He carried a G17, or G22, depending on what the County was issuing at the time.
Knowledge sharing: What’s Your 1911/2011 Self Defense Ammo? Why did you choose it?
What ammo do you use in your carry and home defense 1911/2011? What’s the logic for your choice(s)? If the ammunition drought made your chosen load unavailable, what substitutes did you select?
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For folks like us ammo selection takes several datapoints into account. I am curious to see if likeminded individuals have similar choices of ammunition for optimal performance in real life scenarios. I am hoping we can learn from each others experiences and thinking
Thinking for ammunition selection starts with the potential performance of each round, both penetration and expansion, in the context of highest probability class of scenarios; then picking the most accurate from that list in a given gun. I use the same ammo for carry and home defense with the exception of 10mm.
For 9mm across my 1911s and 2011s: my first choice is Federal HST 124gr, and second choice is Speer Gold Dot also in 124gr. I also use 147gr. HST, but not in my Atlas which loves 124gr. I backfill with SIG V-Crown 124gr. +P
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For .45 ACP in my Government 1911s: my first choice is Federal HST in 230gr., and second is Winchester Ranger T bonded, also in 230gr., Since I am short on HST, I backfill as 3rd choice with Speer Gold Dot 230gr. and Asym 185gr. +P Barnes TAC-XP JHP.
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For 10mm in my Government 1911s I use different loads for carry in urban areas and outdoors, which includes our more rural property (coyotes).
10mm urban first choice is SIG V-Crown 180gr., JHP and second is Underwood 180gr. bonded JHP at 1300 fps. One reason for selecting the SIG as #1 is their 180gr., FMJ which is loaded to simulate the V-Crown.
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10mm outdoors are full power loads, where first choice is Underwood 135gr. at 1600fps which is loud and snappy, and the second which resides in a backup magazine given the low probability of being used is the Underwood 220gr. Hard Cast at 1200 fps.
Seasonality also plays a part, given MN harsh winters, resulting in more layers of thicker clothing, my winter loads are mostly the same brand/bullet type but the heavier and slower moving and deeper penetrating rounds (e.g., HST 147gr. and Ranger-T 147gr. bonded); also more likely to carry my 10mm 1911 with what I described as urban loads.
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From Dr. Robert’s work published on AR15.com for self defense ammunition: see his work here /
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See URL for detailed caliber, penetration, barrier… Best Choices for Self Defense Ammo
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For folks like us ammo selection takes several datapoints into account. I am curious to see if likeminded individuals have similar choices of ammunition for optimal performance in real life scenarios. I am hoping we can learn from each others experiences and thinking
Thinking for ammunition selection starts with the potential performance of each round, both penetration and expansion, in the context of highest probability class of scenarios; then picking the most accurate from that list in a given gun. I use the same ammo for carry and home defense with the exception of 10mm.
For 9mm across my 1911s and 2011s: my first choice is Federal HST 124gr, and second choice is Speer Gold Dot also in 124gr. I also use 147gr. HST, but not in my Atlas which loves 124gr. I backfill with SIG V-Crown 124gr. +P
For .45 ACP in my Government 1911s: my first choice is Federal HST in 230gr., and second is Winchester Ranger T bonded, also in 230gr., Since I am short on HST, I backfill as 3rd choice with Speer Gold Dot 230gr. and Asym 185gr. +P Barnes TAC-XP JHP.
For 10mm in my Government 1911s I use different loads for carry in urban areas and outdoors, which includes our more rural property (coyotes).
10mm urban first choice is SIG V-Crown 180gr., JHP and second is Underwood 180gr. bonded JHP at 1300 fps. One reason for selecting the SIG as #1 is their 180gr., FMJ which is loaded to simulate the V-Crown.
10mm outdoors are full power loads, where first choice is Underwood 135gr. at 1600fps which is loud and snappy, and the second which resides in a backup magazine given the low probability of being used is the Underwood 220gr. Hard Cast at 1200 fps.
Seasonality also plays a part, given MN harsh winters, resulting in more layers of thicker clothing, my winter loads are mostly the same brand/bullet type but the heavier and slower moving and deeper penetrating rounds (e.g., HST 147gr. and Ranger-T 147gr. bonded); also more likely to carry my 10mm 1911 with what I described as urban loads.
From Dr. Robert’s work published on AR15.com for self defense ammunition: see his work here /
See URL for detailed caliber, penetration, barrier… Best Choices for Self Defense Ammo
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45ACP +P - Liberty Ammunition
libertyammo.com
This is the ammo I mentioned--I LOVE this +P Liberty ammo--it's really hot, functions perfectly and really reduces total carry weight. Big time reccomendation!
This and similar types of exotic ammo focuses only on energy, thus the very light and very fast projectile, ignoring penetration and expansion, both of which (and shot placement) are critical. At least if you accept the FBI’s view of what makes solid self defense ammunition based on actual shooting (prompted by the 1986 Miami shootout event https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1986_FBI_Miami_shootout ). That’s one reason why folks prefer slower and heavier bullets such as 230gr. HST and 147gr. Gold Dot. You want to reach critical organs in less than ideal angles and with “stuff” in the way, for example an extended arm, or barriers ranging from clothing to windshield.45ACP +P - Liberty Ammunition
This is the ammo I mentioned--I LOVE this +P Liberty ammo--it's really hot, functions perfectly and really reduces total carry weight. Big time reccomendation!
Anyway, as I think @UBOATDOC said previously, with handgun ammo which is limited in power, most good ammunition will work if you disable the target with a brain or spine shot(s). It’s also worth calling out that a rifle with proper ammunition will have a lower probability of over penetration if you hit your target.That’s where high velocity—much higher velocity—comes into play. The links for Doctor Robert’s cover that too. It’s counter intuitive on first look and we’ll worth reading about.
Also, in my previous life wearing green, we learned that to stop a determined attacker, hitting their body with a round per second or so will override their ability to do anything because the nervous system is overwhelmed and there is only so much the brain can process. That last bit isn’t part of what I think as self defense mindset; only stopping the threat until the danger is over.
Happy Thanksgiving!
61 - 80 of 81 Posts
