Carry Ammunition Combination

[Guest bethechange]

Hi all I am new to this forum and a new HCP holder. I have been around guns my whole life and have a owned my own since graduating from college. I work as a social worker and my work regularly takes me into gov project housing. I have been present several times when lead was flying, though thankfully never directly at me. These situations led in part to my decision to apply for a HCP. I also want to help grow the ranks of HCP holding voters.

Now to my question... I plan to carry a Glock 26 the majority of the time. I do have a 1911 and a Diamondback .380 though that I may try. I was wondering what the advisability of loading my G26 with a combination of frangible and hollowpoint ammo. For instance 6 golden sabers or gold dots and 4 frangibles. My thought is that I do live in an apartment with thinner walls and I'd hate to defend myself at the expense of the kids in the apartment next door. If the situation was so bad that 4 frangibles didn't work I'd have some heavier hitting ammo up next.

Your thoughts are appreciated.

[nightrunner]

Id say stick with one type, JHP(jacketed hollow point). If you dont want to overpenetrate, go with a .40 or .45

[Guest bethechange]

.40 or .45 will over penetrate less than my G26's 9mm?

[Oh Shoot]

.40 or .45 will over penetrate less than my G26's 9mm?

No.

Stick with one type of ammo in a mag.

It simply adds one more variable for failure to mix rounds.

With extensive experimentation, the ONLY way I found to make any of my 9mm XD's jam was to shoot some aluminum cased 115 gr FMJ alternated with some 147 gr flat nosed something or other.

There's just no defensive (or tacticool) advantage of adding complexity to the equation by alternating types of rounds.

A quality 9mm +p JHP is your best all around defensive carry option. 124 gr +p seems to be the sweet spot.

Shoot as much as you can afford of the selected ammo to ensure reliability, minimum of 100 rounds IMHO, more is better.

- OS

[enfield]

Ditto - don't fool around with the staggered loadings. Pick a hollowpoint with a good reputation: Gold Dots, Golden Sabers, etc; ensure they function well in your pistol and you're good to go.

In order of importance, choose the ammo with the best (for you):

1. Reliability - 100% required

2. Accuracy - ability to hit COM at 7 yards is adequate for self defense

3. Penetration - minimum of 12 inches in clad ballistic gelatin

4. Expansion - any amount is good.

The premium hollowpoints will provide all 4 to an adequate degree. The frangible ammo will not give reliable penetration.

[Will Carry]

When I first started carrying I bought some 9mm Glazer Silver Tip Vampire killers. I loaded the first few rounds of my magazine with the Glazer then had the rest FMJs.

After a while I decided against mixing ammo and now carry all 45 ACP JHP Zombie killers. You carry'em like you want to but these guys have a very good point. The bad guys won't notice the difference until it's too late.