What 5.56 round do you have in your AR15 rifle??

[nimdabew]

Ther are few things that can shrug off 55gr to the torso. I stack that stuff deep, but keep Hornady tap 75gr in my HD mags. 62gr GDSP as backup to that.

[Diamondback]

The other thing worth noting is "long" or "short" barrel use with those loads.

Right now, what I have on hand for function-checking the 10.3 pistol is Remington L223R3V and "hope I don't need it before better arrives." I've been looking at CBC Mk 262 ($580/1000 at AU), but I'm not really sure what works best in a Mk 18 between that, SOST, M855, Federal's FBI load, Gold Dot or Hornady SBR. So many options, so little budget...

[tehpwnag3]

Maybe not, but are they any less effective for that purpose?

77gr. SMK and 75gr. OTM rounds are MATCH rounds. Those bullets are not designed for shooting mammals.

[TMS951]

Maybe not, but are they any less effective for that purpose?

If you have to shoot them through anything, yes. The issue is of them fragmenting prior to hitting the target, cars windows, walls, brush, all that sort of stuff.

[GH41]

77 OTM.

[tehpwnag3]

Sure, and I can definitely see how a bonded bullet would outperform given scenarios where barriers need to be considered. Conversely, on soft tissue, are they as effective as OTM, like MK262 Mod1?

If you have to shoot them through anything, yes. The issue is of them fragmenting prior to hitting the target, cars windows, walls, brush, all that sort of stuff.

[voiceofreason]

I'm not a fan of always chasing the latest and greatest round of the year.

Get something that is easy to get and will be around for a long time for your defensive load. The performance differences between the top loads are going to be minimal compared to pulling the trigger again.

FMJ is cheap and not as terminally effective, but you're going to use it for training anyway. May as well have enough to hit up courses anytime AND enough to load up all your mags anytime.

Ultimately, inside of 200 yards FMJ will either tear stuff up pretty good or poke some through and through holes. Either way, keep hitting the target until it's stopped.

[jdgiii]

I run 64gr GDSP in my defensive carbines

[5.56 Bonded SP]

See my username, I load my own for ~25 cents per round using federal fusion 62gr bonded sp. Can't go wrong with gold dots either if you want factory ammo.
With 5.56 from my testing, soft points need to be bonded or they will not get the type of penetration some consider to be minimum.
I train and blast a lot of m193 type ammo then save the brass for handloads.

[C-grunt]

You have two good rounds for self defense scenarios. If you are worried about barrier penetration use the bonded bullet. If not, the TAP will work well. Just know your round's limitations.

My duty round is not a barrier blind round. I know if I have to shoot through a windshield or door Im probably going to have to pump multiple rounds to get the desired results. I say probably because actual shootings vary and there is no concrete answer.

I usually keep 2 magazines loaded with my defensive ammo of choice. That should cover anything I need it to, and if it doesn't ill be slinging M193 after that which I know works.