Do you change your HD ammo based on location/ circumstance?

General Firearms Reloading & Ammunition
1

Sorry if this has been covered, I know ammo topics and over penetration have been, as I have read for hours on many of them.

I am moving from a house where I can use 5.56mm bonded soft points (55gr Gold Dots.) without worrying about killing me neighbors or other people in the house.

In two weeks I will living in a small apartment. Not much walls to go through except ones going into neighbors unit, so that is a concern. Also, being a studio, I will not have much things for the bad guy to hide behind, so barriers are not really a concern.

I have a few other loads for HD use already: Hornady .223 62gr Barrier, MK 318 SOST, and XM556SBCT3 (it is the 62grain bonded soft point). I have a different idea of use for those, all is within 25 yards where I have not noticed zero change enough to be a problem.

So should I change from the Gold Dots, to something that is less “barrier blind,” given the circumstances? Or, as I read about TAP 55gr, anything that does not penetrate 12" is useless?

2

I use the same HD ammo regardless. Keeps things simple.

3

That is true.

I was just thinking I could use a HP or OTM round of some sort to better fit my needs.

Though I think the 55gr GD would lose more weight than the rest of my 62gr loads so I guess I will keep it.

4

I think in that situation it is of marginal benefit to change from the GD. Not being barrier blind does not mean it won’t penetrate barriers, just that the bullet is either mangled or smashed into FMJ configuration and will not perform well in tissue on the other side. It seems any bullet that is able to penetrate 10-12" of tissue and perform well is very likely to penetrate frame and wallboard walls. So going to a OTM or other style may not lessen the penetration danger much (reduces chance of fatal accidental wounds but does not eliminate that risk).

It wouldn’t hurt to use the OTM or other styles but just realize you are not preventing over-penetration, just lessening the rate of accidental fatalities a bit.

Of course more effective measure to reduce risk is to pre-think the likely angles and what is behind the walls, brainstorming anyway you can cover the walls that a perp would likely be in front of to give better protection, arranging furniture to force an intruder to be at a safer angle, etc.

5

I think the benefits of a GTG round outweigh the liabilities.

6

Put your bullets where they need to go and wall penetration becomes a less significant factor.

Typos brought to you via Tapatalk and autocorrect.

7

I have been wanting to purchase some defensive ammo for some time now.

Would you guys choose an extra box or two of 64gr Gold Dots, or Federals 5.56 62gr bonded loads (more expensive.)?

8

I highly doubt anyone receiving them will be able to tell the difference. You’re comparing two bonded bullets of practically the same weight.

9

I figured such. Also the deference would be the 5.56 pressure of the Federal, and having twenty rounds less of it due to what I can spend.

10

Both are bonded bullets which don’t depend on fragmentation for effectiveness…as it relates to the slightly higher velocity from 5.56 pressures. At HD distances I don’t think there will be a difference…course I’m no expert either. I’m just a firm believer of more focus on putting them where it counts and less focus on the minute differences from one brand to another.

11

Bulkammo.com has some of the Federal 62 gr tactical bonded in stock if you are looking. Good stuff and priced reasonably for what it is!

No I don’t work for them, I already enough for me and it is hard to come by so its there if anyone is looking

12

Same. I am also a firm believe in getting more ammo for the money. :smiley:

Thanks.