Using a bullet designed for law enforcement and self-defense, the TAC-XPD line of premium ammunition from Barnes offers reliable penetration and expansion. The all-copper bullet is designed with a deep and wide hollow point to improve its ability to stop an attacker yet still retain nearly 100 percent of its mass through barriers. Knowing that many armed encounters occur in low-light situations, Barnes engineered this ammunition to have a low flash signature. Loads are available for the .380 ACP, 9mm, .357 Mag, .40 S&W and .45 ACP.
Without a lot of fanfare, Black Hills manufactures high-quality ammo that is used by numerous law enforcement and U.S. military units. The company offers a wide range of loads to meet your department’s specific requirements. From backup guns to full-sized duty pistols, the company likely has a round that will meet your needs. Although conventional hollow points have proven to be very effective in the company’s line, Black Hills also offers loads in 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP that use the Barnes TAC-XP bullet.
Using a bullet made of 100-percent copper, the CorBon DPX line of ammunition provides good penetration through barriers while still providing expansion to double its original size. Serrations on the inside of the hollow point ensure consistent expansion irrespective of any barriers or clothing worn by the attacker. CorBon makes the DPX load for more than a dozen different handgun calibers, including those frequently used in backup guns in addition to service pistols.
One of the hottest loads in law enforcement and personal defense is the HST line from Federal Premium, which is building an impressive resume of performance. Federal designed the HST to deliver reliable expansion and ideal penetration depths to improve the ability of the round to rapidly incapacitate an attacker. Currently, the company makes the HST in five different calibers, with varying weights and velocities in several calibers.
Developed for the specific needs of uniformed law enforcement, the Critical Duty line of ammunition uses a Flex Tip bullet design. The Flex Tip bullet has a polymer plug in the center of a hollow point that helps to ensure reliable expansion in flesh, even after passing through a variety of barriers. The company uses a low-flash propellant to reduce blinding when shooting in low-light conditions. Additionally, the primers are sealed to make them water-proof. Hornady makes loads using this bullet design in six calibers: 9mm, .357 SIG, .357 Mag, .40, 10mm and .45 ACP.
HPR Ammunition manufactures a line of ammunition designed for rapid incapacitation through massive trauma with minimum over-penetration. Called the Black Ops OTF, the loads use a proprietary, light-for-caliber open-tip frangible (OTF) bullet that is said to make a wound channel five times the size of the bullet’s diameter. The handgun calibers covered in this line are limited to the 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP.
The Golden Saber line enjoys a good reputation as an affordable self-defense ammunition that can get the job done. A newer innovation in this line from Remington is the Golden Saber Black Belt. Using a proprietary Mechani-Lokt belt to hold the jacket and core together, weight retention is enhanced even when encountering hard intermediate barriers. Remington claims massive knockdown power, deep penetration and reliable expansion with these bullets.
Relatively new to the market, the Ruger ARX ammunition uses a light-for-caliber bullet made of a copper and polymer mix. The bullet is not a traditional hollow point. Instead it has almost a self-tapping screw appearance that Ruger claims causes hydraulic displacement and maximum energy transfer. Since the bullets are light, the muzzle velocities are increased and felt recoil is reduced. Reduced recoil can help improve accuracy by reducing shooter-induced errors sometimes caused by heavy recoil.
The quality of Sig Sauer firearms is well known. The company also offers the Elite Performance line of ammunition. These rounds use a V-Crown bullet that provides controlled expansion through the use of a stacked hollow point and a pre-scored copper jacket. A cannelure prevents the bullet jacket from separating from the core. Sig currently offers loads in a dozen different calibers.
Few ammunition lines have built a reputation for effectiveness like the Gold Dot line from Speer. The Gold Dot has been a staple in the law enforcement community for years, and it continues to provide excellent service. Currently, Speer offers the Gold Dot in standard duty loads plus special formulations for short-barrel guns and dive duties. I’ve personally seen the results of the standard and short-barrel loads used in the field and can say the rounds are devastatingly effective.
Known for producing very high-quality firearms and accessories, Wilson Combat also manufactures ammunition that is suitable for defensive purposes. The Pinnacle line of ammo offers loads in both 9mm and .45 ACP that use the all-copper Barnes TAC-XP bullets for deep penetration and reliable expansion. Complete weight retention is typical even when encountering hard barriers.
Winchester Ammunition has a long history of making highly regarded duty ammunition. Currently, the company offers several varieties of law enforcement loads in its Ranger line. The first is the Ranger Bonded, which is designed to penetrate barriers and still deliver excellent terminal performance without jacket separation. The Ranger T-series is an evolution of the SXT bullet design that delivers maximum stopping power. While all of the loads perform well, the 127-grain 9mm +P+ is near legendary with its performance.
Shooting another human being is one of the most traumatic events a law enforcement officer is likely to face. When it has to be done, you want to be assured that the ammunition will rapidly stop the attacker so he cannot harm you, your partner or any member of the public you are sworn to protect.
Scroll through the gallery above for a look at some of the modern hollow-point ammo that a law enforcement agency might consider for patrol or specialized uses.
