Preferred Defensive Loads?

[bradsteen]

What load (caliber & bullet type) do you prefer to carry in your EDC, and why?

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[Andy54Hawken]

230 Speer Gold Dot Hollow points , .45 ACP.
Why...'cause they load and shoot well with my Colt Series '70 Government Model.

That said....
230 FMJ works well with my pistol too...and I don't have an issue with using those loads as a defensive load.
I know this goes against what many others think , say and use.
However...
As I noted...it works well with my pistol...in addition to working well for my situation .
What others use , say or think...needs to work for them....not me.
Andy

 

[Alexx1401]

For any of my 9mm and above I have long used Speer Gold Dot. For the "mouse guns" I have long just used Ball ammo since in those I want as much penetration as I can get if I have to use a light round like that.

 

[oremike]

.357 Sig, 118gr Lehigh Extreme Defenders
IMHO best there is for my M&P Shield

 

[Old Dog]

Another Gold Dot fan here; in 9mm, the 124 gr +P JHPs are excellent, in .45 ACP, obviously the 230 JHPs. But I also use a lot of Federal HST, both the plus-P and non plus-P 124 gr and 147 gr in 9mm. Still have a case or two of the ol' Hydro-Shok 230 grainers laying around, too.

 

[Tinman357]

In 45acp - 230gn Gold Dot.

9mm - 124gn Gold Dot, HST, or Underwoods Extreme Defender( most common)

.380 - Underwoods Extreme Defender. Exclusively.

 

[ilikegunspdx]

What load (caliber & bullet type) do you prefer to carry in your EDC, and why?

For 9mm 147 or 124 grain HST, or Hornady Critical duty or critical defense (not the 100 grain light recoil stuff), or Speer gold dot. All are superb imo.

For .308 truck gun pistol I prefer the barrier blind federal tactical bonded tip.

 

[Joe13]

My g17 and 1911 eat anything that's I put in the mag so I don't worry to much about it.

I figure at this point the bullet technology is so advanced that a decently placed shot will do what I need it to.

Plus the odds of me needing it are slim with my personality, looks and where I go.

(Yea I'm that ugly )

 

[monkeybutler]

I've got a bunch of federal HST and a bunch of gold dot, all 9 mm 124gr,

 

[salmon creek gary]

Lehigh bullets are the bomb. During warm weather, I only load Underwood Xtreme Defender in my 9mm, .38, and .380 EDC handguns. In cold weather (when folks are likely to be wearing heavier clothing) I switch to Xtreme Penetrator. Year 'round, of course, I try really, really hard to live life in such a way that I'll never have to fire even one of those expensive bullets in self defense. Been 100% successful so far.

 

[Diamondback]

5" 1911 in .45ACP, still rocking leftover Gold Dots that were thankfully unneeded in my Line of Duty days two decades ago. Really need to get out to the range to rotate stock...

 

[Hotdog 7]

My preferred load depends on the gun. In my Glock 48, I like Federal HST 124gr. I don't do +p because I don't think the added recoil is worth the extra 100fps. In my Ruger LCP Max, I like the Underwood Xtreme Defender 68gr round. There's a lot of data supporting that it performs on-par with weaker 9mm loads in terms of performance. Finally, in my SW 442 I like to use (when I can find it) Speer Gold Dot 135gr - specifically the short barrel load. Its hard to get complete powder burn in the tiny 1.875" J-frame barrels so most rounds perform under their full potential, but Speer designed this round specifically for short barreled revolvers to maximize the performance.

At work I don't get a choice. Right now we get Winchester Ranger One 147gr 9mm. We used to carry .40 S&W as our duty round and they gave us Remington Golden Saber, I think 165gr?

I've never had to use these rounds on an actual threat, but I've shot a lot of them at the range (with Golden Saber I have upwards of 5k rounds fired) and they all seem to perform great.

 

[Pete F]

Just bought another 1000 Federal HST's LE. 124 Grain is my go to for 9mm. Tried HST in my Walther PPKs and they were a little high and to the left. I need to get out to the range to try them again - could be a grip problem since they are very snappy.

I bought some 230 grain Winchester 1911 HP. and FMJ. Other than being kind of gimmicky, seem to work well in both of my 1911s.

 

[orygun]

I like anything hollowpoint in my 1911. I have Black Talon in it now, but quite often have a handload with XTPs. I'd also carry FMJ if that's all I had.
My 357s usually have a 158gr jacketed soft point.
380? Usually FMJ.

 

[dangerranger60]

38 spl, from a 642 S&W. I shoot Federal Gold Medal 148gr Wad cutters. from this short barrel light weight gun HP bullets don't expand. the WC's shoot reliably to the sights, and penetrate deeply.
Out of a 4" barreled gun the HPs reliably expand and are a better choice. DR

 

[parallax]

Alternate ball ammo and hollow point every other round in magazine ( ball ammo to penetrate glass and hollow point for expansion on target ) P+ 9mm 124 grain

 

[kmfit49]

What load (caliber & bullet type) do you prefer to carry in your EDC, and why?

HST 147 grain Micro. Soft shooting round. American Gunner XTP bullet for tiny 380's.

 

[Darkmatter73]

Well I had critical defence loaded up. I took some to the range and each mag had at least one jam.
So now...not sure which way to go.

 

[plmkoo]

9mm (or similar like 380, 45acp around that ball park) gold dots or whatever flavor of the week the FBI is using

 

[Phred]

9 mm, 124 gr. Critical Defense. Mostly because it's usually available. However, I'm thinking of going to 147 gr. I just ordered some Federal Punch Personal Defense 124 gr., and some Sig Elite Defense V Crown to try.