I carry corbon JHPs in my primary and back-up. They have great ballistics and expansion. In the end, go with what you feel comfortable carrying in your gun.
I bought a box of 9mm Luger +p 125 grain JHP for my SIG P228. This product was highly recommended by the gun shop owner as he carries it in his Kahr guns.
Corbon is good, but compare the ballistics of Buffalo Bore ammo before you decide. It's relatively expensive and certainly not for burning up a few hundred at the range; but when looking for the strongest load out there for SD, there's not much that can come close to BB.
I also use the .40 JHPs in a Glock 27, S&W 40c M&P, and a Smith 4013. They're claiming super velocity and expansion. The only downer is so damn expensive and you need to run a couple of mags thru each of your defensive guns to be sure they function with the hollow points. The semi auto guns of course I mean.
I've been very pleased with Hornady Critical Defense. These rounds will not clog going through heavy clothing and will expand every time. Also formulated to have reduced muzzle flash.
Never used Corbon. I have recently picked up some Federal Guard Dogs- expanding FMJ, 165gr, 1140fps- and has some awesome expansion results in the tests I've seen. (Even found one with 'simulated bone' as though shooting center mass) The Guard Dog expanded perfectly every time, the only other one that came close was either the Golden Saber, or Gold Dot- I can't remember which.
...now I have to go find that test again... :icon_neutral:
Online I found a few lists (here is one http://www.chuckhawks.com/ammo_by_anonymous.htm) stating best self-defense rounds for each caliber and Cor-bon Self Defense JHP 135grain 1325fps in .40s&w was on the list so I bought 2 boxes of 20 costing me $57.50 shipped to my door from Cheaper Than Dirt.
As stated above by “greencobra” you need to run a few mags through before you carry them. I ran 2 mags through my SIG SP2022 .40s&w to make sure they ran without issue before carrying them and had 2 FTF’s. When you set this bullet next to my Federal HST 180grain they are shorter (smaller bullet) which is why I believe they are giving me the FTF. In light of 2 FTF’s in 2 clips I shot the rest of them off and decided to stick with Federal HST 180grain and 165 grain for carry.
Online I found a few lists (here is one Ammunition For The Self-Defense Firearm) stating best self-defense rounds for each caliber and Cor-bon Self Defense JHP 135grain 1325fps in .40s&w was on the list so I bought 2 boxes of 20 costing me $57.50 shipped to my door from Cheaper Than Dirt.
As stated above by “greencobra” you need to run a few mags through before you carry them. I ran 2 mags through my SIG SP2022 .40s&w to make sure they ran without issue before carrying them and had 2 FTF’s. When you set this bullet next to my Federal HST 180grain they are shorter (smaller bullet) which is why I believe they are giving me the FTF. In light of 2 FTF’s in 2 clips I shot the rest of them off and decided to stick with Federal HST 180grain and 165 grain for carry.
This is what I just replied to another post here about Chuck Hacks--er, Hawks "advice":
Crowman, that article is so full of bad, and just plain false information, it's really not even funny. And even though Hacks claims to have updated (ooh! I see he added .327 mag!), he does not even acknowledge the existence of latest generation JHPs such as HST, Corbon DPX and Ranger-T in the service calibers...and his statement of never using a 147gr 9mm round is just plain wrong. It might have been slightly valid ten years ago, but no longer.
Also, the way he sticks exclusively to lightweight screamers show's he's real impressed by kinetic energy, and that's been shown time and time again to be one of the poorest methods of judging a cartridge's effectiveness.
But what really shows the article isn't even worth the bandwidth to pull it up is the mentioning of Marshal & Sanow in the first couple paragraphs. This proves it's not to be taken seriously.
The reason the author of the article is anonymous is because he didn't want his name associated with that steaming pile of dreck.
See the link I posted earlier if you want information on actual up to date ammo.
Quite bluntly, posting that Chuck Hawks junk is some of the worst possible advice anyone can give regarding defensive loads...unfortunately, the internet is forever.
Thank you for the list Cuda66! I wish I knew better before spending all that money on the Cor-bons but now carry 180grain HST's and can't be happier. Was carrying 180grain Federal HydraShocks LE before the Cor-bons and had no issues with them either.
I prefer Corbon DPX. All others are jacketed, DPX is solid copper. I like the advantages of solid copper. I also like how DPX has the bullet crimp for auto's.
The only Corbon I've ever tried was a 230 grain jacketed hollow point .45 ACP load. I got enough to test for function in several different .45 ACP handguns. Function was great all around and the ammo seemed potent. I have just enough left for a chronograph test but the ammo is now several years old and probably discontinued in favor for an improved product.
Solid barrier penetration (bone, glass, etc).
Consistency/Reliability (solid copper performs the same consistently, jacketed lead does not).
No jacket/core separation.
Doesn't deform like lead.
No weight loss.
Better performance by bullet weight from copper than lead.
After looking at several photos going through barriers comparing solid copper with jacketed lead, I like how the solid copper bullets look and performed.
Corbon DPX also has the bullet crimp (cannelure) so there is less of a problem if you cycle the cartridge.
I currently run Corbon Powr'ball in my sig. Feeds great which is a huge plus because my sig is a picky eater. Its a +p round has good penetration and reliable expansion.
I currently run Corbon Powr'ball in my sig. Feeds great which is a huge plus because my sig is a picky eater. Its a +p round has good penetration and reliable expansion.
When my EDC was my 1911 the Powr'ball was my choice also. Some 1911's feed ramps are picky with JHP's so the Powr'Ball gave me confidence that I wouldn't have any feeding issues in a SHTF scenario.
I've carried Cor Bons for as long as I can remember. When I favored .40s, it was their 135 grn +P load. Now that I just carry .45s, it's their 185 +P load. Recoil's a tad bit sharper than some other +P loads, but when I need them, recoil will be the last thing on my mind.
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