Glaser and other Self Defense Ammo

moshow9

moshow9

Joined
Jun 28, 2010
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When looking for some reviews on self defense ammo I don't see Glaser come up all to often. I suppose that should tell me something about it. Still, I wanted to ask if anyone has shot/used/uses Glaser, either their Pow'rball or Safety Slugs?

What else do you all use? I am looking for ammo that will fire/cycle fine in both my Glock 26 and Kahr CM9, and Kimber UCII. I currently have Hornady Critical Defense but would like to try out some other ammo.
 
I've got it in my S&W .38 snubby which I keep by my bedside.

Never tested it but I wanted a cartridge that would not penetrate walls so if I did have to use it there would be no danger of collateral (I hate that word) damage.

Not sure how it would cycle in a semi-auto but I too would be interested in somebody's results.
 
I used to keep my 686 in the night stand loaded with Glasers and a speed loader of JHP for backup. Over time I read too many reports of failures with prefrag rounds like the Glasers (not enough penetration) to trust them anymore. Now it's strictly premium JHP in all my SD/HD guns.

As far as specific 9mm ammo I generally use 124gr +P JHPs from either Speer (Gold Dots) or Federal (HST) but you need to make sure any load works in YOUR gun reliably. I've run enough of these two to have confidence in them in MY guns.
 
Forget that "fancy" ammo and go with the Speer Gold Dot....That's what I carry in my Smith & Wesson 4506 .45 auto.
 
About 15-20 years ago we chronoed some blue tip 45ACP Glasers. Nothing calibrated, but we got ~1500 fps out of a 5" barrel and ~1250 fps out of an Officers' 3.5" barrel. IIRC they were 125 or 130 grain bullets. That's 357 performance, but with a frangible bullet. Really comes down to what you're shooting, a tee shirt or various degrees of body armor.

Personally, I recommend a 12 gauge. ;)
 
Back when I was single and could afford to shoot all of the time, I had some in .45 ACP and wasn't too thrilled with the reliability in some of my 1911s.

The problem back then (and I suspect is even worse now) was that the Glasers were very expensive per shot and I always preferred to have several mags worth dumped through a pistol before I would carry it for defense.

My go-to ammo is Speer Gold Dots. My local gun shop had bulk packs of them a few years back and I shot a ton of them. They were marked as LE rejects in a white box but they shot/cycled fine. Great price on them too 250 rounds for a low price. Can't remember what they cost but they were cheap in yesteryear prices.

Regards.
 
I have heard everybody say they dont have enough penetration to reach vitals. I have carried glasers in my g 19. Happened to be on me when I ran across varmints at various times. 20 to 30 lbs animals. devastating. Instant done. Light stomach do not read further........................................................................................................
It looked like someone had punched a fist sized hole through them. That said, I carry gold dots or hydra shoks. Never had any malfuntion problems with them.
 
Just carry what shoots best through your gun. The way I see it, if you have to use it, the threat is going to get shot and it will still hurt like a SOB if he doesn't die from it.

Seems like with carry loads it's just a personal preference and how mean the bullet looks. I have Speer Gold Dots in my SP101 because I swiped them from a used 686 that came into my store. That being said, I have 1 Glaser and 5 Hornady Critical Defenses in my Security Six for the same reason. Hell, I picked up a Sig P290 a few days ago, and over the years I never really had a 9mm, and with the current ammo crunch I can't find jack. So, right now I'm carrying Winchester Black Talons just because I swipe them every time a used gun comes in with them :D

Speer Gold Dot, Remington Golden Sabers, Hydrashocks, Hornady whichever fancy XTP, Winchester PDX, Federal Guard Dogs, etc. they all get the job done, just get something that functions in your gun and is accurate.
 
What ammo experts have to say...

"Some questions you might want to ask yourself before buying exotic ammo at its exorbitant prices:
1) Why aren't large ammunition manufacturers such as Remington, Winchester, Hornady, Nosler, etc. producing this kind of ammo?
2) Why hasn't there been widespread community support for this kind of ammo?
3) Why are the ammunition manufacturers of exotic ammo not more forthcoming with scientific data?

Could it be that they know that their product doesn't live up to its claims, but that there's a tidy profit to be had by preying on the general public, which is unfamiliar with wound ballistics but responds well to glitzy marketing?"


Get smart on ammo with these reads:

http://www.ar15.com/ammo/project/Exotic_Ammo_FAQ/index.htm

http://www.ar15.com/ammo/project/Self_Defense_Ammo_FAQ/index.htm
 
If a 350 lb bad guy breaks into your home and you pop him in the chest with a Glaser then it's entirely possible that his fat man booby will stop it before it even touches muscle. That's kind of a scary thought imo.

Stick with what's been thoroughly tested and what's used by law enforcement. I carry Gold Dots but I'd feel fine using Ranger Ts, Golden Sabres, HSTs, XTPs, or other of the major offerings.
 
Thank you to everyone who has responded, I won't be picking any Glaser up. What I do look forward to trying are both the Speer Gold Dots and Federal HST's. Now to try and find some online or locally at a reasonable price.
 
The best price on gold dots I've ever found was at a store that caters to law enforcement almost exclusively but they're only open 9-5 Monday through Friday. Find out where the local agencies buy their stuff and you'll likely find decent or good prices.
 
boring said:
I have heard everybody say they dont have enough penetration to reach vitals. I have carried glasers in my g 19. Happened to be on me when I ran across varmints at various times. 20 to 30 lbs animals. devastating. Instant done. Light stomach do not read further........................................................................................................
It looked like someone had punched a fist sized hole through them. That said, I carry gold dots or hydra shoks. Never had any malfuntion problems with them.
Click to expand...

An overweight drunk with a 2x4 doesn't react like a small critter in your backyard when they mean to do you harm.
 
Hornady XTP for me.
Reasonably priced for reloading/practice and I like what I see on deer. Reliable in my G17 and 1911.

Bill
 
One wonders if full metal jackets are all THAT bad (esp .45ACP) or if it's just a marketing myth to sell more expensive ammo.

Two holes and twice the wound channel sound better than one hole and a short channel; and if you clip the spine on the way out, all the better. ;)
 
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