[Che]

Best Ammo Brands for Plinking, Accuracy, & Self-Defense

Article Here

Some light reading and a Poll is included. Comments are always welcomed.

 

[LostinTexas]

Plinking-Blazer, or what ever I can get t the best price.
SD-Mostly run HST and bonded Golden Saber in 40, but my 9MM choice thanks to the Rona stampede has been Winchester Ranger LE. 147 grain, and doesn't please many of the on line reviewers, but passes the sniff test for the FBI protocols in all but penetration. 19 inch on average, so the "experts" want to throw it out. Seems to be the stuff nightmares are made of and passes barrier tests so it is a bit different than run of the mill.
124Gr Bonded Golden Saber has a place in my heart as well for the 9.
Speer used to be one of my faves for both calibers I use, but they messed the bed with the G2.

 

[Olga17]

Fiocchi for 9mm range ammo.
It is claimed to be a little hotter than some brands.

I can't be too picky during these times.
I still stay away from steel cased or that electroplated copper mess.

 

[3404speed]

Target, anything in 9mm, brass only in 223

Defense, Hornady Critical Defense, Speer Gold Dot Soft Point

 

[Old Bloke]

I'm using a lot of Sellier And Bellot .22 lr as well as their c/f brass ! I use ADI (Australian Defense Industry ) .223 Brass for work

 

[LostinTexas]

I'm using a lot of Sellier And Bellot .22 lr as well as their c/f brass ! I use ADI (Australian Defense Industry ) .223 Brass for work

ADI is good stuff. I loved the 69 grain 223 when we could get it. Haven't seen it in a while, and not sure any holds up to the old stuff we got.

 

[Greywood]

Underwood, SIG,Nolin,Black Hills,Hornaday

 

[SJ 40]

Federal HST orSpeer Gold Dot for self defense,any thing that comes off my press for plinking.

 

[Che]

... but my 9MM choice thanks to the Rona stampede has been Winchester Ranger LE. 147 grain, and doesn't please many of the on line reviewers, but passes the sniff test for the FBI protocols in all but penetration.

In 9mm I use the Winchester Ranger 147 JHP in my Glocks and my Browning High Power. Some LEOs I know have used it on bad guys with good results. It is one of the issued 9mm rounds the PD I retired from.

 

[Che]

Fiocchi for 9mm range ammo.
It is claimed to be a little hotter than some brands.

When Walmart was getting out of evil handgun ammunition business in 2019. My local Walmart had it for $9 a box and Tula for $7 as I recall. So I got a few cases for range use.

 

[SixG17s]

My own.....

 

[LostinTexas]

In 9mm I use the Winchester Ranger 147 JHP in my Glocks and my Browning High Power. Some LEOs I know have used it on bad guys with good results. It is one of the issued 9mm rounds the PD I retired from.

Online "Experts" don't always understand real world effectiveness. I threw that in just in case someone decided to look it up and got bombarded with not exactly good info. Most do a decent job, but some are rather opinionated on a subject they aren't quite to speed on. Not knocking most of their work, and some are much better than others, but I'll bet dollars to popcorn that not a single one has seen the real deal.
It makes things come together, even with limited exposure.

 

[pr5992]

I like my Sellier & Bellot FMJ 124 grain ammo for range practice, pick up 500 rounds maybe every two or three weeks for around $230 at the local FFL (SF Bay Area, everything is expensive here). Haven't had a single malfunction and I am a new shooter, so that gives me confidence. Once my shooting profiency increases and I get my CCW I'll add hollow point for carry ammunition. I don't reload, I don't have the equipment or space for equipment and I know my limitations. The guys at S&B have been doing this for 200 years, they probably know what they are doing.

 

[3404speed]

I like my Sellier & Bellot FMJ 124 grain ammo for range practice, pick up 500 rounds maybe every two or three weeks for around $230 at the local FFL (SF Bay Area, everything is expensive here). Haven't had a single malfunction and I am a new shooter, so that gives me confidence. Once my shooting profiency increases and I get my CCW I'll add hollow point for carry ammunition. I don't reload, I don't have the equipment or space for equipment and I know my limitations. The guys at S&B have been doing this for 200 years, they probably know what they are doing.

just make sure what ever defense round you decide to go with at least shoot 50 for function testing before you carry it

 

[SixG17s]

Make sure you plunk test them first.

 

[pr5992]

Make sure you plunk test them first.

Thanks, yeah I know. For home defense I don't need anything more than FMJ, without going into too much detail there is only one way to get into or out of my apartment and the backstop is a foot thick concrete shear wall designed to make the building earth quake proof. No worries about FMJ bullets overpenetrating and going through walls and possibly injuring neighbors.

For carry ... well this is Alameda county with a very very long waiting list so I am not holding my breath until I get the first interview. My FFL told me there's a lawsuit in the works against the Sherriff department alleging that they are dragging their heels despite Bruen. I'll wait and see what happens.

 

[3404speed]

Thanks, yeah I know. For home defense I don't need anything more than FMJ, without going into too much detail there is only one way to get into or out of my apartment and the backstop is a foot thick concrete shear wall designed to make the building earth quake proof. No worries about FMJ bullets overpenetrating and going through walls and possibly injuring neighbors.

For carry ... well this is Alameda county with a very very long waiting list so I am not holding my breath until I get the first interview. My FFL told me there's a lawsuit in the works against the Sherriff department alleging that they are dragging their heels despite Bruen. I'll wait and see what happens.

HP or the FTX bullet from hornady wont over penetrate any more than a FMJ so i dont understand your reasoning, i would carry the same round for CC as i would for home defense, with a HP you dont have to worry about over penetrating near as much as the FMJ as they are purposely designed to have maximum expansion upon entry and transfer the energy as quickly as possible. A FMJ is not better than a HP for a defensive round. A FMJ will go right through a person. The HP will do more damage and have a greater chance of stopping the threat.

 

[elk creek]

CCI/Speer made in Idaho. Plus you can’t beat a gold dot. Period 😂

 

[SJ 40]

HP or the FTX bullet from hornady wont over penetrate any more than a FMJ so i dont understand your reasoning, i would carry the same round for CC as i would for home defense, with a HP you dont have to worry about over penetrating near as much as the FMJ as they are purposely designed to have maximum expansion upon entry and transfer the energy as quickly as possible. A FMJ is not better than a HP for a defensive round. A FMJ will go right through a person. The HP will do more damage and have a greater chance of stopping the threat.

This !

 

[pr5992]

HP or the FTX bullet from hornady wont over penetrate any more than a FMJ so i dont understand your reasoning, i would carry the same round for CC as i would for home defense, with a HP you dont have to worry about over penetrating near as much as the FMJ as they are purposely designed to have maximum expansion upon entry and transfer the energy as quickly as possible. A FMJ is not better than a HP for a defensive round. A FMJ will go right through a person. The HP will do more damage and have a greater chance of stopping the threat.

The reasoning is money. Hollow point is much more expensive than FMJ, and I am not allowed to carry until I get a permit which could take at least another year because I am in Alameda county.