Def. Ammo and does it go bad? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

beitzel15 · 07-08-2007, 09:23 PM

Well, Im thinking about buying a box of self Def. ammo to keep atleast 1 of my clips loaded at all times for the house....

I know a box of 20 goes for about $20-$24...

Since Im sure everyone here has their own favorite brand, can someone give me a few of the best, based on results and your judgment..

About how much time should I let go by before I should get rid of it or shoot it and get new.. and will it hurt the spring in my Mag if it stays loaded for months?

thanks

RobFMJ · 07-08-2007, 09:28 PM

Regarding pistols and rifles, the life of the ammo will not be a problem, and your magazine will not wear out from keeping it loaded.

Shotguns are another matter...

mattjohnston87 · 07-08-2007, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beitzel15

Since Im sure everyone here has their own favorite brand, can someone give me a few of the best, based on results and your judgment..

I prefer Federal HST. My XD likes it, and its performance is amazing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by beitzel15

About how much time should I let go by before I should get rid of it or shoot it and get new..

I always like to shoot my self defense ammo about every 3-4 months, just to make sure it still functions fine in my firearm.

Quote:

Originally Posted by beitzel15

and will it hurt the spring in my Mag if it stays loaded for months?

No, it will not. It is the constant compression/decompression of springs that wear them out.

Matt

DanTheEldest · 07-08-2007, 09:59 PM

Ditto on the mag springs.

I usually keep mine for about six months (low humidity in the desert--I don't worry too much) and then shoot through it and get some fresh stuff.

I prefer Gold Dots for my .45. They feed/extract perfectly, and the whiz-bang jacket bonding process practically eliminates jacket separation. Good stuff.

ETA: other options....

I've heard good things about Ranger and Golden Sabre. Hydrashoks have their following, but I think the design is getting a bit dated. It really comes down to what your particular weapon likes to eat.

beitzel15 · 07-08-2007, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanTheEldest

Ditto on the mag springs.

I usually keep mine for about six months (low humidity in the desert--I don't worry too much) and then shoot through it and get some fresh stuff.

I prefer Gold Dots for my .45. They feed/extract perfectly, and the whiz-bang jacket bonding process practically eliminates jacket separation. Good stuff.

ETA: other options....

I've heard good things about Ranger and Golden Sabre. Hydrashoks have their following, but I think the design is getting a bit dated. It really comes down to what your particular weapon likes to eat.

I've shot the Gold Dots before and I like those pretty good but what grain to you think, I see a 115, 124, +P 124, 147 and then a Short Barrel +P 124.....

What does +P mean?

DanTheEldest · 07-08-2007, 10:06 PM

+P basically means that it's a higher pressure round ("plus power" is how I think of it), and yes, your XD is rated to handle +P ammo. Particularly in a 9mm I'd go for the best combination of bullet mass and velocity, so (in my uneducated opinion), I'd try the heaviest grain you can get in a +P.

Once I shoot through my current batch of 230-gr stuff for the .45, I'm thinking about trying the 200-gr +P's for better velocity with a bullet that's still pretty good-sized.

ETA: From what I know of the short-barreled rounds, they're basically designed for snubby revolvers with extremely short barrels. I think even the 3" tube on an SC would be adequate for conventional rounds, but I could be wrong--I haven't researched it much.

XD.dwg · 07-08-2007, 10:20 PM

Whatever you get you should at least run a couple boxes through your gun to make sure they work for you.

Probably not a bad idea to shoot the old and replace them once a year or so. You shouldn't have any problems with them going bad just remember, "Oil + Primers = Bad".

Myk9noseknows · 07-08-2007, 10:29 PM

Speer Gold Dot
Federal HST
Ranger Talon
Hornaday TAP
CorBon JHP or DPX

Can't go wrong with any of the above. I've shot all except the HST in all 3 of my XD's without any issues. I like a heavy bullet so I've used 200 and 230g rounds.
I don't see any reason why the ammo would go bad. Hell, I've shot surplus military ammo that's at least 60 years old without any issues.

jeepinbanditrider · 07-08-2007, 10:42 PM

Gold Dot nuff said. I've had a box of 50 of these for like a year now. I usualy test fire a few everynow and then and have defended myself from big bad snakes a few times and they never fail to fire. And that's in humid as hell coastal North Carolina.

I would choose a mid weight regular or +p myself.

And the mag springs only go bad when worked over and over again. Or if they bind. A static spring will not weaken over time.

retired · 07-08-2007, 11:39 PM

Beitzel, there are a lot of good handgun ammo brands out there and everyone will, as you said, have their favorite. Mine is Winchester Ranger Talon 147gr form my 9mm SC and 92f.

If you want that brand, there is a guy (you'll have to do a search) on the Ammo Can forum who sells a box of 50 for $20 or so. Much better price than what you're talking about.

A lot of guys on this site and others have done business with him (not me as I can get it for $11 thru my former dept.

) and speak well of him.

Someone here or on the Ammo Can subforum, probably can give you his name. Good luck.

I would say stay away from Federal Hydra Shok no matter how many people tell you it's a good round and any ol' hollow point will do; it isn't and they won't. Hydra Shok is an outdated ammo and Federal has come out with much better ones since then if you want that brand.

http://www.tacticalforums.com/cgi-bi...;f=78;t=000964

The above is from TacticalForums.com and tho is dated 2005 is still very good info. Though the ammo I mentioned says LE, civilians can buy it.

07-08-2007, 09:23 PM	#1
beitzel15 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,857	Def. Ammo and does it go bad? Well, Im thinking about buying a box of self Def. ammo to keep atleast 1 of my clips loaded at all times for the house.... I know a box of 20 goes for about $20-$24... Since Im sure everyone here has their own favorite brand, can someone give me a few of the best, based on results and your judgment.. About how much time should I let go by before I should get rid of it or shoot it and get new.. and will it hurt the spring in my Mag if it stays loaded for months? thanks

07-08-2007, 09:28 PM	#2
RobFMJ XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Galveston, Texas Posts: 1,955	Regarding pistols and rifles, the life of the ammo will not be a problem, and your magazine will not wear out from keeping it loaded. Shotguns are another matter... __________________ Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

07-08-2007, 09:59 PM	#4
DanTheEldest XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,657	Ditto on the mag springs. I usually keep mine for about six months (low humidity in the desert--I don't worry too much) and then shoot through it and get some fresh stuff. I prefer Gold Dots for my .45. They feed/extract perfectly, and the whiz-bang jacket bonding process practically eliminates jacket separation. Good stuff. ETA: other options.... I've heard good things about Ranger and Golden Sabre. Hydrashoks have their following, but I think the design is getting a bit dated. It really comes down to what your particular weapon likes to eat. __________________ Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it. Government is not the solution to our problems--government is the problem. --Ronald Reagan (both) If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. --2 Chronicles 7:14 Last edited by DanTheEldest; 07-08-2007 at 10:02 PM.

07-08-2007, 10:06 PM	#6
DanTheEldest XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,657	+P basically means that it's a higher pressure round ("plus power" is how I think of it), and yes, your XD is rated to handle +P ammo. Particularly in a 9mm I'd go for the best combination of bullet mass and velocity, so (in my uneducated opinion), I'd try the heaviest grain you can get in a +P. Once I shoot through my current batch of 230-gr stuff for the .45, I'm thinking about trying the 200-gr +P's for better velocity with a bullet that's still pretty good-sized. ETA: From what I know of the short-barreled rounds, they're basically designed for snubby revolvers with extremely short barrels. I think even the 3" tube on an SC would be adequate for conventional rounds, but I could be wrong--I haven't researched it much. __________________ Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it. Government is not the solution to our problems--government is the problem. --Ronald Reagan (both) If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. --2 Chronicles 7:14

07-08-2007, 10:42 PM	#9
jeepinbanditrider XDTalk 4K Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mineral Wells, Tx Posts: 4,979	Gold Dot nuff said. I've had a box of 50 of these for like a year now. I usualy test fire a few everynow and then and have defended myself from big bad snakes a few times and they never fail to fire. And that's in humid as hell coastal North Carolina. I would choose a mid weight regular or +p myself. And the mag springs only go bad when worked over and over again. Or if they bind. A static spring will not weaken over time. __________________ Stuff USPSA-A59201

07-08-2007, 10:20 PM	#7
XD.dwg XDTalk Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 85	Whatever you get you should at least run a couple boxes through your gun to make sure they work for you. Probably not a bad idea to shoot the old and replace them once a year or so. You shouldn't have any problems with them going bad just remember, "Oil + Primers = Bad".

07-08-2007, 10:29 PM	#8
Myk9noseknows XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 2,098	Speer Gold Dot Federal HST Ranger Talon Hornaday TAP CorBon JHP or DPX Can't go wrong with any of the above. I've shot all except the HST in all 3 of my XD's without any issues. I like a heavy bullet so I've used 200 and 230g rounds. I don't see any reason why the ammo would go bad. Hell, I've shot surplus military ammo that's at least 60 years old without any issues.

07-08-2007, 11:39 PM	#10
retired XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: S. Calif. Posts: 5,599	Beitzel, there are a lot of good handgun ammo brands out there and everyone will, as you said, have their favorite. Mine is Winchester Ranger Talon 147gr form my 9mm SC and 92f. If you want that brand, there is a guy (you'll have to do a search) on the Ammo Can forum who sells a box of 50 for $20 or so. Much better price than what you're talking about. A lot of guys on this site and others have done business with him (not me as I can get it for $11 thru my former dept.) and speak well of him. Someone here or on the Ammo Can subforum, probably can give you his name. Good luck. I would say stay away from Federal Hydra Shok no matter how many people tell you it's a good round and any ol' hollow point will do; it isn't and they won't. Hydra Shok is an outdated ammo and Federal has come out with much better ones since then if you want that brand. http://www.tacticalforums.com/cgi-bi...;f=78;t=000964 The above is from TacticalForums.com and tho is dated 2005 is still very good info. Though the ammo I mentioned says LE, civilians can buy it. Last edited by retired; 07-08-2007 at 11:52 PM.

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