For self defense or other.  What is the most devastating ammo you can use?

Thanks,

P

Underwood 155gr Gold Dot @ 1500 fps

Good weight, high speed, great bullet

I second the motion. 155 G/D Underwood.

+1 on that. XTP might get you a little more penetration but the GD will be around an inch.

I think we have some converts 


Way back I was on the Wagon 

Devastating meaning?

Shallow penetration with lots of temporary cavity and tissue stretch?

Deep penetration with permanent wound channel measured in feet?

A combination of the two with a medium weight bullet?

?? 

Definitely Underwood. After that it depends do you want shallow penetration and more energy dump or more penetration and a little less energy dump. I prefer the Underwood 180 GDHP @700 ft lbs and 17" of penetration although I also have some Underwood 165 GDHP @ 800 ft lbs energy and 12" of penetration.

I do think the 165 offers the best combination of penetration and expansion.

The 165 grain loads in .40 short and weak having been doing well in police shootings.

My go to .40 round. The .40 Golden Saber 165.

Way new to this forum; and there are many others here with respected points of view and wisdom established by years of experienced who I readily defer to.

However, since original post asked for an opinion.  As an experience hunter (deer, hog, bird, etc.) life long firearm enthusiast I'll float a possible candidate....

I'm beginning to wonder if a 155gr. 10mm Barnes HP traveling at 1450-1500fps, carrying 700lbs+ energy with reported penetration of denim & 10% ballistic gel @ 15" - 20" and fired into flesh and bone isn't the answer to original question.

Quote from: Rojo27 on March 09 2014 02:53:38 PM MDT
Way new to this forum; and there are many others here with respected points of view and wisdom established by years of experienced who I readily defer to.

However, since original post asked for an opinion.  As an experience hunter (deer, hog, bird, etc.) life long firearm enthusiast I'll float a possible candidate....

I'm beginning to wonder if a 155gr. 10mm Barnes HP traveling at 1450-1500fps, carrying 700lbs+ energy with reported penetration of denim & 10% ballistic gel @ 15" - 20" and fired into flesh and bone isn't the answer to original question.

Your contribution is welcome here. We don't have any posting snobs on 10mmfirearms. 

The 155 grain Barnes would no doubt be devastating.

Underwood 200 xtp, nosler 200 doubletap, buffalo bore 155 barnes, and the 200+gr hardcast loads over 1000fps have got to be the most devastating.  In no particular order

Quote from: Rojo27 on March 09 2014 02:53:38 PM MDT
Way new to this forum; and there are many others here with respected points of view and wisdom established by years of experienced who I readily defer to.

However, since original post asked for an opinion.  As an experience hunter (deer, hog, bird, etc.) life long firearm enthusiast I'll float a possible candidate....

I'm beginning to wonder if a 155gr. 10mm Barnes HP traveling at 1450-1500fps, carrying 700lbs+ energy with reported penetration of denim & 10% ballistic gel @ 15" - 20" and fired into flesh and bone isn't the answer to original question.

I like your way of thinking there. I haven't seen any manufacturers offering this but if you were to do you own loads than that would be a devastating round. I saw a video where someone had handloaded a 180 grain hst to 1,300 fps and that was pretty amazing looking. Would love to see some HST options hit the market.

The Factory Ammo Master Sheet on this forum shows real world chrono test of Buffalo Bore 155gr Tac-Xp hitting 1446 feet per second and 719 lbs energy out of a 4.75" barrel. 
Interesting side note: Raggedyman (with a little assist from Intercoller) just posted video of a reassembled Buffalo Bore 155 Tac pull down fired into gel which hit 1376fps and penetrated about 14". 

I also caught the hand loaded 180 grain HST video you mentioned and agree; that bullet pushed to full bore 10mm speeds is a VERY, VERY bad boy  .  The HST is just an incredible concept in my view and I use in my EDC 9mm and the .45 in the night stand.

The ones I make myself!