My choice for defensive ammo.

[Old goat]

A lot of people recommend the Hornady Critical Defense ammunition for defensive carry.
I looked at a lot of reviews and ammo. tests and from what I saw the ones that consistently performed the best all around were the ones designated as XTP.
I personally like the way the American Gunner .380 slugs looked after the gel tests. They expanded but held together in one piece.
The XTPs performed better as far a penetration.
So I will be carrying the American Gunners in both of my LCP maxs.
As a bonus they are $10 cheaper a box than the Critical Defense but that wouldn't stop me from paying the $10 if I thought that the Critical Defense was any better.

 

[PRichardson87]

Just make sure you buy an extra couple boxes and run them through the gun before trusting your life to them. Welcome to the forum.

 

[Old goat]

Just make sure you buy an extra couple boxes and run them through the gun before trusting your life to them. Welcome to the forum.

Took both of my Maxs and the old original LCP to the range yesterday and ran a magazine full of XTPs in each gun.
No problems at all.
I bought a second Max in early December and sent the other one in and Ruger changed the barrel and slide.
It's shoots better now than when it was new.
May not ever need them but I bought a spare extractor and firing pin and the retaining pins.

 

[Mobuck]

In my testing of 9mm, the Hornady XTP has more penetration and less expansion than other types. Federal HST expands quicker. This is my choice for sub-sonic 9mm for that reason. In the short barrel 9mm, best expansion vs penetration is Norma MHP(?). It never fails to expand and often up to .5" frontal area.
How does this equate to .380? I'm not sure. I don't have much confidence in .380. Daughter carries one but I'm not sure what ammo she uses. Earlier testing (4-5 years ago) of several types of .380 ammo from a 3" pistol varied from unimpressive to dismal but possibly some improvements to ammo selection have been made over that time span.

 

[DGW1949]

RE: "May not ever need them but I bought a spare extractor and firing pin and the retaining pins.".....

....Sound thinking there.

DGW

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Federal HST expands quicker. This is my choice

Agreed....FED HST in 45ACP and 9MM is my choice. An improvement over the FED Hydra-Shok.

 

[Wvfarrier]

XTPs often will not expand at lower velocities while the HSTs tend to expand in a wide variety of speeds. That being said, with something like a 380, I would think the deepest penetrator may be the best option

 

[DGW1949]

Agreed....FED HST in 45ACP and 9MM is my choice. An improvement over the FED Hydra-Shok.

I agree that the various .36-Cal pistol rounds need all the help they can get, but the best part of carrying a .45 is that it putting a round into center mass provides a one-shot stop 80% of the time, and that's with 230-FMJ ammo...point being that not even the latest-greatest SD bullets are 100%, so even the worlds best hollow point ammo ain't going to do much better than the basic ammo that it was designed for to start with. Plus, consistent reliability counts for a lot too, eh?

DGW

 

[XUSNORDIE]

the latest-greatest SD bullets are 100%

I think there are a lot of gimmicky SD bullets out there. Carrying 45 (ACP to be clear for some ) I have no issue loading up with 230gr ball when the season calls for heavier clothing. I do like the reviews/results on the HST though and carry that 99% of the year when I have a 45 on.

 

[GunnyGene]

A lot of people recommend the Hornady Critical Defense ammunition for defensive carry.
I looked at a lot of reviews and ammo. tests and from what I saw the ones that consistently performed the best all around were the ones designated as XTP.
I personally like the way the American Gunner .380 slugs looked after the gel tests. They expanded but held together in one piece.
The XTPs performed better as far a penetration.
So I will be carrying the American Gunners in both of my LCP maxs.
As a bonus they are $10 cheaper a box than the Critical Defense but that wouldn't stop me from paying the $10 if I thought that the Critical Defense was any better.

.380. You recoil sensitive?

 

[ole442]

I've always used Speer Gold Dot in my 9mm and 45 ACP carry guns.

 

[Star43]

There are a lot of good SD rounds out there, but I agree that the old Speer Gold Dot in 9MM is a very good round. I have some of it.

 

[Wvfarrier]

I think there are a lot of gimmicky SD bullets out there. Carrying 45 (ACP to be clear for some ) I have no issue loading up with 230gr ball when the season calls for heavier clothing. I do like the reviews/results on the HST though and carry that 99% of the year when I have a 45 on.

The absolute best ALL PURPOSE 45 acp loading I have ever found is the Speer 200gr +p TMJ. It penetrates very deep and due to the flat point leaves a massive hole. And they are considerably cheaper than most boutique loadings. They also feed in every 45 acp I have tried them in including my HK45 which is super finicky.

As an aside, these penetrate as deeply and leave a wound cavity as large as the 155 grain xtp 10mm load from underwood ammo