what is your carry load for home defense or self defense - Page 3

chaim · October 6, 2012, 11:30 AM

I do not have a daily carry since I live in MD. When carrying around the house, or when in a state that will take my UT non-res permit, I have several carry guns and calibers to choose from (and even more for guns I have loaded for home defense but I don't carry around the apartment).

In .38spl (+P of course) and 9mm I only use Speer Gold Dot in the 125gr range. In other calibers I do prefer Gold Dot, but I trust the performance of .40S&W, .45LC and .45ACP enough that I don't think ammo selection is as important, so I buy whatever premium defensive ammo is on sale. I do still prefer Gold Dot, but right now I mostly have some 180gr Remington JHP's for .40S&W and some 185gr Magtech in .45ACP (I am currently out of defensive ammo for .45LC so my 625MG is currently not in the HD rotation).

In .380, until recently I was in the camp that felt that the penetration of FMJ or truncated cone ammo was preferable to the expansion of JHP. Recent research on my part has changed my mind (even in .380, jacketed non-HP rounds can over penetrate, many JHP loadings penetrate more than sufficiently). I am currently evaluating several, but will probably go with Gold Dot, Hydrashok, or something from Hornady.

JIMBOINVA · October 6, 2012, 11:49 AM

357 HP

Colorado Redneck · October 7, 2012, 09:26 PM

Remington Ultimate Home Defense Ammunition 38 Special +P 125 Grain in the 357's.

Speer Gold Dot 115 gr. in the .327 Fed Mag

Speer Gold Dot Ammunition 44 Special 200 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point in the 629.

In the truck--same stuff except when there are rattley moccasins out and about---then home made snake shot in the 357.

Chasesf1 · October 8, 2012, 01:20 AM

I use 45gr Hornaday critical defense rounds in my 22 mag revolver. The larger/longer rounds tend to tumble when they enter a mass in the wmr caliber.

9mm-115gr Remmington HP's only due to the fact that they are light,(this is my duty weapon and 115gr is the smallest authorized grain for us), I dont want to lug any more weight around than I have to.

zombieslayer · October 8, 2012, 09:26 AM

While generally not a Remington fan, I keep 125gr Golden Sabre's in my .357.
My .40 and .45 both are loaded with Winchester PDX.

treg · October 9, 2012, 05:39 AM

Hard cast LSWC / WW231 in the SR40c and in the M605 (+P .38's).

October 6, 2012, 11:30 AM	#51
chaim Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2001 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,095	I do not have a daily carry since I live in MD. When carrying around the house, or when in a state that will take my UT non-res permit, I have several carry guns and calibers to choose from (and even more for guns I have loaded for home defense but I don't carry around the apartment). In .38spl (+P of course) and 9mm I only use Speer Gold Dot in the 125gr range. In other calibers I do prefer Gold Dot, but I trust the performance of .40S&W, .45LC and .45ACP enough that I don't think ammo selection is as important, so I buy whatever premium defensive ammo is on sale. I do still prefer Gold Dot, but right now I mostly have some 180gr Remington JHP's for .40S&W and some 185gr Magtech in .45ACP (I am currently out of defensive ammo for .45LC so my 625MG is currently not in the HD rotation). In .380, until recently I was in the camp that felt that the penetration of FMJ or truncated cone ammo was preferable to the expansion of JHP. Recent research on my part has changed my mind (even in .380, jacketed non-HP rounds can over penetrate, many JHP loadings penetrate more than sufficiently). I am currently evaluating several, but will probably go with Gold Dot, Hydrashok, or something from Hornady. Last edited by chaim; October 6, 2012 at 04:59 PM.

October 6, 2012, 11:49 AM	#52
JIMBOINVA Member Join Date: October 6, 2012 Location: Dulles, VA Posts: 31	357 HP __________________ Old Fed LEO-now Chairborne Sherlock Holmes Former USNR Intel Geek for SEALS-East Coast "Do you want information from the Records Section or the Truth Section?"

October 7, 2012, 09:26 PM	#53
Colorado Redneck Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2008 Location: Northeast Colorado Posts: 1,993	HD ammo Remington Ultimate Home Defense Ammunition 38 Special +P 125 Grain in the 357's. Speer Gold Dot 115 gr. in the .327 Fed Mag Speer Gold Dot Ammunition 44 Special 200 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point in the 629. In the truck--same stuff except when there are rattley moccasins out and about---then home made snake shot in the 357.

October 8, 2012, 01:20 AM	#54
Chasesf1 Junior Member Join Date: October 7, 2012 Posts: 7	I use 45gr Hornaday critical defense rounds in my 22 mag revolver. The larger/longer rounds tend to tumble when they enter a mass in the wmr caliber. 9mm-115gr Remmington HP's only due to the fact that they are light,(this is my duty weapon and 115gr is the smallest authorized grain for us), I dont want to lug any more weight around than I have to. Last edited by Chasesf1; October 8, 2012 at 09:33 AM.

October 8, 2012, 09:26 AM	#55
zombieslayer Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,198	While generally not a Remington fan, I keep 125gr Golden Sabre's in my .357. My .40 and .45 both are loaded with Winchester PDX. __________________ "An angry prophet, denouncing the hypocrisies of our time"

October 9, 2012, 05:39 AM	#56
treg Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2006 Posts: 1,102	Hard cast LSWC / WW231 in the SR40c and in the M605 (+P .38's). __________________ .44 Special: For those who get it, no explanation is necessary. For those who don't, no explanation is possible.