Good update, and congrats to your wife on "passing CCW training with ease."
I have some suggestions for choosing CCW ammo and/or home PD ammo. But first, here was my approach on "how to get the best for my need."
My "search" for a good PD ammo started with a lot of web searches on what others preferred or recommended. I also talked to friends and family members who use their handguns for either CCW or PD in the home. The answers, preferences, and options were all over the ammo map!
Then I took a different approach. This was partly from what I learned during the CCW training sessions I had. Whenever I had the chance, I talked to KCMO police officers at stores, restaurants, even in parking lots, etc. I asked them what the KCMO Police Department officers use in their duty guns both for shotgun and handgun ammo. All were quite friendly and willing to share that info. The reason I pursued this is that if I ever had to use my CCW revolver, especially outside the home, when you hit all the legal-beagle stuff that will surely come, if my ammo mirrored what the KC LEOs used, that's a plus. You're not immediately placed into a "Rambo" or "Dirty Harry" image, based on your ammo choice, before a jury or judge.
After I did the above, I then looked at what
good manufacturers recommended as their preferred SD ammo. I learned a lot about ammo through those searches/reads. Finally, I started to purchase small boxes of the more expensive HD or PD ammo (usually 20 or 25-round boxes) to try out in my SP101. I needed to see how much recoil there was, how accurate the ammo was at two different distances (7 yards and 15 yards), and if I could handle with both my dominant hand and non-dominant hand (one never knows what might happened in a bad situation). Bottom line, I had to be very, very comfortable with my choice and I put in place all the factors I thought were important for me to be prepared well.
Even though my SP101 is designed to be a .357 magnum revolver, I chose for my HD or PD ammo
Cor-Bon .38 special + “P”, 110gr DPX . I found it easy to handle with my stainless revolver, and quite accurate. Also, it is a "safe" choice --- by that, I mean okay legally as I noted in above checking with my local police. BTW, I'd say to get to this "final choice," it took me over a year of testing, shooting various ammo, and so on. I'm most content with my choice.
Final comments on your post. I agree with what you read on "concealed carry instructors recommending against using reloads." In the digging through all the legal stuff, there would be skepticism on what/how those reloads were built. Remember, reloads can be made quite hot by choice.
Second, I've shot quite a number of different cowboy load brands of ammo. I've not ever read of these being best/most effective as a HD or PD round. Maybe I've missed something, but I thought they are designed for a different purpose than that. I read the HSM description you listed, and within uses of that ammo, nothing is there indicating effective for CCW use.
The cool part about everything above is that I'm absolutely correct and spot on ----
for me only! That's how anyone should read my post.
Best as you and your wife search out for the best for her --- and have
fun testing ammo while you're doing that!!
JEBar wrote:update .... my wife passed her concealed carry class with ease, the subsequent paperwork has been submitted and her permit should be mailed to us shortly after we arrive in South Dakota where we plan to spend the summer .... I'm considering ordering one box of HSM Cowboy Action Ammunition
http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/product. ... 25381bb9bd for her to use in her pistol shown above .... I've read of concealed carry instructors recommending against using reloads, her instructor didn't mention it one way or the other .... my theory is the reduced recoil from HSM would be beneficial while at the range she would be using her pistol, it would provide plenty of power ....
