Top 10 defensive handgun rounds 

Thats for the Hard Work Brother! Saved me alot of time.

Much appreciated

Thank you.

Thanks for breaking it down saved me so much time. I greatly appreciate it.

Thank you!!!! 🍻

💯 carhartt is a tough barrier

I live in Texas, and I carry this in my 9mm EDC and my .380 car gun. I was so impressed with it when I see videos on ballistic tests that I had to have it.

Would that be the 90 grain round, good sir? I too live in Chicago.

Just switch to the extreme penetrator for 4 legged threats!!! You can get .357 magnum penetration from a 9x19mm

@Kevin Hart Ok I would generally agree. However to say you have to “hit a 6” disk” isn’t really accurate (depends on factors). The cavitation even at 800 fps is enough to cause remote wounding to nearby tissues. So really more like 8-10”. Also when charging the bear is essentially “inline with its spine. So while yeah you may not hit directly there’s plenty of bones shards and disruption that could devastate the nervous system. Then you seem to be accusing me of things I didn’t say. I never said anything suggesting a handgun is equal to long gun fir near defense. I also never said anything about dogs? I also never advocated .45 calibers to be significantly bigger than .35 with regard to terminal ballistics on large dangerous game. I never suggested anything I’d equal to a 20 gauge. I think you may have confused me with several other people or something? I’m confused? I only said that you can get .357 equivalent penetration out of 9x19 using 115 extreme penetrators. I stand beside that one front what I’ve seen in testing.

Glad it helped

Thank you

You're welcome and Thank you

Thank you

Thank you

Thank you

Thanks for watching

thank you

That's is honestly the goal. Thank you

I would agree!

Thank you!

@@unclefreedom213 You're welcome, looking forward to more content!

just a proven excellent round

Thank you!

right on, right on, RIGHT ON! Not unhappy with the 124gr as well.

124gr +P for me 🤷‍♂️ 147gr is decent tho 👌

Why did they discontinue the FEDERAL BONDED IN 135GR ??🤔

@@blackticalmayhem8461 I remember the 135..... maybe replaced with the 155gr? I do have some of those.

@@blackticalmayhem8461 I use the 147 in my short barrel. GOOD stuff.

I agree it is just a proven bullet design. Also thank you your assumption would be correct.

Just me but I would never recommend FMJ in defensive situations where you are carrying anything bigger than a .32. I would just pick a solid barrier round that works either way. Just my thoughts. Thank you for the kind words. I'm southern so we tend not to mix words and be overly blunt.

That way there we can actually see the damage each one of your favorite rounds does. Maybe even put some clothing or other light obstacles you may encounter out there in the wild, in front of the ballistic gel. I always like to see for myself. I carry Underwood 90 grain +P+ in most of my carry guns. Sometimes I run the Hornaday critical defense or critical duty in +P also. I'd say those are my favorite rounds, and in that order. The tests I've seen with those rounds are impressive to say the least!!

I started all this over 10 years ago mixing simtest and ordinance gel because I'm a nerd and I wanted the data never Eben crossed my mind to video it because that wasn't what I was after and I had no desire to make a youtube. That said om working on getting a camera setup and stuff since the channel took off and will film them going forward. Not sure how I'm gonna film the rifle loads when I shoot gel at 2 to 600 yards but that's a bridge for another day

@@unclefreedom213 No worries brother, glad you plan on doing some future videos showing the results in ballistic gel. I bet your channel will really take off after you do a few videos like that. Maybe even title them like "My top ten favorite defense rounds, with the ballistic gel test results". Or something along that line. I just found your channel today, and these top ten best and worst defensive round videos is what drew me in. I'm always curious what other gun guys opinions are on defensive ammo. And it's especially interesting to me when I see the results. Glad your already considering making videos like that! I will definitely watch them when you do!!😎🇺🇸🇺🇸🦅🦅👊👊

With all the testing he said he did I was a bit shocked to know that he doesn't have any. I was wanting to see the results as well so I mentioned it and the reply was something like your just going to see a bullet hit gel. He said he did metal, drywall, plywood, and car windshields with almost all of them. He also said we but was not specific. I think that much testing is very valuable and would put him on a whole other level. So I'm a bit disappointed but I told him to keep on trucking and hope to see it in the future.

I have some of the remington in .357 and .38+p no issues with either. I love Paul's videos he is probably one of the best out there

I stock bulk in XTPs it's a good round as Long as you load around its limitations

I assume you also watched those videos where the guy concluded the hst 124 performed the best out of 3 inch barrels

My pleasure I agree the ranger t is just great nit the best but a solid performer in all areas.

Same as the black talons without the coating.

But, they're only available to law enforcement right?

@@madwanoutdoors ok. Thanks for the info. I'll probably just get some hornady 135's.

​​​@@JohnQuickWick civilians can buy them as "contract overrun" or "LE trade-in" or whatever bullshit wording the shop uses, but they will be out of spec in some way. The good stuff never leaves the agency it was originally sold to. If you want true LE grade ammunition you have to prove you are an LE official.

Might I suggest a flat point fmj like underwood 124+p FMJ. The flat point helps maintain straight line penetration through fluid and bone. It's why most bear or dangerous animal rounds are truncated or a large flat metplat (Nose).

The punch round is surprising

@@unclefreedom213 the punch is a really really good round. I wish they'd give us a real +p version.

Thank you

Same boat here with Carhartt

Nice! You should check out the 460 Rowland 1911's You could go up a size in game ! 😆😊

Glad you found it. I gotta remember to link these things together.

@@unclefreedom213 Was wondering on the best round for the new Walther CCP M2. I will read up on your list.

@The Truth That's the new 9mm right 3 and half barrel is 8 round cap correct? if so I would ask ypuis barrier penetration important to you or are you looking at this like a never have to shoot through a barrier gun. If barrier penetration is important I would say the critical duty 124gr+p or honestly the 90gr extreme defender loading from underwood. The 90 grain functions flawlessly even in Plain gel, doesn't depend on expansion and will be milder in the recoil game. Perfect fir something in a lighter slimmer handgun. The 124+p critical duty load will be snappy out of the lighter gun but will achieve favorable results even through compound angle auto glass with solid penetration in the 12 to 16 inch range out of handguns I've fired with similar barrel length. If barriers are of no concern to you and your main value is it dumping energy and be more comfortable to accurately fire quick follow ups I would go to the Critical defense 115 gr from Hornady. It'll give you optimal penetration in the 9 to 12 inch range greatly reducing you over penetration risk all while driving deep enough to hit vitals out of the smaller gun. Critical defense will also lessen the flash seen from the shorter barrel and smaller gun due to the powder blend which can and will save you night vision in a defensive application. You lose barrier capability but if you don't need it you don't need it. If you can't find those and budget is of concern I've also had great success from shorter barrels firing the Federal 138gr Syntech Defense as well as the Federak Punch 124gr offering. The syntech isn't that snappy and has low flash when firing smaller guns. You won't risk over penetration with either of those but neither have solid barrier performance outside of the odd plywood or sheetrock and even then it can be marginal. Keeping in mind neither if them were purpose built for barriers they make a solid economic option that would allow you to get some training in on your carry load and throughly vet them in your firearm. Hope this helped and thanks for giving me a question that let's me nerd out a bit.

​​​@@unclefreedom213 Well, YT took down my reply for whatever reason. 🙄 So I will make it brief. 1.) Your first question/answer was correct. 2.) Answer to your second question, Yes. 3.) Handbook advises against +p (wear issues) and +p+ (too much pressure), but I would think the 124 gr would be fine in a CC scenario. 3. Your nerdness has you listed in my My Channels.👍Thank you Sir, for your extensive reply. Appreciate that.

I have some work ahead to make a video on 38 special. I've tested a bunch but don't have near the log of data I do for things like .40, .45 and 9mm

Thanks it's hard to beat Primary arms 1-6 they are solid

@unclefreedom213 especially for the money. All those features, plus glass that's hitting way above it's class, for under $300? And I like the chevron aim point. I only have around 600 rounds through it, but there hasn't been as much as a hiccup. Keep doing what you do, and again, be safe out there!

That punch is super surprising for an inexpensive as they are they perform quite well and just missed making my top 10. I have had some issues with blazer brass itself not the round but reloading the brass has presented issues to me withnit being brittle.

I can't find gold dot anywhere

@thelurker9472 do a Google search for able ammo Huntsville Tx. I'm about 40 minutes away from there, and they have a pretty good selection. Gold Dots are a little pricey, especially the 50 rnd box.

glad you enjoyed the content the Underwood loadings are down right scary good

Solid choices all around

RANGER T-SERIES is inconsistent tho 🤦‍♂️..in 9mm at least. In .45ACP it's great!!

I use 9mm 124gr +P HST often. Winchester Bonded PDX1 +P is good too. Ranger T T series isn't bad in 230gr +P .45acp.

@@DavidLLambertmobile those rangers have sharp talons I shot some into water it was impressive in 230gr

@@DavidLLambertmobile The PDX-1 BONDED in 147gr is my preference over the 124s ..in 9mm .. In .40 S&W the 165gr are excellent accurate rounds👌

In some loadings the 147 does great mainly hotter loadings. The issue you hit is 147 is a slow mover and is right on the crest of expansion threshold at the muzzle so barriers or heavy clothing can mess things up. If you're running a good velocity 147 from the likes of gold dot, hst or ranger t shouldn't be an issue. That said I prefer a 124 or the 135 grain area

Thank you for the kind words I was shocked when things started taking off.

That is a nasty round it can lack in penetration due to its speed but just a nasty round the T series bullet is just no joke

@unclefreedomvalleytacticsa7521 I'm from South Africa, so on this side we a bit limited to all the available option out there, I was running the winchester ranger 124gr+p but availability was a problem it wasn't being imported so I stocked up on those 127gr after doing the function test. HST is another favorite but haven't seen that for years on this side.

@@kameelramdhingrindrod9431 Cheers from across the world excellent ammo choices all around

I run the same in my Gen 5 G19 Kameel. Assuming you're from Durban or Jhb? 147gr HST's in 9x19 are available in Jhb if you're interested? Dave Sheer has the 50 round boxes and Tactical HQ has the 20 round civilian boxes.

@thepatriotsrage661 hi brother thanks for the heads up, I'm from Durban our shops here are really limited. The 50 round boxes are a pretty good deal, just a pity I'm not in JHB. When I found the 127gr rangers in Durban I ended up stocking up on that 👍

Interesting mix why do you run a mixed mag? Not bagging on you, genuinely curious. For me my in gun mag and spare are the same 135 duty +p in my, p07,p09,p01tac, g19, g45 etc 124duty +p in g26, 365 etc and ranger t in my sigs. all have a third mag that is in my pack loaded with 90gr defenders that I handload 1500 to 1545 fps.

I used to think the same thing. I questioned hornady about that very thing at their ballistics class. Once I understood the why behind it, it made sense. The design function is the higher antimony lead alloy. Controlled expansion while balancing the need for deeper penetration and barrier performance. That's why the defense expands more, softer lead alloy. The HST is a great bullet but will get beaten, though not by a ton by the critical duty in barrier performance. The hornady round is interlock bonded, preventing over expansion that will limit its penetration. Also, the Hornady round is designed to shed its petals through auto glass to ensure optimal penetration in ballistic media after glass penetration. They're both great rounds. I just figured I could shed light on the smaller expansion diameter.

@@unclefreedom213 and Denny Davis , I 100% agree . Hornady's dont get as large but its by design just as Uncle Freedom said. Its so it can get thru auto glass or 2 sheets of 18 gauge steel etc and THEN go thru denim layers and end up 12-16" in the 10% ballistic gel. Which is a special ballistic gel that is specked out by the FBI as well for their testing protocol. I will bet "Critical Duty" is probably a bit too hot for the average citizen to CCW as it would overpenetrate right thru just a average human. Hence the design of "Critical Defense"- Its not designed for barriers except denim layers and about 9"-10" of ballistic gel which it does perfectly!

Used strictly for self-defense the HST kicks the Hornady loads ass pretty badl y@@unclefreedom213

Woah! It hits that high in a Carbine rifle? What’s pcc? I’m falling in love with the Xtreme defenders.

Ranger T or Ranger Bonded Warren?

@@thepatriotsrage661 I believe it’s the Ranger T.

Excellent rounds

So true Ibwish ballistics was an exacting science, but it's not the best we can do is choose the round that fails the least. I have a video on bullet construction coming up that should be interesting for the ballistic nerds like me.

@@unclefreedom213 Looking forward to it. Great content.

Solid rounds for sure

Exactly 💯 right now it's one sake on Underwood ammo site just a heads up

@@unclefreedom213 I know, I just bought 200 rounds last week!

@ShiftyKen 08 I ordered more too!

They are stellar and they just plain work

It's solid I didn't cover this in the video, but I was really skeptical of Hornady Critical duty. I carried 124gr +p HST and had for around a decade. I am local to Hornady and they shootnon my range a lot and by that virtue I get to shoot with them. One day I watched them shoot the ballistic protocol with critical duty, Hydra shock, HST and Gold dots. It was kinda wild I had shot gel a lot before and tested a bunch of ammo but Hornady wasn't as prevalent where I was from. Looking down the line from bare gel to compound angle auto glass. All 6 rounds were within 1 to 1.5 inches of each other in penetration for all six shots thought the entire barrier protocol. Super consistent. I later attended Hornadys ballistic class the first of several times going through it. I learned from the ballisticians how and why the round was designed and the difference between the critical defense and all grain weight differences in the duty loading. I've seen Critical duty both the 124and 135 fired through the protocol 9 times or so by Hornady and at least 15 times by me. and from the shortest bullet to longest is no more than 3 inches through all barriers. It made me a believer it's about the best duty designed defensive round ever created

@@unclefreedom213 I watched quite a few ballistic video's using it and it made me a believer, I wanted something that did what it is suppose to in that vital of a scenario. Thanks for the video and will subscribe

@@unclefreedom213 Its how they won the FBI National ammo contract. They said it was a 10 yr goal for them at Hornady and they finally did it. Their head ballistician was a genius, that went into the hardware store 13 years ago and bought some tubes of 100% silicone and started experimenting with XTP bullets! It took a whole lot more, as you know the antimony to get the lead hardness up ,bullet design, etc but that's how he started ! 😀😆😂

Awesome I enjoy a Tools video as well that man cracks me up. I'm from Bama so I don't need a translator

@@unclefreedom213 🤣

Nice ! Gary Griffiths I wasn't familiar with Blue line ammo but I will be working up an order for them now. I see their using those newer Forged alum/stainless cases too! Those things are incredible for reloaders . I watched them reload the same 9mm +P and .223 rounds and shoot them like 50 times or so! It was incredible! Plus you can pick up your spent cases with a roller magnet! They use a slightly modified sizing die to push the case back off the die with a spring loaded plunger because the case is so much stronger than brass. Other than that its about the same as normal reloading. I was looking for some Xtreme Defenders for my newly acquired .380 Ruger Security pistol I just bought. I don't trust the expanding rounds to go deep enough in the weaker 380, even tho Federal passed the FBI test protocol with their .380ACP HST "Deep" ammo back in 2020. It was done with a load that is made just for LEO, and is loaded slightly hotter than their regular "deep" HST 380 (facepalm) It needs to be available to all of us!

@@PatriotPaulUSA FWIW, I tried some Underwood .380 xtreme defender ammo several years ago when I was primarily carrying a Ruger LCP. It was CONSIDERABLY hotter than anything else I used, including the Cor-Bon HPs that were my primary carry rounds.

you would be accurate. None of this data was ever developed by me to put on a youtube video I started doing this a decade or more ago for my knowledge. I just decided to share that with others. I should note that I don't really know anyone that's testing strictly for data and not for views that logs videos of bullet impacts in dark almost opaque sometimes ballistic ordinance gel. We shoot measure penetration, wound cavity width, how long it took the bullet to start expansion, then we pull the bullet and see if it did what it was supposed to. If something looks weird we look further. And then we chuck that already decomposing foils smelling ballistics gel away from us. to melt back into the dirt. Then we measure expanded diameter on the bullet and notate anomalies. Get a fresh block and or barrier material and shoot the next series. Repeat and repeat again

You've got good rounds and in good firearms but you won't be sorry with critical duty that bullet design is just plain good .

@@unclefreedom213 the ones I have are pushing 10 years old. I always unload em, practice with fmj and load them back up because im a cheap skate. 😂 Maybe I outta fire em off

@@baron1c I'm a huge proponent of swapping my carry ammo yearly. I did a video on concealed carry no-no and one of them speaks to that. Ammo can get set back creating some issues, check the video out.

Stay with defense for your pocket gun, it’s made for shorter barrels

@@davidb9323 yea but its 124+p and my pocket gun isn’t rates for it. Also its snappy enough with 115 standard pressure 😂

I've shot the speer lawman HP the stuff I had ran the Sportsman bullet design. It wasn't bad but did make my top 10 as fat as guns go..... I've shot at minimum 9mm, 40, and most of the offering in 45 and 357 and 10mm even some of the bullets in 357mag and 38+p. Glocks were 17, 19, 20, 21, 22,23,26,27,31,34,35,45 sigs 226,229,210(weird gun),320,x5,x10, 1911, 1911 10mm caniks tp9sfx,, mete staccato p, ruger px4, px40, p90dc, p89dc s&w 686, 586 , combat, ruger p101, bodyguard, indicator, m&p 2.0 compact and full in 9, 40, 45 there's a lot more things like smith chiefs special 45, 9606 9506, taurus guns, Beretta 92, 93, several KAHR h&k vp9, IWI Jericho, masada, cz 75b, 75compact, sp01, p07,p09 in 40 and 9mm, Baby eagles in 9, 40, 45. No mot all mine and I have some good friends I've also made some terrible financial decisions

I actually do cover these on my other list.

May you recover from your boating trip, sometimes the seas are nasty

I have shot some buffalo bore and I agree that shit is really hot. I didn't do much with gel maybe 2 or 3 times always bare gel or clothing it always delivered but having not shot it through barriers I don't feel like I have enough testing to comment on it

I haven't done a ton on .380 I cantell you my choices for 380 that I personally run is the Hornady Critical defense, Federal 100gr HST and the underwood loaded xtreme Defender

Thank you the advancements we've seen in bullet technology are close to the ones we've seen in flashlights. I remember being excited I was issues a light with the blinding 60 lumens of the surefire 6p now I have a 1000 lumens on my pistol. A little over 20 years it's crazy

@@unclefreedom213 Indeed, I have one that claims 10,000 lumens, which I think 6,000 is more like it, the same light now claims 20,000, It's very bright at whatever it really is. THX for the reply. 🇺🇸

Love that round I approached it like it was a gimmick boy was I wrong it's a stellar bullt design

agreed

That's on the planning table lots and lots of prep to do that video though it would be fun as hell

@@unclefreedom213 I look forward to see what you put together thanks for all the great content. Ps is there any way to send an email or pm to you

there will be soon currently working on that

Thank you

have seen the videos on auto glass with HSTs.... you'll not be disappointed!!

Both solid bullets with the +p loading and I agree on the price. I can say I have been able to recently pick up 1000 rounds of 124 gr +p hst for 27 a box of 50. The Hornady stuff I'm issued but also purchase it on my own, I'm LE so mine comes in a 50 count box like the HST and for me it's actually cheaper than the HST. Though that is a perk of what I do for a living

@@unclefreedom213 Yep, You LEO guys do have that tiny lil ammo bonus! But I feel for the crap you guys have to deal with. BTW , Thank you for your service as well! Tell Federal Premium to let us wretched common folk have the 50 pc .380acp "Deep" HST loading for LEO that passed the FBI protocol! Its B.S. that they downloaded the powder a few grains for the consumer version in the 20 pc boxes. I mean lets face it, 380acp is kinda weak, and how many LEO's are carrying 380ACP besides (an ankle backup) I guess they don't care (or think we are dumb) I'm just gonna carry Underwood Extreme Penetrators until or IF they do, let us filthy commoners have them. Otherwise I'll load my own LeHigh's in Starline nickel plated cases. Screw em! 😀😆😅🤣😂

I'm with ya on the HSTs. Stocked up unwhittingly before all hell broke lose.... and glad I did.@@unclefreedom213

I really dig that round

Maybe collabs one day we shall see. I've gotten some good requests for ammos I haven't ahot yet, so once I source the ammo I will shoot gel again and this time film it. Since the yall would like to see that.

Close for sure the subsonic rifle rounds were designed out yo expand down to almost high 800 fps the 300 blackout is nuts in the sub X. Hornady should have a gel shot on their website they gel test everything they develop and post results. If for some reason you can't find it reach out to me on IG @unclefreedom213 and I will contact the folks over there as they are local to me and get them to shoot me some data to pass on to you

Its on his no go list.

BHA loadings are always optimized

Never shot that but I will try to get some and remedy that

@@unclefreedom213 they provide expansion data on their website for comparison. I’ve been carrying it on backpacking trips in a Glock 34, because I don’t have a 10mm 🤪 Really just curious how it might work with two legged threats as well🤔 probably more danger there in the woods than the four legged variety

The orange one the is Lyman All American 8 turret and a single stage hornady next to it love my Lyman use the hirnady during load development

I have a redding t7 as well though I like the Lyman a bit more

Best cheap option out there

Oh ammo you got me thinking I still have 2 boxes of the old TAP .40. I wanna run the old stuff against the Duty and Defense and XTP through the barrier protocol. That will be the first Ballistics gel video I put up. Waiting on my shift change before I do that. Thank you for the idea! Shoot me a PM on IG @UncleFreedom213 so I can give you a shout out in the video.

​​​​@@unclefreedom213thanks...just use ETHRON1...unfortunately I retired from commie-tube. The videos I did helped, and still do, alot of people but unfortunately it put me on a list so in order to keep my channel and the videos I have I retired...or run the risk of loosing 10+ years of work...

I did not most likely dust as its always windy as hell here. Thank you

I haven't done a ton or corbon offerings but I will be doing some in the near future

I'm glad you said that I've had good performance from the 115+P (1350fps) out of a 4" barrel is excellent 👌

I agree it's a really good round . I heard it has a reputation for fragmentation like a rifle round but whatever it's probably devastating on tissue

Love the Ranger t it's a solid round. I didn't realized some of those differences on the defender rounds. So I thank you for teaching me something and I will dive further. I hate passing on bad info but love the opportunity to learn. Barnes does underwood some stuff they are will to hotrod thier Tac bullets and those are pretty solid. I have a new thing I'm gonna test one of my buddies just got a .400 cor-bon which is a .40 in necked down .45 acp. Protocol I will typically run is the FBI I know there are tough tests out there but its a solid standard for defensive handgun. There are a few other test I will do for rifles

As Macabre as it sounds hearing that real uses data resulting in DRT is awesome and I would love to know more for my data on the subject. As far as the Gold Dot most of the fails have come from 147gr and some of the 180 in .40 I have seen it in .45 as well though not a consistently. The heavier loadings in not +p velocities puts them very close to expansion threshold so the trend towards over penetration and more so when we hit a barrier. with a 165 in 40 or +p with 9mm the tend to function very well and consistently but have still over penetrate and the hollow point clogs on them more than some. Just what I've seen on my end. I had a guy get mad in here because I didn't film it all, I told him I never intended on making a youtube but the way I see it is other people Alcan use my knowledge and possibly save some money or heart ache

@@unclefreedom213 The Ranger T is an awesome round UF, I'm glad you see that. So many other folk bash them for their intermediate barrier performance, but as we both know; they work in real world scenarios. No worries man, the correction came from a place of care and wasn't to be mean. As for the .400 Corbon, that's magic!! It's a very obscure caliber but it works very well. Same as it's .357Sig cousin. Overall, awesome vid and great observations made.