow point is that they are less likely to go completely through your target and injure an innocent bystander. Even if they do they will probably have lost enough momentum to not be able to seriously penetrate someone else.

Disclaimer: I am not an expert on this.

 

[HoughMade]

If you can possibly find a premium self-defense round, carry it. This article is about the 9mm, but talks extensively about the mechanism of stopping power.

Why Nine | The Bang Switch

 

[Bigtanker]

I have 9mm Ruger P95 and Kahr CW9. I would like to carry the Ruger, but it's pretty big, which is why I got the Kahr. I don't carry either yet, but I've been training with both so I can carry either.

The Ruger shoud eat anything you feed it. BUT I'd still test your SD ammo with it. The Kahr could be a lot more picky. But never the less, make sure whatever you carry works. Use factory mags on both guns too. Mags have a tendency to make a gun fail more than the ammo.

 

[Liberty Sanders]

Hollow point ammo is likely to do more damage. However in most cases I think FMJ has the same stopping power as hollow point (many will disagree) despite that internal damage. I agree on hollow point being more lethal, but all I'm concerned about ultimately is stopping power. The main advantage to hollow point is that they are less likely to go completely through your target and injure an innocent bystander. Even if they do they will probably have lost enough momentum to not be able to seriously penetrate someone else.

Disclaimer: I am not an expert on this.

I don't worry about overpenetration with hardball in the lower velocity big-bores. One of my six-shooters, the one chambered for .45 Auto Rims, is loaded with simple lead ball because I've never seen it available loaded with anything else. Using hardball in something like a hot 9mm or .357 in any environment where there are innocent folks around would really give me the willies.

I once investigated a homicide, a hit, where the victim was shot while standing in a phone booth. The first round went through him, through the glass and kept on going. The victim fell to the bottom of the booth and the hitter stood over him and gave him the remaining five rounds from a six-shooter (.38 or .357, don't remember now).

When the homicide dicks were ready we pulled the dead guy out. The five slugs had gone through the guy like an icepick and were sitting underneath him on the concrete pad of the phone booth.

 

[NumberCruncher]

Over penetration was my concern. I hope to God that it's never an issue I ever, ever have to deal with, but if I do have to shoot, I'd prefer the round stop in my target. Especially in the event of a home invasion. The way my home is laid out, my daughters' bedroom is directly in the line of site from my bedroom door to the top of the stairs. Or if I were to miss, I'd rather that round stick in the wall instead of end up in the neighbors house.

Again, I hope the only time I fire my weapon is on the range, but I'd like to have at least some peace of mind about where my rounds end up.

 

[bobertathan]

Carry what you got. Personally I have some Hornady Critical Defense lying around but prefer my FMJ. Ammo whether it be FMJ or JHP is the same when it hits the bad guy in my opinion. They will feel it and they will think twice about getting the rest of the ammo already loaded in my magazine.

I am suprised though I was in Gander Mountain last week and they had JHP ammo in 9mm and .40 what Caliber are you looking for. Then again they had a small selection as to brands, Remington was the one I saw quite a few of.

 

[bobertathan]

Over penetration was my concern. I hope to God that it's never an issue I ever, ever have to deal with, but if I do have to shoot, I'd prefer the round stop in my target. Especially in the event of a home invasion. The way my home is laid out, my daughters' bedroom is directly in the line of site from my bedroom door to the top of the stairs. Or if I were to miss, I'd rather that round stick in the wall instead of end up in the neighbors house.

Again, I hope the only time I fire my weapon is on the range, but I'd like to have at least some peace of mind about where my rounds end up.

If overpenetration is an issue. I would suggest switching to fragmentation ammo while you are home. Its a little more expensive but doesnt do well with punching through walls. However, when it hits a human target it will fragment and push into its point of impact. Just something to think about because of your layout situation at home.

 

[TWFMB]

I always carry +P hollow points. Except when I'm carrying a .357, don't need the +P with them, still like hollow points though. I'd carry FMJ if it's all I had. Better than throwing rocks by far.

 

[cedartop]

Read Houghmade's linked article above. It is nothing new but is concise and well done. There is absolutely no reason to carry FMJ unless you live in some third world country and the is all you can get, or you are in the military and are forced to. This is a no brainer.

 

[Excalibur]

Unless it's the end of the world and ammo is running low, I would never use FMJs for defense ammo because of over penetration. I carry Critical Duty and

 

[GNRPowdeR]

If you can possibly find a premium self-defense round, carry it. This article is about the 9mm, but talks extensively about the mechanism of stopping power.

Why Nine | The Bang Switch

Excellent article... Thank you for bringing this site and the info to our / my attention!