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What defensive ammo does the XD Mod.3 Like

KBlessing

Operator
Been doing a fair bit of searching and I haven't really found any ammo type that people said the Mod.3 hated, but wanted to ask in here for some folks with experience in testing if their Mod.3 like ammo like the Hornady Critical Defense, Federal HST, or Speer Gold Dot? I've even seen one video where they put a few different +P Rounds thru (like Hornady Critical Duty, and Barnes), but they only tested 10 rounds each.
 
Of course , always function anything thru Your pistol , fired in Your Hand(s) , applies to every gun , and every ammo .

That said , the default expectation of your new gun , is that it will be reliable with vitrually Any of the ( top dozen -ish or two ( Major Brand Premium Defense
Yes I know testing is always good, rather have a higher chance of whatever I pick will be good than to have a rest of a box I can't really use.

I'm just glad the Beretta (40SW) I keep at home seems to eat whatever I tested in it, so just keep some tested JHP with it for home.

Probably no need for me to get +P rounds, not like I'm going hiking in an area known for bears and even then it wouldn't be a 9mm.
 
Yes I know testing is always good, rather have a higher chance of whatever I pick will be good than to have a rest of a box I can't really use.

I'm just glad the Beretta (40SW) I keep at home seems to eat whatever I tested in it, so just keep some tested JHP with it for home.

Probably no need for me to get +P rounds, not like I'm going hiking in an area known for bears and even then it wouldn't be a 9mm.
I usually stick with critical defense or duty now to be fair. It has good ballistics and it feeds like a champ in everything I own. The only exception is my Alaskan in .44 I use strictly buffalo bore or Gold dots in that beast
 
I run Blazer Brass and American Eagle ball ammo through mine (124gr) with no issues whatsoever. I have run Hornady Critical Defense and American Eagle Law Enforcement defense ammo (also 124gr) with no problems.
 
I run Hornady critical duty with every firearm I have. With the 9MM be careful of the +p rounds that are out there. I almost got a box of it while I was out.

As for range ammo I prefer freedom ‘munitions 124 grain ammo. Aguila 124 grain is another I’ll pick up from time to time. The one I’ll miss is ammo inc 124 grain. The only thing I really don’t like is the Winchester white box. It’s definitely dirtier than the rest. Winchester red box gave my M&P 10MM issues. I used to run blazer brass when I started shooting but the smell was a little too much.
 
Been doing a fair bit of searching and I haven't really found any ammo type that people said the Mod.3 hated, but wanted to ask in here for some folks with experience in testing if their Mod.3 like ammo like the Hornady Critical Defense, Federal HST, or Speer Gold Dot? I've even seen one video where they put a few different +P Rounds thru (like Hornady Critical Duty, and Barnes), but they only tested 10 rounds each.
i use only Federal HST, in all my carry guns.

however, that is no guarantee, it'll work in ALL guns others have.

you can get 5 of those Mod 3 guns, run at the same time off the assembly line, and maybe 2 will not run on ALL the ammo you try.

so, if possible, buy a "few" different brands, and if each tuns good..??

flip a coin as to what to stick with.
 
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Whatever you decide to use, please practice with that round and run a few magazines of it through your pistol.

I’m not saying run $500 worth of your carry ammo, but do make certain your magazines work with that ammo. Maybe a hundred or so rounds. Make certain the mag likes that bullet profile. I have seen name-brand magazines fail with name brand ammunition before.

Run some fully loaded. Half loaded. Loaded with 2 or 3 rounds.
MAKE SURE THEY WILL FUNCTION.
Load them. Drop them on the ground. Insert, see if they work.
Load some. Carry them around for a week. Insert. Shoot.
Did they work?

Magazines are a weak-critical-link in any semiautomatic pistol, period. Get extras. Label them for range and carry.

The absolute last thing you need is be clearing a malfunction when your bacon is on the line.
 
Whatever you decide to use, please practice with that round and run a few magazines of it through your pistol.

I’m not saying run $500 worth of your carry ammo, but do make certain your magazines work with that ammo. Maybe a hundred or so rounds. Make certain the mag likes that bullet profile. I have seen name-brand magazines fail with name brand ammunition before.

Run some fully loaded. Half loaded. Loaded with 2 or 3 rounds.
MAKE SURE THEY WILL FUNCTION.
Load them. Drop them on the ground. Insert, see if they work.
Load some. Carry them around for a week. Insert. Shoot.
Did they work?

Magazines are a weak-critical-link in any semiautomatic pistol, period. Get extras. Label them for range and carry.

The absolute last thing you need is be clearing a malfunction when your bacon is on the line.
Thanks for the extra clarification about handling the magazines to ensure they'll continue to function. I knew you would want to make sure they would feed correctly at various load levels and so forth. It wasn't an initial thought to consider the handling of the magazines to have an impact on the ammo feeding, but it makes sense , since real life isn't going to immitate training if you don't actually drop them and so forth.
I am retired and can buy HST 124 at the police supply. I dont think I have seen a single report of an issue with it.
Glad to see yet another vote of confidence for the HST. Will get a box of those and run them thru, and then get more if it was fine with my pistol.

For range time I'm planning on trying their AE 147gr FMJ, and then have some matching grain HST for carry and home so it's the same felt recoil and weight.
 
Like people all firearms are individuals and what may run or not run well in one pistol may do the opposite in another.

Plus, the key weakness is the user's ability to shoot well.
 
Like people all firearms are individuals and what may run or not run well in one pistol may do the opposite in another.

Plus, the key weakness is the user's ability to shoot well.

That’s why we go shooting in some form or another. Another reason I personally like this forum because we do help and support each other. Yeah we bud heads or talk (we know the word that goes here) or just crack jokes.
 
Similar practice ammo is a good thing .

My prefference is 124 , but IF you are inclined for 147 , HST is solid option amongst 147 's .
There was no price difference with the Federal AE 124 and 147, since I already know what the 115 feels like in Federal, Blazer, etc, wanted to try some 147, and go from there. Can't hurt to try, and maybe 124 will be the sweet spot. With my Beretta 40cal there's no real difference to me between 165 and 180 grain.
 
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