Thread: What defensive round do you carry?

Springfield EMP 1911 in 9 mm with R.I.P. ammo. Cary everywhere.

Thought I was going to have to use it the other day. Drove a friend home from helping his sister move pulled up his street and a man jumped in front of my truck and put his hands on my hood staring at me all weird like he was on drugs went to reach for a gun In his waistband an realized he didn't have it put his finger up for me to hold on and ran over to the trunk of his car so I drove off kinda freaked me out. Didn't know weather to shoot him or run him over at the time.

Originally Posted by prodigy

I'm surprised a 115 grain 9mm has more energy than 230 grain .45. Very surprised actually.

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corbon
9mm +P
JHP
115 gr
466 ftlbs
1350 fps

federal 45 acp
FMJ
230 gr
404 ftlbs
890 fps

And most of my 9mm have higher capacity. My xd45 has 13 +1 though so its close. There are hollowpoint and plus p 45's that will outperform the corbon 9mm of course though.

When I lived in South Carolina, I carried Black Talons in my Glock model 23. When at home it had Blue Dots for home defensive load. And if the Blue Dots didn't work, the Black Talons would be next. I miss that gun. It's sitting at my Mom's place in SC. (sigh)..... Canada won't allow me to bring it up here.....barrel too short........

I just picked up a box of Federal Guard Dog rounds for my 1911 carry .45
They look pretty interesting and are getting great reviews. They are expandable full metal jacket bullets that are scored on the inside and have a polymer insert. From what I've watched they expand consistently to about the size of a quarter. The polymer makes the bullet weigh in on the lighter side at 165g. Consequently they have a fairly high muzzle velocity, somewhere in the 1100fps range. I watched a test where they penetrated 4 layers of denim and about 12 1/2 inches of ballistic gel.
Any one else using them that might be able to comment on the good, bad and ugly?

Pete <:-}

• 9mm: Corbon, Hornady, or Federal HP's.
• .45ACP: Hornady 185, Speer Lawman 200 "Flying Ash Trays", or Black Talon
• .45LC: heavy Keith-style semi wadcutters, hard cast
• .357 Magnum: Corbon or Hornady (145gr.+ preferred). In brown bear country: BuffaloBore heavy loads or 158gr. fullmetal Flat points by RWS.

Originally Posted by petercp4e

I just picked up a box of Federal Guard Dog rounds for my 1911 carry .45
They look pretty interesting and are getting great reviews. They are expandable full metal jacket bullets that are scored on the inside and have a polymer insert. From what I've watched they expand consistently to about the size of a quarter. The polymer makes the bullet weigh in on the lighter side at 165g. Consequently they have a fairly high muzzle velocity, somewhere in the 1100fps range. I watched a test where they penetrated 4 layers of denim and about 12 1/2 inches of ballistic gel.
Any one else using them that might be able to comment on the good, bad and ugly?

Pete <:-}

If your happy with them , then I'm happy for you. I just can't get over the thought of a poly insert in my .45 caliber bullets. Maybe I'm locked into yesteryear.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

If your happy with them , then I'm happy for you. I just can't get over the thought of a poly insert in my .45 caliber bullets. Maybe I'm locked into yesteryear.

Those are a little strange. Usually the polymer insert is there to ensure that the round expands - something 'traditional' expanding rounds may not do if they hit heavy clothing first. But the Guard Dog rounds seem to scoop out a little more lead and stuff in a little more polymer.

I'm kinda w/ you Hirlau. I like a little more lead and a little less plastic. But, as with almost every round I've looked at I will say this - I'm not gonna volunteer to stand down range and catch one. So they'll probably get the job done.

Speaking of handgun ammo, I love the 'new' paradigm that rates 9mm as good, 'or better', than .40 S&W, or 45acp. Perhaps the fact that more can be carried in the magazine of the same size pistol. An illustration of performance, and the utility of large capacity mags is evident in this LEO incident in NYC circa 2010;

Fatal Bullet in Harlem Probably Fired by Police - The New York Times

Wound Expert Says NYPD's Firepower In Harlem Was Sufficient - News - POLICE Magazine

235 g of lead will do a lot more damage than 150, its simple, so if you need more rounds carry a 9, if you hit what you aim at a 45 will have all the firepower you need, Tc

I carry both depending on what I'm wearing and where I'm going. I feel confident with both.