Make sure you look at some heavy denim tests of hollowpoint rounds (which can be clogged by clothing and refuse to expand just when you need it most). The FBI data on this is out there, but sometimes hard to find. I don't have a link available this second, but I'll post one in the new version of the AR15.com Ammo FAQ.
Also, do not be taken in by this "shockwave" talk that you hear from e.g. the "Strasbourg Goat Tests." (Most researchers I know of think these were faked):
From Dr. Martin Fackler: In mid-1993, the results of an authorless "study" done purportedly by shooting more than 600 goats in Strasbourg, France, were circulated, anonymously, throughout the handgun community. A copy of these "Strasbourg Tests" was sent to the Firearms Training Unit of the FBI just before a scheduled meeting of the Wound Ballistics Committee. The committee members, all respected pathologist or trauma surgeons, were unanimous in their opinion that these "tests" were, in fact, a hoax -- and had been fabricated, most likely by somebody without a medical background.
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These goat test types try to convince you that the shock of the bullet's impact makes some kind of magic "WAVE" through the body. (Generally these are people trying to sell you very light and fast rounds- faster = more shockwave, you see). This is mostly (totally?) bunk.
In .40 I have to cite other's results. I personally have a lot of respect for Dr. Gary Roberts. He's done thousands of tests and has hundreds upon hundreds of sheets of data on various rounds. He lists these rounds as meeting FBI penetration standards and showing good, consistent expansion:
Win 165 gr JHP (RA401P), Win 165 gr JHP (RA40TA), Fed 165 gr JHP (LE40T3), Fed 180 gr JHP (LE40T1), Rem 180 gr JHP (GS40SWB), Speer 180 gr JHP (53966), Win 180 gr JHP (RA40T)
He goes on to state:
"In .40 S&W, I personally would choose the Fed 180 gr Tactical or the Win 180
gr Ranger Talon."
Remember that there is no +p or +p+ standard for .40SW. Look at rounds that claim to be +p or +p+ in .40SW with skepticism.
In 9mm I can be a bit more specific because I've done my own testing as well.
I'm a huge believer in the 127 gr Ranger SXT +p+ in 9mm. Charging_Handle described this rounds properties quite well. Gold dot 124 gr +p follows and I like the UNBONDED Golden Saber 124 +p (but I really wish they had a +P+ version. Note that some researchers have cited the Golden Saber's unreliable expansion through heavy clothing- PARTICULARLY with the bonded version. Given this the Ranger SXT +p+ is pretty clearly a good round. I use it exclusively now for defensive purposes.
Please note, that while some people like Hydra-Shock rounds, I do NOT. Neither do a few researchers who report consistent LACK of expansion in many versions of these rounds both in .40SW and 9mm. I would play it safe and avoid them.
Dr. Roberts reports the following "good picks" for 9mm:
Triton 115 gr +P JHP (TR9HVA), Fed 124 gr JHP (LE9T1), Speer 124 gr +P JHP (53617), Win 124 gr JHP (RA91P), Win 127 gr +P+ JHP (RA9TA), Fed 135 gr +P JHP (LE9T5), Rem 147 gr JHP (GS9MMC), Speer 147 gr JHP (53619), Win 147 gr JHP (RA9T).
I've tested a few of these and have always come back to 127 gr Ranger SXT +P+. It's just great ammo.
From a 4.00" barrel:
Ranger SXT +P+ :
1210 fps 13.95" of penetration in bare gel,
19.80"!! in clothed gel.
From a 4.25" barrel:
CCI/Speer Gold dot 124 gr +P :
1223 fps 13.40" penetration in bare gel with expansion to 0.68" and 20.25" of penetration in clothed gel with expansion to 0.53"
There's more data here:
www.firearmstactical.com/ammo_data/9mm.htm but some is old.
Go ahead, exploit Dr. Roberts' hard work, take those loads and see what's most accurate in your weapon. Then practice with it.
Also, I'm a huge believer in training with what you plan to fight with. I think it's critical. Buy a couple boxes of each of your candidates, shoot them at different ranges, see if they are fussy with your weapon (Sigs, for example, can be fussy about what they eat sometimes- a little TOO precise- I had a dog that would turn it's nose up at Caviar too) when you've come down to two candidates have a big shoot off over a pair of days. (Multiple days are important for testing- plus MORE FUN). Then get a round and stick with it. Learn it in your weapon. Get used to how it talks to you. Be the weapon. Spend a little money on quality ammo. Practice a lot with it. You will not regret it if, fate forbid, you have to use your weapon to defend yourself. Remember, shot placement. Can't say it enough.
Now, look the other way while I kick Charging_Handle for forgetting to pitch our local Ammo FAQ at
www.ammo-oracle.com while he was pitching links. *THUMP* Yes, it's geared to 5.56/.223 ammo questions, but lots of interesting terminal ballistics stuff that applies to handgun rounds too.
Best of luck. WELCOME to the board. Please feel you can ask anything. Well, almost anything. ;)