I was wondering what folks thought about paying a premium for HP Home defense rounds. I reload so I understand the fundamentals at play. Forget the current ammo pricing and availability, just looking to hear from experienced shooters with 10 plus gun collections. Thanks
Very true, I understand many of the high performance loads are built using proprietary powders, some apparently mixed with more than one powder to obtain high velocity without excessive pressures. There is probably testing done to guarantee this performance without blowing up a weapon. Doubt any "normal" home re-loader's have the equipment to insure this isn't dangerous. Bullets may be special designed to take advantage of the velocity and to insure maximum penetration of a clothed human with max. expansion for lethal damage. As you said these bullets may not be available to the consumer. My son and I have reloaded and cast bullets for over 20 years - but we don't use reloads for our Home Defense or Carry weapons. The cost is pretty low - when the difference in stopping power may be life or death.I reload but all my personal defense rounds are high quality, new production factory built ammo.
There are advances in bullet construction technology and powder formulations that simply make the factory self defense rounds better, without them being loaded up to higher pressures. As reloaders we often do not have access to the latest, greatest bullet choices.
Some will say that a prosecutor will call you out for handloading super hot bullets, even if they are not super hot. I say a justified shoot is a justified shoot, regardless of if you are using factory loads or handloads. So I'm not against using handloads from the liability standpoint, but I am against using them from the technology standpoint. Heck, even bullets from 4 and 5 years ago are out dated in terms of the technology. There are now bullets/powders formulated for short barrel self defense pistols, with bullets tuned to perform at lower velocities, while others from the same company are tuned to perform better out of a full size gun. Many of those bullets are just not sold as components only.
Hydra Shoks are OLD technology. I've got some, but they are not my carry rounds. There are plenty of better rounds out there. Just like the folks who still think the Black Talons are good, that is just hanging on to 20 year old myth. Cars have improved. Computers have improved. TVs have improved. Bullets have also improved. Set your old stuff aside, but the new stuff. Is your life not worth the best? If you like Federal then switch to the HST. Or consider the Remington Golden Saber. Or the newest Winchester Ranger SXT. Or premium rounds from Hornady.Im not a reolader but I do only carry Federal Hydra Shok's.
My mag has a mix of Glaser Safety Slugs and Hydra Shoks.
I was wondering what folks thought about paying a premium for HP Home defense rounds. I reload so I understand the fundamentals at play. Forget the current ammo pricing and availability, just looking to hear from experienced shooters with 10 plus gun collections. Thanks
Cars have improved. Computers have improved. TVs have improved. Bullets have also improved. Set your old stuff aside, but the new stuff. Is your life not worth the best?
If the gun isn't a 1911 pattern pistol then I don't like it.
100% for buying self defense loads. One of the things the makers work on is over penetration. You don't want a round going through a BG and hitting an innocent.
Watch some You tube ammo tests, the results are eye opening.