Pistol Ammo Selection
Having taught firearms for many years, I see the various issues plaguing the industry. One is that of ammunition quality. Recently some friends and students asked that I show them how to put sights on their Glock 19. Their Glock Armor’s school did not cover it.
I installed the sights and shot a few test fire rounds at a target pasty at seven yards. The group was ugly and large compared to what I normally shoot. So, I grabbed three rounds of my carry ammo and shot it and two when into the pasty and one a little out that I called. They were amazed that ammo shot so differently at the same range. I told them it would be much worse if we went back to 25 yards.
Also, at CSAT we have a gopher/mole problem. I routinely catch them flipping dirt and sneak up on their hole and shoot them with my pistol. I kill around five or more a year doing this. I missed one in my last class and this also prompted me to do this ammo test.
Pistol Calibers
Since I do not get ammo from any sponsor,I will outline some that I have tried and use. Some shoot first rate and others shoot in the “scrap” or practice category. Many Americans (as did I) bought what they could during the recent ammo shortages and sat on it. Much of it is probably what I consider to be scrap ammo.What I tell students is to categorize their ammo into practice/scrap, demo/qualification and duty/carry.
Practice/Scrap
Practice or Scrap is the ammo I buy for just that, informal practice at 7 yards. It may shoot a 2” group at 7 yards, but it is cheap and allows you to practice.
Demo/Qualification
I routinely shoot demos for students to include the “pasty” drill where I try and makes shots into a pasty at seven yards. I also shoot 6” x 13” steel plates at 25 for barricade work. For either drill, I stack the deck with good ammo. I have shot both of these drills with practice or scrap ammo and had poor results. Now I reload my mags the day before with either demo or duty ammo. This way I cannot blame the ammo should I miss on a demo.
Duty/Carry
I tell students that I like one golf club that will play the entire course. This applies to pistols and rifle set up. This also applies to ammo. I like one round that will do the same. Sometimes I can find it, sometimes I cannot. Either way, I like a round that will go through a human and blow their spine out from any angle. This way they cannot stand up. I know, over penetration is bad, or at least that is what everyone says.
I also know as the shooter, it is up to me to change the angle so the bullet will reach the target safely and leave the target safely. Or should I miss the target, no one will be injured downrange.
With that, I would rather have an accurate bullet I can rely on than a high-speed bullet that does not shoot well.
Pistol Sights
For most pistols, the rear sight is change out to zero the pistol to its desired zero. Most police agencies buy a practice ammo that mirrors the zero of their duty load. We should also do that when we can as well. That is, if I can find a practice ammo that shoots in the same place as my carry ammo, that saves me time, effort and Kentucky windage during qualification/training.
Checking your ammo
Generally I shoot/zero at seven yards and then take it back to 25 to see where my point of aim/point of impact is at 25. It is faster doing this at 7 and I can see my hits, make corrections and not walk as much. Many times you are off a little at seven yards and then you will be a bunch off at 25. I will fine tune my adjustments at 25.
Once I found a good ammo at seven yards, I would then shoot it at 25 for groups and to see where it is exactly hitting.
9mm Ammo Tested:
115 Corbon DPX +P
115 Fed JHP
124 PMC Bronze Ball
124 Hydra-Shok Old
124 Hydra-ShokNew
124 Speer Gold Dot
147 American Eagle Flat Tip (ball)
147 Remington Brass Jacket Hollow Point
Pistol:Gen 4 Glock 19 w/Surefire Light
Sights:AmerigloHackathorn Green Tritium Front/Black Rear
Distance:7 Yards
Results:
I used a six-O’clock hold at the bottom of each pasty. I put 4 rounds in the gun so I would not go to slide lock. I dry fired several times before I began shooting. I could have pulled a shot or two, but in all they felt good when firing.
The Corbon 115 DPX +P shot well and point of aim where my sight cuts the pasty. I find this gives me a point of aim, point of impact at 25.
The Federal 115 JHP shot the best, but also had the most felt recoil.
The American Eagle 147 ball flat point shot well, but high. This would result in a 4-5” high group at 25 yards and slightly right. Currently I use this as my practice ammo, but swap out a bullet that shoots a better zero for demos.
PMC Bronze 124 Grain was not consistent at all. It is reliable ammo, but not something I would use for demos or a qualification.
The Hydra-Shok ammo shot a bit right which means I would be shooting 3-4” right at 25 and would miss my chest plate targets unless I moved my sights.
Realistic Pistol Distances
I think 50 yards is not unreasonable for a police officer to qualify with his pistol. Look at the distance from the front of a patrol car to the front of a semi-truck. For the rest of us, 25 yards will most likely work. This means your bullets need to accurately hit your target at 25 yards. What target? A 6” x 13” chest plate is what I use. Why? It is a worst case scenario should someone turn sideways on you.
Rifle Calibers
I generally do the same check with rifle calibers, but do the zero at 100 yards on a quad pasty target.
Below is a quad pasty target I used to zero my G43 with the Corbon 115+P
Conclusion
In the end, I really only want Demo/Qualification and Carry/Duty Ammo. Personally I have had enough of scrap ammo and will deplete what I have at seven yards and replace it with ammo that shoot closer to my carry/duty ammo. As I deplete my “scrap,” I will replace it with quality ammo that I know is consistent.
For now I will have scrap, demo and carry. In the future I will simplify my life and have two, demo and carry. I hope this helps you in your ammo selection. Knowing this helps me to be a better instructor and trainer.
Paul Howe
CSAT