So you need to keep the gun ready but haven't gotten to test 500 rounds of a new ammo. Do you load it up with the hp or the fmj you know works

Depends is it critcal duty/defense or guard dog that run like FMJ or is it flying ashtray HP's. The first stuff i would load up the flying ashtrays I would wait and load up with FMJ's esp in my 1911.

Sig p226r. Speer gold dot 124gr +p

Depends on the gun, honestly. If your gun can be a bit picky with ammo, I'd use only what I've tested and know works well.

 

My Beretta Px4 eats everything but then again I've tested everything I have.

Gun has 873 rds of fmj through it. About 723 rds of Winchester 9mm NATO and 150 of 115gr federal or American eagle. 0 failures ever

I would load the Speer Gold Dots.

I'm leaning that way with a spare fmj mag nearby

Dupe

Use what you got. A Sig will pretty much eat anything.

I'd load what you have tested and is proven to shoot and shoot well, your FMJ's.

 

The chances are slim that you will have an issue with the HP's, but if you do, you want that issue to happen when you're at the range training. NOT when your life depends on that gun firing.

 

People can state all day about how HP's are better performing than FMJ's for defense, and I will agree, but when you haven't tested that type of ammo, I would stay with what you have shot already. You know when you pull the trigger it will go bang, you have shot it before, and so what that it is FMJ...it may take a couple more rounds to drop the target depending on shot placement, but at least you know that you're gun will feed/fire/eject properly with those FMJ's.

So you need to keep the gun ready but haven't gotten to test 500 rounds of a new ammo. Do you load it up with the hp or the fmj you know works

 

I don't know where you got the idea you need to run 500 rds of a type of ammo through your gun to prove it reliable. That is unless you have a gun that's finicky about what ammo its fed. Its hard to find a quality handgun that doesn't handle any type of quality ammo.

 

I also find it strange many feel almost unarmed if they find themselves in a position where all they is fmj ammo. Yes hp ammo is more effective but shot placement not some magic bullet.

 

However, whatever I or anyone else tell you is pretty much meaningless because the most important aspect of this inquiry is how do you feel about the reliability of what you have at hand. You have already expressed doubts by asking the question to begin with and confirming that by keeping a " mag of fmj " nearby.

 

Use the fmj, you seem to feel better about that.

That 500 round thing comes from years past when guns and ammo were not as reliable. Hell, with the cost of defensive ammo now, 500rd would far more expensive then a whole gun

That 500 round thing comes from years past when guns and ammo were not as reliable. Hell, with the cost of defensive ammo now, 500rd would far more expensive then a whole gun

 

That really must have been some time ago. I've been shooting over 40 years and back in the 70s 100-200 rds was an acceptable trial.

I'd load what you have tested and is proven to shoot and shoot well, your FMJ's.

 

The chances are slim that you will have an issue with the HP's, but if you do, you want that issue to happen when you're at the range training. NOT when your life depends on that gun firing.

 

People can state all day about how HP's are better performing than FMJ's for defense, and I will agree, but when you haven't tested that type of ammo, I would stay with what you have shot already. You know when you pull the trigger it will go bang, you have shot it before, and so what that it is FMJ...it may take a couple more rounds to drop the target depending on shot placement, but at least you know that you're gun will feed/fire/eject properly with those FMJ's.

 

+1.

IMO, At least run a box or two of the ammo that you plan on using through the gun to make sure there aren't any obvious problems with comparability. Before you can do that, I would personally keep loaded what I know works until I can get some testing in.

 

I agree with some others, I feel that a 500 round "test" of self defense ammo is pretty hardcore. Everyone has to decide for themselves what they feel is an adequate test that would make them feel confident there arent any ammo incompatibilities with their gun.

so today I finally got to run 100 rounds of 124gr +P gold dots (half of what i had) and 50 rounds of 115gr hornady xtp (all of what i had) through my p226r and 150 rounds (still have 1000rds of that left!!!!!!) of 125gr speer gold dot 357 sig through my p229r. besides being expensive (the 9mm was all boxes of 20 that cost more than the 50rd boxes of 357 sig) i had no ammo issues. figure i have to work on my grip to keep it off of the slide stop (common sig problem) and feel more comfortable with this ammo now. I plan to use it exclusively until i get at least 500 rounds through each gun, then i'll go back to the target ammo and keep a stash for when needed.

 

my hands hurt more today than usual though. i'd have to say. standard 357 sig has more kick than 9mm 124gr +P from what i can tell. although not sure how much the extra weight and size of the p226r could have contributed

That 500 round thing comes from years past when guns and ammo were not as reliable. Hell, with the cost of defensive ammo now, 500rd would far more expensive then a whole gun

 

A lot depends on the gun as well..some of the "Lesser Quality' guns that were kind of rough and not overly finished took 500 rounds to wear some of the machinging and tolling marks off of bearing surfaces..that isnt as much of an issue now it seems. Going from my originally issued Gen-1 Glock 23 to my Gen 3, I ran the qual course with it (60 rounds) and went on the road with it the same day. My taurus PT-1911..THAT one I put 300 rounds through before it became my carry piece...just to be on the safe side.

so today I finally got to run 100 rounds of 124gr +P gold dots (half of what i had) and 50 rounds of 115gr hornady xtp (all of what i had) through my p226r and 150 rounds (still have 1000rds of that left!!!!!!) of 125gr speer gold dot 357 sig through my p229r. besides being expensive (the 9mm was all boxes of 20 that cost more than the 50rd boxes of 357 sig) i had no ammo issues. figure i have to work on my grip to keep it off of the slide stop (common sig problem) and feel more comfortable with this ammo now. I plan to use it exclusively until i get at least 500 rounds through each gun, then i'll go back to the target ammo and keep a stash for when needed.

 

my hands hurt more today than usual though. i'd have to say. standard 357 sig has more kick than 9mm 124gr +P from what i can tell. although not sure how much the extra weight and size of the p226r could have contributed

 

Do not buy the 20 round boxes of Gold Dots. They are hella expensive compared to the 50 round boxes marked LE that you can pick up.

I don't plan to continue buying them. I just couldn't find any 50rd boxes. Luckily I have 20 boxes of 357sig gold dots

I would load the Speer Gold Dots.

i recommend this! I handload each of my defensive rounds

So your saying that your defensive rounds are reloads that you made ?

So your saying that your defensive rounds are reloads that you made ?

yes sir! Would you like any info for .40 s&w 165 grain Speer gdhp?