Ammo is a back and forth debate, a debate I've been having for most of my life as I've been shooting since I was 12 years old. During this time, I've spoken to everyone from the backwoodsman who can turn his kitchen sink and lawnmower into a gun to high speed, meat eating SpecOps warriors fresh back from deployment. As a result, I've heard just about everything a person can say when it comes to defensive handgun usage.
I am not here to discuss the finer nuances of personal defense ammo down the point of difference one grain can make. (Those articles already exist if you really want to look, and yes I've 'sperged out reading them.) Similarly, I'm not going to lecture you about things like
the rules of firearms safety. I am simply going to tell you which rounds I personally recommend for conceal carry/self defense and which ones to definitely avoid. I do not work in a gun shop anymore, I haven't officially instructed self defense in a hot minute, and I have not monetized this post. I do not have anything to gain from doing this, so I'm not going to sell you short on anything. Additionally, I currently drive all over the state of Texas to teach people to shoot on my own dime. I've discovered doing this for free allows me to reach more people. Thus, I've made compiled a bunch of free information into this article because firearms safety and self defense are subjects I'm very passionate about.
I will say the bulk of my experience has all been 1 on 1 instruction, which is where I am comfortable and excel in. So if anything in this post is a little awkwardly worded, forgive me. I'm not used to talking about this subject to an audience of people. I have tried to offset this by breaking this article down into chunks. The need to know stuff comes first, clearly marked. Afterwards there are more rambling explanations, which you can skip if you're short on time or feel a little overwhelmed with all the information in here.
So let's get to it.
First off, shoot what you're comfortable with. You could have the best gun in the world for the situation, if you aren't comfortable firing it you won't be much use with it. (I'd even say you'd be worse off than not having a gun, because not only are you missing the threat you're sending lethal projectiles into who knows where.) Conversely, if you aren't comfortable shooting you need to get comfortable. You need to know your weapon intimately, to the point where it no longer is a weapon but an extension of your will.
Secondly, you'll notice there is only hollow points listed here. Always shoot something that expands on impact for self defense. (If you want an in-depth discussion why, read
this blog post here.) What makes bullets a force multiplier is the penetration. Most handgun loads generate the same kinetic energy as a punch, but unlike a punch bullets cause internal damage. They sever bloodlines, break bones, puncture vital organs. Hollow points are specifically designed for this, to help shut down a threat.
Lastly, ammo choice is not the be all end all of self defense. It is indeed a huge factor, but at the end of the day what matters most is your shot placement. Some people like to throw around "stopping power" like there is some magic wonder bullet that will do it all. I'll tell you right now, the ultimate stopping power is proper training and mindset. I am utterly assured in the belief that a properly trained 5ft woman on a .380 ACP is infinitely more capable of stopping a threat than a 6'4" meathead who thinks he just can mix metal and meat together with his daddy's 1911.
Note: I've edited this post quite a bit. It's rather impulsive on this one but that's because I want to be as up to date as possible on information that can potentially save lives. As noted above, I'm not doing this for personal gain. I don't want to leave antiquated information here because that is negligent on my end and misleading on your end.
Second Note: This is assuming you're in America like I am. I am happy to help with guns and shooting techniques but not knowing the laws of your country is a real hindrance. I've talked to our neighbors up north multiple times before, so if you're Canadian some sources you can check out are
this YouTube channel,
this other YouTube channel, and
this guy on Twitter. If you're across the pond,
Polenar Tactical and
Bloke On The Range are some good European gun guys. (Keep in mind that TFB TV has several conflicting views so consistency isn't a strong suit of theirs. However, their Canadian members are reliable enough when it comes to gun laws as is the other channel I linked. That guy on Twitter, Jarv, is very consistent pretty much across the board.)
Guns are no joke, be fully aware of what it means to draw a gun on someone.
A common misconception about gun owners is that we can't wait to use our guns on someone. Nothing could be further from the truth. I carry not to kill, but to protect myself. As most of you know, I am LGBT. I need protection from gaybashers and other violent extremists. In an ideal world, nobody would need guns. However, the world is far from ideal. The best counter to evil people has always been good people skilled at violence.
Something I always hear is "guns are for killing and I believe killing is wrong." What if I told you gun owners feel the same way? I have guns for the same reason I have first aid kits: to protect and preserve a human life. You don't shoot to kill- you shoot to stop a threat. Nobody ever wants to shoot anybody. Even if you are legally and morally justified, most people aren't emotionally prepared for potentially ending a human life. Nobody ever exists on purpose and there is no going back from killing someone. But, you have to meet lethal force with lethal force. I've seen during training some people don't want to hurt others so they go soft. In a life or death scenario, soft won't cut it. When the balloon goes up, you need to go 100%. Speed, surprise, aggression.
This does lead to a question often asked:
Why train so vigorously with your guns if you don't want to use them?
Because if the rare situation does arise, you want to be as prepared as possible. Having the right tools for the job is a big deal. A bullet is a bullet and a gun is a gun but certain types are made for certain situations. A good analogy is cars: Even though all of them will get you from Point A to Point B, some are suited for different tasks. Like a pickup truck compared to a Ferrari- both with serve a baseline purpose but are fundamentally meant for two different things. (Check
this article on having a dedicated conceal carry ammo/weapon for different seasons.)
This is in no means actual training and should be taken as stuff in theory, because anything can happen in a deadly force encounter. Furthermore, to understand something intellectually isn't equivalent to being tactically proficient in it. You also won't see me quoting statistics. Why is this when there are a multitude of statistics? Well, as
this professional shooter explains, gun fight statistics aren't comparable to hard experience most of the time. It's also important to understand the multitude of variables present in a deadly force encounter. For example: people have different types of bodies so different guns and fighting techniques will be necessary. What works in one scenario for one person isn't necessarily going to be constant for all scenarios. There are so many variables involved that you can do everything right and still wind up dead (you can also goof up majorly and come out alive).
I'm not going to get into the who, how, why, what ifs, etc of techniques while online. That is best left to the discretion of your instructor. (Tactics is like religion and politics- there are many ways to do it and you don't want to discuss it in a bar.) The purpose of this article is to merely help with the multitude of misinformation and misconceptions out there so new gun owners have a good basis.
A note on fake experts:
There is a very, very high chance that what you read on here is going to contradict something you've heard before. You'll hear things going in every different direction when it comes to guns. Does this mean gun owners are contrarian, ego driven assholes? No, not at all. Like I mentioned previously, there isn't really any reliable information that's readily available to the public. As a result, you'll see a lot of fake experts out there. What do I mean when I say "fake expert"? People probably immediately jump to someone who has no interest in discourse and just wants to shove their views down others, but when it comes to guns that's almost exclusively celebrities and politicians. When I say fake expert, I'm referring to people who are "the gun guy" among their friends but haven't really had any formal training or experience. These people don't have any malicious intention, they're people who have a hobby of shooting and want to be seen as the resident source for knowledge on all things gun related. The problem is that they aren't looking past themselves. There are so many facets of knowledge when it comes to firearms that it's pretty much impossible for someone to be an expert on the subject. There are people who are way more qualified than I am to teach you tactics, I'm here to help people take the first step into shooting because it can be daunting.
Important links pertinent to the above:
Massad Ayoob's myths of gunfighting
Tactical Rifleman's video Practice or Don't Carry
Shooting instructor Paul Harrell's video on gun fight statistics
More explanation (rambling):
It's important to not let your ego get the best of you either. Carrying a firearm does not make you a bona fide badass. This goes double for the people who think they can walk up on someone and take charge of a situation just because they're a CCW. Deadly force is never a convenient option; it is a tool of last resort.
Understanding how to avoid fights and de-escalate is vital. Like you can call me a pussy all you want for walking away from a fight, I don't want to be judged by a group of people who weren't there to understand the context of the situation. Tying to prove you're hot shit isn't worth your life or your freedom. This leads to the 3 steps for self defense:
Avoid, Deny, Defend. While this was originally a plan made for active shooter scenario, I find it can be just as effective for many self defense situations. The first step: Avoid the threat. This isn't limited to getting out of the immediate danger zone- this includes preemptive actions. Example: I don't gas up at night and I don't go to ATMs at night, because I am not going to get myself into bad predicaments unnecessarily. There's also verbal judo and other de-escalation techniques. Realistically, you can't avoid everything (which is where we'll get to the next steps) but you do win 100% of the fights you never get into. Step 2: Deny the threat access to you. Get a barrier between them and yourself. One of the most common forms of this is locking your car door and driving off. This also helps from a legal standpoint as well, because you trying to get away will erase most any doubt that you are a self defender. Though, most criminals will give up because they are looking for an easy score and not something that will require a lot of effort. Last step: Defend yourself from the threat. Use force, up to and including lethal force if necessary. Do not fight fair, there is no such thing as a cheap shot when you're fighting for your life. Get some experience with force on force drills, that is invaluable. Don't think there is some magic trick, because you can't cheat skill. Something that goes hand-in-hand with Avoid, Deny, Defend is
Cooper's Colors. A lot of what Jeff Cooper taught is now antiquated (I'll get into that in just a moment) but Cooper's Colors remains a solid foundation for situational awareness.
In a similar vein to the ego thing: A lot of people think they're capable because they do well in practice. They're the best shot among their friends so they think they can run a gun. They don't understand how they'll react in a true high stress scenario, where your adrenaline spikes and your brain is in red alert. Perhaps the most guilty of this are police officers. There is a horrid problem among police training in that a lot of them are not trained to defend. They are trained to pass qualification. They've never been taught to shoot with both eyes open, to shoot with an elevated heart rate, to shoot from compromised positions... (To see what properly trained police look like, watch
this officer involved shooting.) I notice this is more of a problem in the more anti-gun states as well. The police in more pro-gun states tend to make better shoot/not shoot decisions. Same goes for a lot of martial arts dojos. Fighting to win a competition and fighting to defend yourself are two very different things. I would even argue martial arts dojos are just as bad for the ego. MMA fighters and similar types think "oh I can take this guy because I'm a black belt". That mentality is setting you up for failure. Walk into any martial arts dojo and ask the instructor how many criminals they've fought. Chances are the number will be zero. The reason being martial artists have a sense of honor and self control, street walking scum don't. It's a fundamentally different encounter. Even if you win, you still got yourself into a fight that was completely unnecessary. What if the cops get called? Is trying to be a badass worth spending a night in jail? Is it worth a court case? A prison sentence? As I'll cover near the end of this: a lot of self defense stuff, especially women's self defense, is wimpy feel good bullshit. It will do nothing other than masturbate your ego. Many people do not have a perspective for violence. These are the ones who do things like make the first shot out of their 12 gauge birdshot and they rack the slide very loudly. Even if you are acting in self defense, never use a firearm as an intimidation tool. It is a last resort only. I've had this conversation more times than I can count and I hate to see people lose their lives over this.
Another important thing to note: avoid superfluous stuff. Like don't etch MOLON LABE or "you're fucked" all over your gun, for the same reason you don't want a tattoo where a judge can see it. Also don't add a bunch of unnecessary "upgrades" like some people do with their Swiss Army Knife AR-15 builds. There are always two fights: the one for your life and the one for your freedom. Anything superfluous that would risk either is an extremely unwise decision.
On that note,
a tip for all gun newbs: If you are at the range or gun shop and you see someone with a Punisher Skull, don't listen to a single word they say.
Back the important, need to know stuff.
I am always here to help people get information on guns and self defense. Especially since it is not easy to find, what with how ridiculous and convoluted gun laws can get. Also people on both sides of the debate have a penchant for shouting down others' throats. Also, it requires a perspective for criminal behavior which is something most people dread thinking about (what if someone were to rape me, or kill my kid, or pull a gun on my significant other, etc). I don't blame people at all for lacking an informed rhetoric. With so many new gun owners, now more than ever it is vital for there to be readily accessible, reliable information.
This is what you came here for: What ammo should you carry?
Short answer: Find a 9mm you're comfortable on and load it with one of these. Both of these are great rounds and do well out of any barrel length. They are the Speer Gold Dot and Federal HST. You don't need a super powerful firearm in order to be able to stop a threat and most people don't have the time to dedicate themselves to becoming hardened warriors. 9mm on target beats any other caliber in the dirt. Don't get caught up in the minutia of ammo selection, as where you hit the bad guy is a lot more important than what you hit them with.
I was asked a lot when I worked in a gun shop which handgun caliber is the best. The answer is: whichever one you shoot the best. I start all newbies out on 9mm because anyone can handle a 9 and there is literally a 9mm gun out there for everyone. (It ain't called Wonder 9 for nothing.) Now personally, I shoot .45 ACP and 10mm handguns better. Probably due to my scarecrow hands, but I know for a fact I am faster and more accurate on those which is fine. Some people are poor, so a police trade in .40 S&W pistol will be the best option for them. Additionally, buying a police trade in .40 pistol and converting it to 357 Sig is a very cost effective option. With proper training and ammo selection, I would not feel undergunned in any of those calibers.
Important links:
FBI List of Approved Ammo
LuckyGunner's Ballistics Testing
Trauma Surgeon's Input on Bullet Wounds
Former SWAT Instructor's Input on Bullet Wounds
This here is an excellent link about carbine (short-ish rifle), shotgun, and pistol for home defense and the pros and cons of each
Ballistics is not an exact science, but these are perhaps the most comprehensive and respected sources on bullet wounds.
A note about ballistic gel:
You're gonna see this invariably come up in a discussion about ammo. The FBI requires a minimum 12" of penetration and for law enforcement a maximum 18" of penetration. (It's a little different for civilians. Whereas law enforcement or private security are likely to have to take a shot in a crowded environment, a civilian is under no such requirement. Furthermore, if you really think you're going to accidentally shoot someone you have bigger issues to worry about than what type of ammo you load into your gun.) The reason being: ballistics gel is not an accurate simulation of a human body. Human bodies have so many differences and variations, which isn't even taking into consideration the multitude of variables in a self defense encounter. No two gunfights are or ever will be the same. The gel's value lies in its consistency. In order for an experiment to be valid, it must be repeatable. This is a daunting task with something as unpredictable as bullets.
The FBI Ballistics Test Standards are a universally and formally recognized system, which is why it lies at the heart of all ballistics. It's not so much a decisive test as it is a bare minimum standard for bullets to meet.
Another difference between law enforcement and civilians is that law enforcement has a greater list of requirements, though that doesn't mean you should completely ignore them as a civilian. Let me give you an example: A very common scenario, not just for carjackings but for crime as a whole, is when you're sitting your car outside your house or apartment complex waiting for the garage door or gate to roll open. In this situation, you are 1) firing from a compromised position and 2) almost certainly needing to shoot through your car windows at your attacker. If you know that your ammo does well through auto glass and sheet metal, that's probably going to work to your advantage. Just keep in mind that shooting through auto glass is generally less than optimal even if a bullet will go through. There isn't an exact science as to what happens when a bullet passes through a medium, so eliminating that medium is always better than shooting through it if possible.
A note on niche stuff:
It's a common mistake among newbies to get a bunch of gee whiz gadgets and haul around extra weight on their vests and guns. I see it mostly as a means of compensating for their lack of training. That's the thing though- no amount of gear will make up for a deficiency in skill. Instead of trying to strap on everything and the kitchen sink, focus on something simple like
this setup here. The reason being that simple stuff works best under a high stress scenario. Only if the circumstances dictate a necessity should you consider something special. Ex: Chances are, you won't need an FN 5.7 armor piercing pistol. (If you do, you're probably an armored car driver or something similar.) So don't bother to get one when you could better be spending your time and money finding a 9mm you are comfortable enough on to use in a life or death scenario.
Longer answer (rambling): Jeff Cooper was great for his time, he spent extensive amounts of effort compiling reliable information and teaching it to others. (Well, except for the Weaver stance. That's not a tactic, that's a tumor he gave the shooting world.) But since Cooper fell off the island, criminal behavior has changed and self defense technology has increased. Back in the day, 9mm got a lot of hate because it wouldn't expand properly. This is no longer the case, to the point where the FBI uses 9mm as their go to caliber now. Bullet technology has increased so much that there is very little, in fact a negligible ballistic difference between the duty calibers. It's all pretty much the same save for what you find comfortable. I personally am a better shot on .45 ACP than 9mm, so I have a reason to pick it over a 9. But I'll tell you right now, at the end of the day they're the same. 9mm guns hold more ammo, too. The vast majority of the time,
a gun is never fired but if you do need to use it extra ammo is literally a life saver. Some are better for niche purposes like 357 Sig (I'll get into that later) but for a general, all purpose round the 9mm is fine. Again going back to the car analogy: Most people drive a sedan because it's reliable and general purpose. Having a specific niche would warrant things like a pick up truck or motorcycle. Same deal with ammo.
Most newbies will latch onto stopping power ("oh the .45 is bigger and heavier so it must have more stopping power"). Stopping power is a myth! Plus, anyone worth shooting once is usually worth shooting multiple times. There's no one static number of attacks that dictates when someone is put into critical condition; it varies depending on the person you're dealing with. Don't believe me?
Read what a trauma surgeon has to say about bullet wounds. Even then, there are disagreements on which hollow points work best. LuckyGunner's ballistics testing sums it up nicely:
"The reason for this lack of consensus is simple: handguns suck. If someone wants to kill you, and the only way to prevent that from happening is to shoot them, a handgun is far from the ideal firearm to use — they just happen to be the type of firearm we’re most likely to have immediate access to. [...] In reality, the effects of wounds from handguns are unpredictable and often not very dramatic. So the study of handgun wound ballistics is not always clear cut, and any speculation we can make about how a given self-defense load will perform in the real world will be, at best, an educated guess."
Contrary to how the movies portray it, pistols are really crappy to have in firefights. Long guns are more precise, have more power, do more damage, easier to aim with. In fact, if you feasibly can you should be using a rifle even though that's only going to be home defense for most people. (Yes, rifles are better than shotguns for home defense. Loaded with a proper OTM round, a properly specced rifle is the best for home defense.) The reason why pistols are only able to compete is the concealability. It's a hell of a lot easier to conceal my CZ pistol on my person instead of my AK rifle. Additionally, I can clear a pistol out of a jacket a lot faster than I can drive out a folding rifle. You'll see it in many crime events-
the first person to get shots on target is almost always the victor.
Additionally, just because you fatally shoot someone with a handgun doesn't mean they're out of the fight. The
Miami Dade shooting of 1986 is a solid example of this. Both suspects were shot center mass with multiple 9mm and .357 Magnum hollow points, but they were able to keep going for a good 3 or 4 minutes. One fed had a shotgun, but he only was able to get leg shots so the difference he made was negligible. There's also another lesson in there for everyone who says leg shots are best. There is no denying it does damage, but the question is: What difference does the damage you do make? Remember, you don't shoot to wound someone. You shoot because you need to stop a threat as quickly as possible.
Now, Miami Dade was a while a go. There is a more modern shootout that's also worth studying, and that is the infamous
shootout between Sergeant Timothy Gramins and a Chicago gangbanger. That is absolutely worth a read, but here the main takeaway from it: A gangbanger had to kill a cop for an initiation thing. Sgt. Gramins wound up being the unlucky bastard who crossed paths with that gangbanger. Perp took 14 shots center mass in fatal areas and an additional 3 shots to the face before Sgt. Gramins was able to score a headshot that sufficiently damaged his brain and stopped him. Perp was still showing vital signs when EMTs arrived on scene.
"But what about shot placement?"
Sgt. Gramins was not just a sniper- he was THE sniper of the Chicago PD. He trained marksman classes.
Anatomy reports show his shots hit lungs, heart, and other vital organs. There was even a moment in the gunfight where the suspect was hiding behind a car's engine block completely, so Sgt. Gramins shot underneath the car and RICOCHETED THE BULLETS UP INTO THE SUSPECT. To say that this man was a crack shot would be an understatement.
"He was probably on drugs or something."
Nope. Just like with Miami Dade, the suspects had no drugs or alcohol in their systems present during the time.
Toxicology reports were clean on all of them. They were just extremely motivated.
"But he's a cop, it's his job to go looking for trouble."
True, but irrelevant.
The point is that highly motivated individuals are difficult to stop with pistol caliber rounds. A highly motivated individual doesn't have to be a cop killer. It can be some rapist who wants to make you into his next victim or some mentally deranged wackadoo hell bent on abducting your child. You never know.
In fact, because police go looking for trouble they get prep time (can bring things like bulletproof vests, rifles, etc to the fight)
at least in theory. As a CCW, the attack happens out of ambush. Bad guy picks the terms of engagement and you're stuck on the defense. You probably won't have a full duty belt + battle rattle ready to go.
Back to the need to know:
People don't like being told this, but
handguns suck. The main difference between duty caliber handguns is ergonomics relative to the individual shooter. You must get proper, force on force training. If you want to find a good instructor near you, I hold
this list in high regard. Now, what sets a good instructor apart from sensei chad at your local McDojo? Any instructor worth their salt is going to start with aggressive physical contact from day one. That's the number one most important thing. (
This video here explains it nicely.) You need empty handed skills regardless if you carry a gun. Secondly is how you SHOULDN'T feel like a badass when you get done. Proper training isn't to make you feel better- proper training is to show you where you need to improve. Fight someone who knows their shit and will probably wipe the floor with you. That's how you learn, iron sharpens iron. Having the most complete skillset is always the best. You don't rise to the threat; you fall to the lowest level of training.
Oh and work out. That's an essential part. Don't need to be body builder, but aim to be in shape, Fighting is physically demanding, the more in shape you are the more you can deal with it. Watch
this video on a fitness trainer and firearms instructor breaking it down.
Handguns suck, these rounds suck a little less.
Speer Gold Dot
Hopefully you'll never have to shoot anyone but if you do, there needs to be an investigation and often times you go before a grand jury. Using the same ammo that's standard issue to law enforcement is a good court defense. There are always two fights when you use your gun: the one for your life and the one for your freedom. While there are different weights and pressures of the ammo, until you are able to make the educated decisions for yourself just stick with the 124gr +P ammo. (That +P is important for ammo designation but if you can only find regular 124gr that's fine. Just don't get the 115gr stuff.)
Note: If you're in Texas like I am then check out
Texas Law Shield. You pay a low cost monthly fee with them, if you ever find yourself in a situation where you have to discharge your firearm they will immediately send someone out to represent you in court of law. You can have basic coverage, out of state coverage, and/or expert witness defense. They also will get you discounts on ranges and your CHL if you have membership with them.
USCCA is also a good one to have.
You'd be surprised how many people lack things like legal coverage, first aid kits, and more essentials in their basic self defense plans.
Federal HST
Otherwise known as freedom flowers, these hollow points are instantly recognizable. They are a known quantity and favored by many feds and ex-mil individuals. Patterns nicely and expands nicely even though heavy clothing. Like Gold Dot, this is also law enforcement ammo which helps it be looked at with a less jaundice eye in court. This round doesn't do as well when it comes to shooting through barriers, but most people won't be shooting through any barrier aside from heavy clothing. The 147gr standard pressure load expands nicely out of any barrel length and there is surprisingly little felt recoil, though it can be elusive. The 124gr stuff will do you fine if you can't find the 147gr. I've not had much experience with the +P loadings, but from what I've seen the difference they make is negligible and most new shooters handle standard pressure loads better. Just don't get the 150gr Micro-HST, that's less than stellar stuff.
Obligatory Q&A:
What's the difference between HST and Hydra-Shok?
This is an important distinction for newbs since these are both very similar rounds that Federal makes and LEOs love. Basically, the Hydra-Shok was the popular round when it originally came out. It has since been eclipsed by the HST, which is a more well made bullet that's more consistent in its performance. The Hydra-Shok is still loaded in modern day revolvers, though my experience with those is limited. (When it comes to revolvers, I shoot wadcutters for both practice and self defense.) It's also important to remember that a lot of older JHPs were loaded with full size guns in mind without considering a compact or subcompact handgun. With more new gun owners than ever before, some companies have taken efforts to rectify this. A perfect example is the HST, as Federal is a very reputable company. Speer Gold Dot also did something similar, as did Hornady. I'll get into Hornady's ammo soon.
"My state restricts the sale of online ammo, what should I get instead of Gold Dot or HST?"
Some states restrict online ammo (fucking commies) so depending on where you live you may have to shop local ammo stores. Here's some good defensive loads you can find locally pretty much anywhere:
Barnes TAC-XP
I feel obligated to include this. While I myself do not like the Barnes all copper hollow points, they are still viable options across multiple calibers like the Gold Dot and HST are. They also have lighter recoil which newbies love. No shame in that, again the lighter bullets on target beat heavier bullets in the dirt. You'll also see Corbon DPX, which is the same thing. Tomato, tomahto. There are many people who load the all copper hollow points in fact, so much so that I couldn't begin to list them all. Fortunately, LuckyGunner covered many types in their ballistics testing.
I will note however: This is only for semi-auto Barnes bullets. As far as revolvers, the Federal Barnes Expander is a fantastic round in .357 Magnum, .41 Magnum, and .44 Magnum. Those penetrate deep and blow up nice and big regardless of barrel length.
Hornady Critical Duty
You probably immediately noticed the red tip inside the hollow point. That is a polymer insert, upon impact it flexes out and pushes the soft lead. It also stops the hollow point from potentially being clogged up by clothing. This also works to the bullet's advantage in snub nose revolvers, that polymer insert helps it expand since it isn't getting much velocity.
Okay but what are the downsides? For starters, in shorter barrels it will penetrate a lot more. This usually isn't a big deal though, as mentioned above. (Longer barrel means more velocity, which for pistol ammo means faster expansion. In a short barrel, the hollow point expands more slowly and actually penetrates more.) Another downside is that the Critical Duty does not expand as widely as the other hollow points on this list. I find that difference to be negligible however.
Hornady XTP
Definitely one of the oldest premium defense bullets out there, XTP is originally what put Hornady on the map for duty/defense oriented shooting. Hornady now offers the XTP in a modern load called the American Gunner. These rounds are renowned for their ability to penetrate deep and expand nicely. While the XTP is being loaded by others nowadays (shameless plug: my favorite is Wilson Combat's load of Hornady XTP, they also load the Gold Dot and Barnes TAC-XP) those usually have to be ordered online. I do love those, but if you can't get online ammo where you live I can guarantee you will find Hornady XTP or Critical Duty on the shelves of your local store.
Important Note:
Be prepared for the backlash in court. Here is an example: If you ask me, the best hollow point ever made is the
Winchester Black Talon ammo. It expands like clockwork. As covered by Dr Gary Roberts, Black Talon ammo is the handgun round most disruptive to tissue across multiple calibers next to wadcutters. It was loaded in a variety commercially available calibers. However, there are a few drawbacks. The obvious one being that it's been discontinued. That makes any stuff still out there expensive and difficult to find. The deeper one is the reason why Black Talon ammo was discontinued... The round was responsible for a lot of controversy and the nail in the coffin was the ammo being used in a 1993 shooting. The unforeseen PR disaster caused Winchester to discontinue the round. Being that it was a PR disaster, that will most certainly be used against you in court.
Niche calibers
I'm aware that a lot of stuff can be niche. This is for the duty calibers that aren't as wide spread but still viable, commercially available options.
10mm
I love 10mm. It's my favorite pistol caliber and one of my favorite cartridges of all time. This was originally the FBI's caliber of choice, actually. (Some of the shooters were complaining about the kick so it got monkeyed down to .40 S&W.) The idea was the 10mm is an inbetween for 9mm and .45 ACP, but what they found was it's all the same. The FBI has since switched from .40 S&W back down to 9mm because literally anyone can handle a 9mm.
So where does this leave the 10mm? It's a solid caliber (and any 10mm pistol will feed .40 S&W). It can defeat light barriers easily, the recoil is a lot more consistent than .40 S&W even if 10 kicks more. You can train yourself to go between .45 and 10mm a lot easier than you can go between .45 and .40 S&W. But the real reason I love this is if you can find a hollow point that isn't a neutered load, there is no substitute. Like I said earlier, there is no ballistic difference between the duty calibers. However, the increased velocity of a properly loaded 10mm or 357 Sig will help the hollow point reliably perform. I'll get into the more commercially available carry ammo list, but the brands I trust for 10mm defense ammo are Underwood, Wilson Combat, and Doubletap.
Skip this next part if you aren't looking for 10mm carry ammo
Full power:
180gr Doubletap* Gold Dot
180gr Underwood Gold Dot
155gr Buffalo Barnes TAC-XP
165gr Underwood Gold Dot (my favorite after the 200gr Black Talon)
155gr Underwood Gold Dot
165gr Doubletap* Bonded Defense JHP
200gr Doubletap* Controlled Expansion JHP
150gr Wilson Combat Nosler JHP
180gr Doubletap* Nosler JHP
In-between loads (medium power at shorter barrels, full power at longer barrels):
180gr Wilson Combat XTP
155gr Wilson Combat XTP
140gr Wilson Combat Barnes TAC-XP
180gr Underwood Nosler JHP
150gr Doubletap* Barnes TAC-XP
Medium Power:
180gr Hornady XTP
155gr Hornady XTP
175gr Winchester Silver Tip
Low Power**:
175gr Hornady Critical Duty
200gr Hornady XTP
*Doubletap ammo is made for Glock barrels so you'll have a slight decrease in velocity with other barrels
**Low power doesn't mean unreliable, this list is made of hollow points that reliably perform as per FBI ballistics test standards. Low power means less recoil and less energy transfer into the target.
Note: That chart is damn near spot on but it only goes down to 135gr. Anything under that is uncharted waters. My estimate for such loads are they will have much greater energy transfer at the compromise of significant penetration. This means less than the FBI 12" minimum penetration. I've seen other lightweight loads, like the 135gr Underwood Nosler, behave the same.
My recommendation is to stick to bullet weights between 150gr and 180gr when it comes to 10mm.
I've had the best experiences with 165gr 10mm rounds, I want to say it's the magic number for this caliber but not everyone loads the same velocities. Furthermore, the advertised velocity on nearly every box of ammo is fudged a bit. Wilson Combat and Doubletap are nice because they tell you the barrel length they used when testing velocity, of which I took the shorter barrel's measurements to better represent what most people are going to be carrying. Most of the above list involved me manually looking at YouTube videos where shots were chronographed in live action and adding the velocities together into a rolling average. (The things I do for you.) On ones where I could find none or very little to go on, I simply subtracted 100fps off the box's advertised velocity and added that into the rolling average of whatever I could find on the ammo being chronographed in real time. This was mostly for less common bullet types like the Nosler that I had to do this for. Gold Dot, XTP, and Barnes TAC-XP are usually safe bets if you find them loaded properly. There is no HST in 10mm, which is a shame.
.357 Sig
This caliber is an attempt at putting the .357 Magnum into a pistol cartridge by Sig and Federal. The bullet actually has the same diameter as a 9mm (.355) but is flying significantly faster. This round was explained in detail, both its strengths and weaknesses, by one Tom McHale. You can find the article here.
Much like the 10mm, the .357 Sig has lots of potential out of a pistol carbine. Both of them kick a good bit more than a 9mm, so if you can't handle it there's nothing wrong with that. There are other calibers with similar performance, such as .38 Super, 7.62x25mm Tokarev, and 9x25 Dillon. However, they are not as readily available as 357 Sig and there aren't as many guns in their caliber. What namely sets the 357 Sig apart is you can drop a 357 Sig barrel into any .40 S&W pistol and run it just fine. Most .40 S&W magazines will run 357 Sig ammo and vice versa. It's easier to train yourself to go between 9mm and 357 Sig than it is to go between 9mm and .40 S&W. Conversely, you can train yourself between .45 ACP and 10mm a lot easier than .45 ACP and .40 S&W.
I have carried 357 Sig for a bit and out of my personal experiences, the experiences of others (taken with a grain of salt, of course), and the data I've read... These are the pros and cons from my point of view:
Pros: 357 Sig is very cost effective firearm wise. You can buy a police trade in .40 S&W pistol for cheap, swap out the barrel, and have your gun. (I did that with my P226). Additionally, it's much easier to train yourself to go between 9mm and 357 Sig than it is to go between 9mm and .40 S&W. The increased velocity of the 357 Sig helps the hollow points more reliably expand and makes it a much more flat shooting caliber than 9mm, .40 S&W, or .45 ACP.
357 Sig is standard issue for many highway patrols and Secret Service. It goes in a really straight line through barriers like auto glass and car doors. This is also why many highway patrol here in Texas favor it. (Yes, car doors are not bulletproof like how Hollywood thinks. Make sure you understand Cover vs Concealment.)
Cons: Ammo cost itself is going to be a bit higher and you usually have to order online to get any of the premium hyperammunition. Because the caliber is necked down, it has a much higher PSI. What this means is if you convert a .40 S&W over you want a reputable make that's going to live up to SAAMI specs (Glock, Sig, CZ, etc). Because the 357 Sig is flying at a much higher velocity, which pistol calibers aren't really made for, you have to be more selective in your ammo choice. See below for more on that.
For 357 Sig, anything under 125gr don't perform reliably or consistently (except for Barnes all copper hollow points). Speer Gold Dot is very common among the law enforcement here in Texas, though the Secret Service likes their Gold Dot 357 Sig as well. I also recommend
Federal HST, Critical Duty, and
Winchester PDX1. Underwood loads the Gold Dot as well which is certainly viable, as the Speer Gold Dot can be elusive.
As far as the ammo I can find on local store shelves, the one I see everywhere is Sig V-Crown. This ammo has issues expanding through heavy clothing, so it's not ideal but certainly better than full metal jacket and many hollow point loadings. I've always seen it as budget HST ammo, due to its low cost and easy availability. But still, you can get a 50 round brick of HST or Gold Dot for $30 a pop, so you should go with that if all possible. If you can't order online, you can usually find a dealer in your area who can provide you with
Federal white box ammo, which is lower cost and still effective. I love Federal white box OTM for rifles.
.380 ACP
I do not recommend a .380 for self defense for most scenarios. 9mm performs better and is more common. Furthermore, a lot of .380 guns don't hold much ammo and the ammo selection is a lot more difficult. Either the ammo doesn't penetrate enough, doesn't expand properly, or won't feed reliably through your gun. That being said, some people still gravitate towards them due to very low recoil and them being generally inexpensive firearms. Many first time shooters will pick up a .380, and you can do a lot worse for a first gun. If you're low income, .380 is certainly a good option to go for.
There are three main loads which I recommend should you go with a .380 ACP. They are: the Hornady Critical Defense, Speer Gold Dot, and various loadings of the XTP. I trust Wilson Combat a lot, they are a venerated brand who have modernized like Federal and Hornady have. Precision One XTP ammo is also good. These rounds usually penetrate 11-14" of ballistics gel and with rare exception they expand fully. Those rare exceptions include a few losing their jacket. Critical Defense is a very consistent load for .380 ACP and can be found on the shelves of most local stores. So if your gun will reliably feed them, that's the top choice in my opinion. That video linked to the Hornady Critical Defense, that is on hyperammunition in .380 and is worth watching.
The .380 pistols I like the most are the EAA Witness Pavona (though the 9mm version is what I'd recommend instead), a Glock, and the CZ 83. There are similar designs in the Makarov pistol. Makarovs are simple, inexpensive, and reliable which is a plus for low income individuals. Personally I get some nasty hammer bite from Makarovs with the exception of the CZ 82. Of the 9x18 Makarov ammo, I recommend the Critical Defense again and the nameless JHP that Buffalo Bore loads.
This combination of expansion and penetration is a hell of a lot better than you'll see in most .380 hollow points.
.38 Special
Like with .380 ACP, I do not recommend .38 Spl. I recommend a duty caliber instead. Also like with .380 ACP, this is a viable option for people on a tight budget and it's easier for old folks to operate a revolver as opposed to a semi-auto handgun. Keep in mind, these calibers are acceptable but not optimal. You want a duty caliber if you can at all get it.
As for carry ammo, the Speer Gold Dot short barrel load is fantastic in many different guns. There's also the Hornady Critical Defense, that polymer insert helps it expand even out of a snub nose revolver which isn't generating much velocity.
There are also wadcutters. There's TWC (target wadcutter) and SWC (semiwadcutter) that you'll most likely be using for self defense. I recommend Keith SWC above all others. Of the brands out there, I swear up and down by Buffalo Bore's wadcutters. Wadcutters are had cast lead, but with the flat, blunt profile of the bullet it has sharp edges that cuts holes nicely. The downside is that most revolvers have fixed sights, modern revolvers will be sighted for modern hollow point ammunition. As a result, you'll likely have a shift in point of aim/point of impact.
A note for people who are low income: You can get a lot of out
dry fire practice and
private one-on-one instruction.
Having a goal is important, you want something reasonable you can work towards. Most training drills are meant for lowest common denominator to pass as well, which is why proper force on force is so important. While the drills are acceptable but not optimal, the force on force is how you really improve. Iron sharpens iron.
Never owned a gun before?
Don't get bogged down in minutia when buying your first piece.The two guns I recommend above all else as first pistols are the
Glock 19 and the
CZ P-07 Duty. Glock and CZ both are good values for the price point and have lots of aftermarket options. What are aftermarket options? They are things like holsters, spare parts, spare magazines, cleaning kits, your basic laundry list of other things you'll need. Just get a Glock or CZ pistol that you're comfortable on and train on that until you build proper shooting habits. Skills over stuff.
Also check
this video taking a holistic look at Glock pros and cons.
That being said, you want to try many guns. For example: I can barely hit anything on Glock and FN pistols, they feel like cheese graters to me. On a
CZ-75 or
Walther PPQ, I'm a surgeon. Firearms are subjective, everyone varies a little in what they're comfortable with. The only stipulation I have is it should be able to reliably send lead downrange. (Like I said earlier, being able to reliably get hits on target is the most important part of the equation.) A properly trained individual should be able to adjust to any quality firearm well enough to reliably neutralize the threat.
Now, you need a holster as well.
This video is a good example of what you need out of a holster. I'll go into what I recommend, too.
Your carry gun and body type will dictate the best holster to use. There are three main brands I recommend regardless of which one you go for (hip holster, appendix, cross draw, etc). I swear up and down by
ALS holsters. They are apart of
Safariland holsters which are particularly useful if you have to open carry while on duty. Their retention holsters are fantastic for that, I recommend them to any member of law enforcement or security guard personnel. There's also
Contact Concealment which are good makes and good prices even if the website has an bad design. Contact Concealment is my favorite comfort wise, but they do have a long waiting time. I also have a couple leather holsters, which are also fine for CCWs. For law enforcement, however, kydex only. LEOs often have to reholster, because they have compulsions that go beyond simply neutralizing a threat.
While I'm not a Glock person,
the Vanguard is certainly an option you may want to look into especially with a striker fire pistol. Combine that with a belly band and you have a solid carry option for women. I would also highly recommend
Marchelle Tigner, who I've met at a gun movement to help inner city youths learn firearm safety. Like me, Michelle Tigner is a survivor of domestic abuse. She specializes in teaching women their 2nd Amendment rights and is very empathetic towards victims of sexual assault and domestic assault. (Also if you have a twitter, some women you can talk to about female carry options are
this person here,
this person here, and
this person here.)
My big no no is shoulder holsters. Doesn't matter how cool they look or how cozy they feel, they are a bad idea. It's difficult to draw from a shoulder holster when the balloon goes up. Also, avoid purse carry unless you have no other option. On top of the firearm not being secure on your person, things like makeup, hand cream, and such can clog up your gun. Also, avoid those retched
Serpa holsters. ALS and Contact Concealment are around the same price as the Serpa Blackhawk and better in every way.
Other aftermarket gear you'll want inlcude:
-A proper belt (
5.11 is a good brand for this if you can afford them)
-A tac-light
-A red dot sight or optic
-A sling
-A suppressor/silencer/can/whatever you want to call it
And get those in that order.
More rambling about products:
You don't need white light very often, but when you do you absolutely need white light. A tac-light is also very good for home defense at night, you can use it to identify people in the low light (it may not be intruder, could be your kid coming home drunk or the neighbor's grandma with Alzheimers). I personally would recommend a
TLR-4, which has both LED light and laser sight. The
TLR-1 is just the light with no laser, but both are great products and priced very fairly. This also requires training to utilize properly, however. For example: You don't leave the light on when you do things because that will draw fire or other unnecessary attention. Also, you don't want to clear your house during a home invasion- you wait for them to come to you where you can get the drop on them.
Slings are very nice for long guns, you can easily drop your gun to do something with both hands then grab it again without fumbling. The ones I recommend are the
BDS Tactical single point sling or the
Vikings Tactics 2 point sling. Lastly, an optic is worth looking into. It can help with your sight picture, acquiring targets, and shooting in low visibility. I wish I could offer more, but I'm not an optics guy so you'll have to find that information elsewhere (such as the sources I list at the bottom). As far as brands go, I'm a huge fan of
FAB Defense myself. You can't really go wrong with anything made by
Magpul or
Geissele either.
As far as suppressors go, they are necessary safety devices. Standing next to a jet engine is quieter than listening to most types of gunfire. Hearing damage is permanent, cumulative, and irreversible. Even if you have hearing protection on, what about your family or friends in the house? Your pets? Your neighbors? Gunshots don't discriminate. There are many many questions on suppressors. So for Suppressors 101, Tim of MAC (Military Arms Channel) is a suppressor aficionado and
made this video here for you.
I know these options are overwhelming, a good fallback is to use what your local police use (as long as it's good stuff). Literally everything you do will be used against you in court of law, either out of malicious intent or simply being ill informed. While people do bring their experience and expertise, they also bring their biases. You and I know that just because a gun is scarier looking that doesn't make it deadlier, but does the judge and jury? If they've never fired a gun before, how will they see your AR-15 as a practical rifle and not a school shooting waiting to happen? This is particularly true for those who live in more anti-gun states. Or even worse, they take news outlets and dipshits like Michael Moore seriously. Avoid going all MOLON LABE edgelord. None of this will make or break a court case, but the verdict is often a combination of many variables so why hinder yourself? It's like why you wear a suit instead of plain clothes to a court case. For people who are of older age, I'd also recommend a gun with wooden furniture on it. It will appear more like some old man/woman defending their own instead of some Charlie Bronson wannabe.
Expanding more on the above issue: I don't go to police for gun advice normally. In my experience, police are among the worst gun owners. Some learn as much as they can, but most carry simply because it's part of the job description. Even asking around in the same department will yield a bunch of contradicting responses. As I've said earlier, there isn't a lot of reliable information that's readily available to the public.
Back to the important stuff:
"I live in a more anti-gun state, so a lot of this is useless to me. What should I do?"
.45 ACP
This is one of the rare instances where .45 ACP is a more viable option than 9mm. Some people preach "if you have to carry less, carry bigger" but as I and many others explained in the links I included, this is a moot argument. The main reason I recommend .45 ACP pistol is so you can train yourself to being used to lower capacity. Not to mention with a 9mm handgun, if you move you'll have to re-buy magazines.
As for .45 ACP ammo, the
230gr Speer Gold Dot is a fantastic load. So is
230gr HST in standard or +P. The
220gr +P Critical Duty is also a fantastic .45 ACP load. An important thing to note about .45 ACP hollow points is that many times +P loads can be just as good as standard pressure. See, a hollow point must fly within a certain velocity. Too fast, it will break apart (which is great for a rifle but bad for a pistol). Too slow, it won't expand properly. This is what's called "expansion threshold". For many .45 ACP hollow points, they are loaded just barely above expansion threshold. Thus, a +P round is a very viable option to help the hollow point expand, particularly if you have to take a shot out at distance.
Check this video about standard pressure vs +P
.357 Magnum
Another very viable option is a wheel gun, otherwise known as a revolver. There are some advantages they inherently have over semi-auto pistols, the largest one being their simplicity and reliability. The trade off comes with ammo capacity and follow up shots.
However, wheel guns excel in states with magazine capacity bans because they almost universally circumvent it. For a short barrel revolver, I'd generally recommend Hornady Critical Duty or Critical Defense because the ballistic tip helps the round expand since short barrels don't generate good velocity. That's on the shelves of many stores. However, if you can get online ammo, Federal Barnes Expander is the best defensive ammo for .357 Magnum bar none. It does well in any configuration.
You can also shoot wadcutters, which aren't hollow points, for self defense. They're
quite disruptive to tissue, believe it or not. They also bypass hollow point restrictions which should come as a welcome relief for New Jersey people.
Check
LuckyGunner's ballistic testing on .38 Spl and .357 Magnum. LuckyGunner also ran a special article highlighting
Wadcutters for self defense.
A good person to talk to about dealing with laws in anti-gun states is
this guy on Twitter (who also runs a firearms blog which can be found
here).
"What about cleaning my gun?"
Excellent question! Guns have lots of moving parts, as well as the resins from burning gunpowder sticking to things. (In fact, the resins stick to a lot including your hair, clothes, and skin. If someone has fired a gun in the last 24 hours, you can actually smell it on them.) Proper cleaning of guns is very necessary, though the frequency you clean them and what you use can be a subject of debate.
While there are many videos out there on YouTube about how to clean your guns (
like this one) you don't need to scrub your gun super thorough after every range session. Over zealously cleaning your firearm can do more harm than good. I only occasionally scrub my guns like you see in the video linked, I usually just hit the moving parts with some
CLP or lubricant and clean out the inside of the barrel. The lubricant I use is
Battleborn grease, which says grease in the name but it's more like a gel. It's insane how much abuse you can put through your gun and still have the Battleborn on there afterwards.
Aside from CLP and Battleborn grease, you probably want to get some
Strike Hold and
Hoppe's No. 9 solvent for those times you do scrub your gun. I personally only scrub it right after taking it out of the box, then once every 6 months because like I said: the CLP and Battleborn Grease last me a good while. Haven't had malfunctions yet.
If you're working class like I am, cutting up old t shirts will substitute for special swabs or what have you when cleaning your gun. I've seen people clean their guns by yanking a shoelace covered in solvent through the barrel (not that I'd recommend it, but you use what you got).
Cutaway of a Glock 17 and SilencerCo Osprey suppressor
What I would personally avoid:
.40 S&W (a.k.a. Short & Weak)
10mm was the original design before it got monkeyed down into the .40 S&W. The idea was that .40 was an inbetween taking the best of both 9mm and .45 ACP. That method of thinking has proven to be outdated with the huge step in ballistics research. Get a 9mm pistol instead- last longer than .40 S&W pistols do, hold more rounds, and ammo is cheaper and easier to access. Plus, literally anyone can shoot 9mm and there is a 9mm pistol out there for everyone.
This doesn't mean .40 S&W is out of the equation entirely though. As much as I loathe the caliber, if you are on a tight budget a police trade in .40 S&W is a viable choice. Certainly better than any Hi-Point crap you'll find. Police trade in weapons, often found at pawn shops or Aimsurplus, are rarely ever fired. They usually sit in a patrol car, unused. The insides are often in pristine condition. Police surplus pistols often have lots of holster wear but low round count. There's certainly no shame in crawling pawn shops or Armslist for deals, especially if you're a working class joe like me.
If you have to use .40 there is certainly nothing wrong with that. If that's all you can get, own it. For the ammo, I'd recommend Federal HST or Speer Gold Dot in either 155gr or 180gr. Additionally, the 180gr Hornady American Gunner looks promising. Once you develop good shooting habits you don't need to upgrade to an entirely new firearm. You can just drop a 357 Sig barrel into your .40 pistol and run that. It's a very cost effective firearm.
Check this video from IraqVeteren8888 on how to shop for a used gun (Note: IraqVeteren8888 has some good reviews on guns and good advice for gun store etiquette, but they are not experts on duty/defense oriented shooting. In fact, they make some real headass comments on it such as them recommending a .22lr rifle for home defense. There is also a lesson here in that everyone has something good to teach and everyone has some crap to teach. It's one of the reasons I'm huge into the buffet style of training. Don't just settle for one thing, take something from everything.)
.32 ACP
I wouldn't recommend anything smaller than a .380 ACP for self defense. In fact, the smallest I'd recommend is a 9mm. It is a duty caliber and the most commercially available ammo on the market. Additionally, .32 tends to have issues with both penetration and expansion.
Remington ammo
I dislike most Remington ammo (except their shotgun shells). It's cheap, sure. That's the thing though- it's cheap for a reason. Remington is notorious for having a massive drop in quality control and the new guns they've been putting out are disappointing at best. Look at the Golden Saber, above. Jacket separation is a common problem with it and just look at the inconsistency of the expanded bullets. Furthermore, all the Remington ammo I've fired in semi-autos have been filthy and prone to inducing malfunctions. Things like bad primers, poorly seated bullets, low quality powder, and more are common problems with the ammo. I'm never touching anything with Remington's name on it again.
And this is the stuff to definitely stay away from!
G2 R.I.P. Ammo
People are going on and on about this stuff, it is new and popular and it looks absolutely badass. However, looking cool is about the only use this stuff has. Half the hollow point is used to create the entrance wound, and the trocars do very little residual damage. The target audience of this post are people who aren't super knowledgeable on firearms, so to better understand let's look at some ballistics gel.
The little edges that flowered out are called the trocars. You see those tiny tails behind the trocars? That's the residual damage- the wound left over from the projectile's trajectory. Notice how small and clean they all are? Now look at this ballistics gel of the Federal HST ammo.
See how messy it is? That is what a hollow point's cavity is supposed to look like, big and wide. The goal is to cause tissue damage, like I mentioned earlier. I also want to point out that the Federal HST penetrated just about 14 inches of ballistics gel. Unlike the previous gel shots, where I pulled them from third party testing who have no biases, I pulled these gel pictures from the websites of the people who make them. I didn't see anything on the R.I.P. Ammo website about how far the base projectile penetrated. I tried following the Learn More link, but was redirected to the page of all their ammo and claims of penetration. Not measurements of penetration next to ballistics gel results. If you go to Federal's website, it's right there when you click the picture. Federal also specified a number of other variables involved, the only thing they added was the dye so you can easier see the wound cavity. You can tell me "Oh you didn't look thoroughly through the R.I.P. Ammo website" but that's not the point. The fact that the people who made R.I.P. Ammo aren't immediately upfront with the performance of the round in FBI ballistics testing is a red flag.
All accounts indicate that R.I.P. Ammo will *look* bad, but it won't be. It may induce what is called a psychological stop, which means the bad guy gets scared and gives up. However, most people will run away when you pull a gun on them. If you truly need to shoot someone, they probably aren't in a clear state of mind (drugs, alcohol, mental health issues, etc) or are extremely motivated. Steer very clear of R.I.P. Ammo and its counterpart, the Liberty Defense ammo.
TL;DR? This is snowflake ammo. It's different for the express purpose of being different. Avoid it all costs.
Also watch ShootingTheBull410's 3 part video series on why R.I.P. Ammo is shit
1 - Matching the R.I.P. Ammo's performance with .22lr
2 - Contrasting the R.I.P. Ammo to premium hollow points
3 - Showing that the R.I.P. Ammo isn't a good general purpose round
Lehigh Maximum Expansion
Lehigh Maximum Expansion doesn't have the velocity or known quantity the Federal HST or Barnes TAC-XP does. This lower velocity means less likely to reliably incapacitate. Plus, I just don't trust lead free hollow points for defensive pistol usage. Human bodies are densely packed with muscles, bones, and organs. This is why I prefer the heavier lead bullets. I've only ever used lead free hollow points for the occasional time I've gone hunting because I plan to eat what I shoot.
Lehigh Xtreme Penetrator
The Xtreme Penetrator, as the name implies, is meant to penetrate through things very deeply. The fluted edges of the Xtreme Defender, a similar bullet, don't have a lot of data on them. While this round was originally designed for .380 ACP, I don't trust it or any full metal jacket round. The people who recommend full metal jacket for self defense are people who have never shot someone in their life. (Plus if you want a massive amount of penetration and tissue disuption, just shoot wadcutters out of a revolver. You'll do much better using a .38 Spl loaded with Buffalo Bore wadcutters.) Lehigh does necessary R&D and I appreciate that. However, the fault lies in their marketing. They drum up hype to sell their ammo which can lead to newbs being misinformed. There is a third ammo type out now called Xtreme Cavitator. I can see viable use for any 3 of these in a place where you can't have hollow points like New Jersey, but at that point why not go with a wadcutter or hard cast flat nose? Lehigh ammo is unnecessarily expensive. Avoid Lehigh and stick with the tried and true: Federal, Hornady, Gold Dot.
Anything hard cast or handloaded
Hard cast is meant to drop animals when out in the wilds. Like say a grizzly bear or feral hog charges you- These are what you magdump into it to get it to stop. These are not what you shoot people with. The logic "if it's meant for animals than it's not meant for people" is applicable in many situations and this is no exception. This also goes for most soft points as well- they are almost always hunting bullets, not self defense ammo. Handloaded rounds may perform well, but will be looked at with a jaundice eye in court. Again, though: If you find yourself in a more anti-gun state then hard cast flat nose may be your best bet. Keith Profile Wadcutters are also a good choice in this regard.
Note: If you want to better understand hard cast vs soft lead,
this Hickock45 video explains it nicely.
Same goes for mix and match- use the same ammo in your magazine. Know what you're shooting. Also, it's easier to get follow up shots on the same ammo than mixed loads. I get wanting to minimize collateral damage or maximizing effectiveness. However, you're better off with factory ammo and proper training. Like I've said: The ultimate stopping power isn't some wonder bullet- it's training with your weapon. Your ability to defend yourself shouldn't be determined by the gear you have. Owning a gun takes a lot of responsibility. Be prepared to spend the requisite money on the proper gear (holsters, cleaners, etc), be receptive to training, and have a plan of action.
Proper Conceal Carry Etiquette
"There's an etiquette to carrying a gun?" I've heard this more than once. The entire purpose of conceal carry is that nobody knows you are armed. If people know you have a gun, they can freak out or worse: you'll be the priority target in an attack. Armed robberies, muggings, etc happen out of ambush. This is what makes you a self defender. You are not attacking, you are defending.
The best way to carry unnoticed is to carry regularly. The more used you are to it, the more natural your actions become. This feeds into
Gray Man, which is a concept you want to practice when you carry. One of the biggest mistakes people make is wearing an NRA logo, something endorsing gun stuff, or something overly military/safari/tactical looking. These are a dead giveaway that you are armed. Having an NRA sticker on your car makes it a target for would be thieves because that tells them there is a gun inside. Those "trespassers will be shot, survivors will be shot again" signs outside your house will do the same. Criminals won't break in at night- they'll wait for you to go to work in the middle of the day then target your house for the guns they know are inside. It will also come around to bite you in the ass in court, because it's easier to stick you with a premeditated murder charge since you literally hung a sign up saying you'd shoot a survivor again just to be sure.
To better understand, here is a picture of my usual summer carry clothing.
In that picture, I have:
-A full size duty pistol
-A spare 17 round magazine
-2 combat knives
-A pocket knife
-A multitool
-A tourniquet
-My normal day to day objects such as phone, wallet, car keys, etc.
The attire is unnoticeable. There are no brands, the clothes are basic yet coordinated just enough to be normal, and most of all it looks nonthreatening. I look very ordinary to people, like I'm just some working class joe going about my business. That's exactly how I want it. I don't look like I'd be a big score to thieves and I don't look like a troublemaker to police and everyday people.
On that note, I'd recommend wearing something pink. Pink is seen as a nonthreatening color. Your race plays a role as well. Ex: Football (soccer) jerseys are nice for me because it's typical run of the mill Latino attire and it's baggy enough to conceal a lot. It's very normal here in Texas where Latinos are more prevalent than whites. Further up north or in the winter, a grandma sweater is a good choice for the same reason. It covers a lot of fine edges and looks nonthreatening, plus it can be worn by pretty much any race without being conspicuous. It goes without saying that if you're black, don't wear a hoodie while you're carrying.
Formal clothing is another thing to consider. A waistcoat and blazer jacket will cover most compact pistols and be acceptable almost anywhere. People react less dramatically and more compassionately towards people in formal clothes. There are many sociological experiments to back this up (such as
this one and
this one). Understanding how to utilize people's preconceived notions instead of getting screwed by them is not only a very useful skill in many situations, it can be very empowering for some.
To sum it all up...
-Cultivate a warrior mindset
-Invest in a competent, thorough then maintain skills with regular ongoing practice
-Acquire a durable and reliable weapon system with adequate supplies and training to maintain the firearm
-Purchase a consistent, robust performing duty load along with a similar practice load in sufficient enough quantities to maintain skill
-Then STOP worrying about the nuances of handgun ammunition and start focusing on training and tactics
As for ball ammo to practice with, I use Federal American Eagle and Fiocchi. Above all else, that's what I recommend. As for competent training, I am a big believer of
Krav Maga as a skillset. Especially the
IKMF, who go through every 6 months and check to see what works and what needs to be modified. You need to adapt to changing circumstances. For example: Today, multiple attackers is the norm. Hence why I say get high capacity magazines and learn things like the
Boarding House Rules. Seeking out competent training in both hand to hand and firearms is important, otherwise your defensive firearm
is just there to make you feel good.
Also learn first aid skills. Not everyone needs to be the tip of the spear but I firmly believe everyone is capable of bringing a skill to the table. First aid is applicable in many scenarios, not just on yourself but from others.
If you take nothing else from this, please heed this advice. I guarantee you will use your first aid kit more than your gun.
Good training will point out where you need to improve. There are 4 stages of competency: Unconscious Incompetency, Conscious Incompetency, Conscious Competency, Unconscious Competency. All the new people are at unconscious incompetency. Even if you know you need to practice, you don't know what exactly to practice. That is the purpose of training.
Hopefully you'll never have to shoot anyone. At the time I've made this blog post I've only ever had to draw
twice three times in my life (
once twice to defend myself, once to defend someone else). It's not fucking fun. I've never had to shoot anyone and I hope I never do, despite the fact that I'm acclimated to violence.
Additional Sources
Top 3 in my humble opinion:
Active Self Protection - Self defense instructor who breaks down real world events
Massad Ayoob - A firearms instructor who is an authority on both self defense and court cases
Lucky Gunner - The blog, plus their
ballistics testing, is straight to the point, no bullshit
More great sources:
Tactical Rifleman - Straight to the point, no bullshit lessons on more than just fighting. These guys are excellent sources who constantly strive to improve themselves.
MAC - Honest gun reviews from an FFL who's been in the business a while (he also has done a video on
my favorite gun of all time which is how I discovered him)
Colion Noir - He talks about subjects that need to be looked at. I personally don't like the NRA (I think they are spineless SOBs who haven't done anything for gun rights since Reagan) but Colion is a good source for new shooters and he has highlighted a few important things such as how gun control has always been rooted in racism and class warfare.
Black Guns Matter - a program that travels to high crime urban areas to provide FREE education on firearms safety and local gun laws (though they're about to wrap it all up)
Larry Correia - This guy is an author who has some very good writing advice on his blog. However, he was also an FFL dealing basic guns and things like machine guns and NFA items, and a Utah conceal carry firearms instructor, and he's trained police on active shooter scenarios, and he's trained SWAT officers in CQB, and the list of his credentials goes on and on. He is an authority on firearms and has written what is perhaps the most thorough piece on gun control I've ever seen. That article is linked, but he has written a lot of other good stuff as well.
Business and Bullets - Another fantastic blog on firearms, particularly hunting and outdoor life, but also lots of useful knowledge for new shooters.
EmpressTaryn (a.k.a. Tacticool_Taryn) - A competition shooter who can answer lots of questions about building and upgrading your firearms
Garand Thumb - Lots of good reviews on battle rattle and other gear for folks who carry a firearm professionally
Are you on social media?
I have some sources for you on various sites.
Twitter
This guy here is a Marine and was a Fed and Border Patrol (once a Marine, always a Marine). He also was a firearms instructor.
This guy here works in security and was in the military. He has a lot of resources and may have his own range soon, too.
This gal here was a customer at the gun shop I used to work at who I have a lot of respect for.
This guy here who, like the gal previously mentioned, is a good source to go to for civilian gun ownership and LGBT gun ownership.
Business and Bullets is also on Twitter
As is
EmpressTaryn
Those people know their shit and will give it to you straight. They are also more qualified to talk to you about firearms than I am, and their DMs are always open for you to talk to them.
I am also on Twitter, I keep getting banned but
this is my current account.
Instagram
MAC the Youtube Channel I mentioned also is active on instagram
Facebook
MAC aside from his YouTube and Instagram, he is also active on Facebook. He does read comments and respond a lot.
Active Self Protection is also on FaceBook
As is
Garand Thumb and
Marchelle Tigner
Charity Plug!
I'm backing a few charities in relation to this post.
First one is
Warrior's Heart, which helps veterans and first responders struggling with PTSD and addiction. I've seen a lot of despair in the world, lived in it for a long time and that was before going into EMS work. I know going into horrific scenarios wears on your soul. If you need help, there is no shame in taking steps to take care of yourself. The shame is in doing nothing until catastrophe happens.
Saving Grace which takes rescue dogs and trains them to be companions to veterans struggling with PTSD. Good for veterans and for dogs who are slated to get euthanized. Truly, man's best friend.
Black Rifle Coffee is not a charity but a portion of their profits goes to helping veterans, including the aforementioned Warrior's Heart. I'm not a regular coffee drinker, but I'm glad to give these guys my money.
