Anyone Think We Get Too Concerned Over Ammo?

Hello. Couldn't get the full question in the title; what I'm asking is, "Does anyone think we place too much emphasis on caliber or load than we should on handguns or ammunition intended for self-protection?

I sort of think we do, but I can also see that it's only normal to want the best for such purposes. Might it be that since this is one aspect of the mix that we can (usually) control, we dwell on it? I'm sure I do as I find it interesting. Others might, too.

Over the years, I've gone from "It's-got-to-be-the-absolute, without-doubt, no-questions-about-it, "best" to "Pick-one-of-the-better loads-that-is-reliable-in-your-gun-and-shoot-it-well" approach to the issue. That said, I have utterly no problem with those intent who frequently "upgrade" from one load to one that's reportedly better...usually based on
gelatin testing.

The bullet expansion/penetration testing in 10% ballistic gelatin has merit and I think it's "meaningful" but have seen some real discrepancies between what's predicted in them vs. shooting live animals. For that reason and others, I do not base my choices on gelatin tests alone.

For me, the decision now is which handgun best fits my particular needs and how well do I shoot it with a "good" load.

Though I still lean toward the .45 ACP as THE defensive auto round in some loads, I've never thought that its competitor, 9x19mm, was akin to blowing kisses at the bad guy. With more than a few loads, I personally believe 9mm to be a satisfactory defense caliber. To a slightly lesser degree, I feel the same way about most .38 Special loads from a 4" bbl.

After looking this over for quite a few years, I tend toward the following:

Caliber: Minimum .38 Special w/selected loads

Capacity: Minimum of 6 shots before a reload to feel "good", but can go with 5 for hideouts or pocket guns. Much prefer 8 shots or more before a reload, which is pretty much territory of the autopistol.

Competence: Be able to quickly place repeat shots within approximately 6" out to about 10 yards with the particular handgun or load. (Having a 4" .357 and being able to do this only with light .38 target loads does not translate to being able to do it with the magnum.)

Ammunition: It doesn't necessarily have to be the newest, but it does need to have a "history" of "working" and I personally prefer to have seen it used on animals. This is not always possible, but is certainly more so than if waiting to be an eyewitness of its effects on felons. "Wet pack" (super-saturated newsprint soaked 24 hours) tends to stop expanding bullets quicker than 10% gelatin, but expansion results are very similar to what I've seen in animals (with loads I've seen used on animals, which is not all), and sometimes so is penetration! With lower velocity loads, I don't find that shooting the bullets expand as easily as with either gelatin or wet pack. At the lower speeds that are still within a specific bullet's envelope for expansion, I think deformation from impacting
a less liquid target plays a role; I do not know how much.
In lieu of getting to see how a specific brand load works on a living animal, I like to test the bullet in both wet pack and water. Those that react/expand similarly in both are usually good performers in tissue.


The 124-gr. 9mm bullet at the left was recovered from a javelina. The one at the right from water. Nope! Not exactly the same but similar.


Also 9mm, these 127-gr. Winchester 127-gr. +P+ rounds were all fired with a Browning Hi Power. The one on the left was shot into wet pack. Middle: deer and Right: water. None are exactly the same, but they're more similar than not.

According to all the reports and research, the 127-gr. Winchester is the "ne plus ultra" of fast 9mm under a wide
set of scenarios and is supposed to be a most effective round; I do not doubt it. At the same time, in shooting animals from javelina to deer, I've noted no measureable difference in "effect" between it and the more common and older XTP. At least two members of this board have used the sometimes maligned Corbon 115-gr. JHP +P with quite good results. Others prefer heavier bullets in 9mm or are passionate in NOT going below a certain bullet diameter.

I suggest that we simply pick a load with a good track record in a caliber we can control and use a reliable firearm we shoot well as the main criteria for defensive matters rather than splitting hairs on which load is best. Pick a good one, but more importantly be able to shoot it quick and accurately.

While I'm not about to quit looking at this or that new load (or old), I have pretty much quit worrying about if what's in my chamber or cylinder is THE "nuclear" load for that caliber.

Best.