[Ryan WA]

I recently got my first gun, a Glock 27 Gen 4. I was looking at self defense rounds and the sales guy at the gun store sold me a box to Zombie Max rounds, the name aside he said they have more rapid expansion so they won't go though a person or even walls. Though I live in a cheap apartment, I think anything would go though the walls easily. So my first concern is making sure the round does not go though the walls, while I don't expect the wall to stop any round, with the laser sight I am getting I shouldn't miss so as long as I can be certain the round won't go though the intruder that should work.

The problem is the Zombie max rounds run about $1.50 a round with sales tax. Is the gun store guy right or just trying to sell me the most expensive stuff? Are traditional hollow points good enough? I would like a good affordable round so I can practice with the same rounds at the range. I would really like to shoot as much of my self defense ammo as I can at the range to get used to it and stay up on my accuracy with it but at the price I'd find it hard to.

[og23]

I'm guessing there are tons of opinions on the matter and even being the noob that I am here I bet this has been discussed 10000000 on this forum. That being said, there are tons of tests on YouTube to help you make your own decision.

I happen to like what the FBI carries and keep 180 gr pd1x under my bed.


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[G31]

Ryan, you need penetration to reach vital organs from different angles. It also helps to keep the bullet from deflecting off course too drastically. I would rather have something over penetrate than not hit the vital organs. To answer your question, you can't get a good defense round with low penetration; it's just not something that works. Just get any JHP you can afford and reliably find, as they all do the same thing. I can't even tell you how many people I've dealt with who were shot...there's no "best" bullet or caliber when it comes to pistols.

[ranger1968]

Speer Gold Dot 165 grain.

[Ryan WA]

Originally Posted by G31

Ryan, you need penetration to reach vital organs from different angles. It also helps to keep the bullet from deflecting off course too drastically. I would rather have something over penetrate than not hit the vital organs. To answer your question, you can't get a good defense round with low penetration; it's just not something that works. Just get any JHP you can afford and reliably find, as they all do the same thing. I can't even tell you how many people I've dealt with who were shot...there's no "best" bullet or caliber when it comes to pistols.

I agree I just want to make sure to avoid over-penetration where the bullet could go into a neighbors apartment or though an exterior wall and hurt someone innocent. So its finding the balance of the right amount of penetration.

[G31]

Unless the wall is filled-cell block or brick, this will be a problem for all but frangible rounds or shot shells.

[LawScholar]

165 or 180 grain. Choose one of these:

Speer Gold Dot (I use 180s)
Federal HST
Winchester Ranger T-Series
Winchester PDX1
Remington Golden Saber

A lot of people like the Hornady ammo (Critical Defense and Critical Duty). I don't care for it. I prefer ATK the most (Speer and Federal)

Zombie Max is just green-tipped Critical Defense.

[cadillacguns]

IMHO Speer GDHP, Winchester PDX-1, or Federal HST. Any one of them in a 180gr loading is the schnizzle. Again my humble opinion.

[firefighter4215]

The 155 and 165 grain versions usually have slightly more recoil than the 180 grain loads if that matters to you. They are marginally more powerful, too. I'm a fan of the Federal HST design. Gold Dots and PDX1 are the other two I'd prefer over everything else. But honestly I'd think that the Golden Sabers or the stuff from Hornady would work just fine.

[G23c]

Originally Posted by LawScholar

165 or 180 grain. Choose one of these:

Speer Gold Dot (I use 180s)
Federal HST
Winchester Ranger T-Series
Winchester PDX1
Remington Golden Saber

A lot of people like the Hornady ammo (Critical Defense and Critical Duty). I don't care for it. I prefer ATK the most (Speer and Federal)

Zombie Max is just green-tipped Critical Defense.

these are the 2, in 180 gr. I have loaded in my HD and EDC.

[SCmasterblaster]

Check out CorBon .40 S&W ammo.

COR-BON .40 S&W 165 gr Ammo Gel Test - YouTube

COR-BON .40 S&W 165 gr Ammo Gel Test - YouTube

[EOS]

I run 180gr PDX1 in my nightstand G22. PDXs are great from all the tests ive seen.

I'd run 165gr or 180's in PDX, Gold Dots, Rangers or CorBons can't go wrong with any of those.

[SCmasterblaster]

Originally Posted by SCmasterblaster

Check out CorBon .40 S&W ammo.

COR-BON .40 S&W 165 gr Ammo Gel Test - YouTube

Great penetration and expansion!

[Ryan WA]

Thanks for all of your help, based on feedback here and some research on my own I am settling for Speer Gold Dots. I just haven't decided how many grains I should get, what are your thoughts on that?

[glock031]

Winchester Ranger Bonded 180gr RA40B - I'm currently loaded with these, stocked up several years ago.

Would feel secure with any of these

Winchester PDX1 180gr
Speer Gold dot 180gr
Federal HST 180gr
Rem Golden Saber Bonded 180gr

Yea i prefer 180gr JHP

[Pepiot]

HST 180 grain is my carry in .40

[Southswede]

I have personal experience with the Ranger SXT 180 grain. I don't hesitate to carry it or recommend it to others.

[clarkz71]

I like 165gr for my 23. I think it's the best overall weight.

Federal even has a 165gr hydra shock for 45acp

[mingaa]

No lack of opinions here OR good rounds - someone mentioned brod similarities and what works for you ( AND your gun). Pick a few and try them!

[cadillacguns]

Trust me, 180 GR Speer GDHP, FED HST, Win PDX-1, whichever is more accurate in your Glock.

[SDGlock23]

For a "cheap" JHP, I like the 180gr Remington UMC JHP you can buy from Walmart. A little dirty, but it's accurate and opens up real nice.

For premium, pretty much anything Federal HST, Winchester Ranger T-Series and PDX, Speer Gold Dot or Remington Golden Sabre. Oh, and the Hornady XTP/TAP FPD lineup is good too.

[NDCent]

Self Defense, 155gr Winchester SilverTip Hollowpoints, or 180gr Speer Gold Dot. Pair them with 155gr or 180gr Lawman for practice ammo.

[RML23]

I just got a Gen4 27 and I've shot a box of the 180gr Gold Dot with no problems.
Plan on using for EDC.

Speer Gold Dot .40 S&W 180 gr JHP SIM-TEST w/denim - YouTube

Speer Gold Dot .40 S&W 180 gr JHP SIM-TEST w/denim - YouTube

[barth]

Originally Posted by Ryan WA

I recently got my first gun, a Glock 27 Gen 4. I was looking at self defense rounds and the sales guy at the gun store sold me a box to Zombie Max rounds, the name aside he said they have more rapid expansion so they won't go though a person or even walls. Though I live in a cheap apartment, I think anything would go though the walls easily. So my first concern is making sure the round does not go though the walls, while I don't expect the wall to stop any round, with the laser sight I am getting I shouldn't miss so as long as I can be certain the round won't go though the intruder that should work.

The problem is the Zombie max rounds run about $1.50 a round with sales tax. Is the gun store guy right or just trying to sell me the most expensive stuff? Are traditional hollow points good enough? I would like a good affordable round so I can practice with the same rounds at the range. I would really like to shoot as much of my self defense ammo as I can at the range to get used to it and stay up on my accuracy with it but at the price I'd find it hard to.

For Self Defense I like;
Winchester Ranger T-Series,
Speer GDHP,
Federal HST.

Quality practice ammo in the same weight as your self defense ammo is fine.
Speer Lawman, Winchester White Box and Federal FMJ
are good examples of target ammo.

I like to run 200 rounds of SD ammo through a gun.
But my G27 will eat anything and just a box will work in a pinch.

[collim1]

I prefer 180g in .40

I would be okay with HST, Gold Dot, Ranger, or PDX1.