What is the best personal protection ammo for these various weapons?

Question

.45 ACP (in a 1911)

.40 SW

.357 Magnum (with a 2" barrel)

12 ga. pump action shotgun

I need everything from reliability, to damage inflicted, stopping power, speed of powder burn (for the snubby), ease of feeding (for the 1911), hollowpoint vs. ball, muzzle velocity, penetration vs. over penetration, expansion and grain.

All that awesome stuff we all love to talk about so much.

I'm looking to change out some of my ammo to make these weapons more effective fight stoppers. Any links to articles, studies, ballistics test, etc. are much appreciated.

Answer 1

I'm partial to speer gold dot short barrel for stubbies, they are designed to expand at the lower velocities generated by shorter barrels. in my 9mm (2.25 barrel) they expanded about 60% more than magtechs +p+ and about 50% more than +p hydroshocks.

corbons are pretty well proven, I carry them in my .357 sig.

the hornady .40sw hollowpoints I used to carry always expanded to a ungodly size but I've since switched to speer gold dots after seeing the perfomance of the short barrel low velocity expansion bullet.

Answer 2

In .45 ACP, the hollowpoint +P version. In .40 S&W, the truncated nose 180 grain is quite sufficient. In the 2" .357, you are better off using +p .38 specials, because you will NEVER achieve magnum velocity out od a snubby, and it add plenty to the flash and recoil. You are beating up the gum needlessly in using the full charge loads with this kind of gun. For the 12 ga. shotgun, I use #7 birdshot for urban situations, because at 15-20 ft, they produce a tight rat hole pattern on the target, and it is not overpenetrative through walls.

Answer 3

Decades ago a friend who was a federal agent gave me some Federal Hydra Shok + P for my carry .38 snubby.

I tested on some milk jugs (a la Box o' Truth) and was impressed.

Since then I have used them in .38, .357, 9mm, .40, .45acp and 10mm. I always recommend them.

They may not the best in each caliber (that always going to be hotly debatable......), but they are always a very good option for power, penetration, expansion and in what we really want, stopping performance.

They are readily available anywhere, of excellent quality and always consistant and not priced ridiculously high. All important considerations.

Of course, you want to cycle a number of rounds through your guns, to see that they work well and to give you practice with the load.

Answer 4

Any of the newer premium ammunition has proven to be very effective although more expensive, use whatever your local police and sheriff departments use. Personally I prefer Federal Hydra-Shoks or Remington Golden Sabers in the handguns and Number 1 buckshot in the 12 ga.

Answer 5

Take a look at the remington 870 12 gauge pump, its a great gun and should get the job done

Answer 6

I use the most powerful rounds that I can. I know everyone will say "ohh but what about over penetration". I say good, then it will go right thru the first one and into his buddy behind him lol I dont have to worry about a bullet going into a neighbors house, we dont have neighbors out here in the sticks ; )


I have a snub nose .357mag and I stagger the rounds in the cylinder....hollow...copper core jacket...hollow...copper core jacket. Think of it like this.... body shot....thru the door..body shot...thru the door.

Answer 7

As long as they are hollow points it doesn't matter what caliber. For the Shotgun either hollow point rifled slugs or # 4 buckshot.*

Answer 8

45 hollow point the bullit is bigger in 45 so a lot bigger wound bad guy is to more

Answer 9

The best ammo is that which you have in your thunderstick when events transpire that make it necessary to use it.