I am in a financial pinch (gonna be months or years before I can recoup) and I find myself using a clean used Ruger SR9c (came with 6 10rd mags) as my primary home defense piece; anybody else use a 'less than full size' handgun in such a role?
currently have a 'stash' of hollow point ammo consisting of Nosler ASP 115gr jhp's and Fiocchi Defense Dynamics 124gr jhp's...hoping the 3.5" barrel gives enough velocity for good expansion; if I get some spare funds what 'affordable & effective' ammo should I look at?
I love the SR9c.
Btw, I have not read the whole thread, but you can use the 17 round mags in that gun, too. They fit right in and you can even get a spacer to extend the grip.
I carried a 9c every day. Now I carry a Ruger LCP Max with 13 rounds. Little bitty gun. Big capacity. Tritium front sight standard. But the 9c is MUCH better to shoot and you can put a light on it.
My HD gun is a S&W Bodyguard M&P EZ in .380. So yeah, I use a less than full size. It's a really nice shooter and it has 8+1 rounds and I have a light on it, too, which I prefer for HD. I'm running ammo with Hornaday XTP hollow points and keep two spare mags beside it.
I agree that any bullet will do, especially in a budget crunch. but for HD I do like hollow points In my carry guns I like Underwood ammo with Xtreme Penetrators or Xtreme Defenders, which are both all-copper. Especially in a .380, I like the extra penetration. But in my house I don't want as much of that, because there might be a kid on the other side of the wall and I want to lessen the chance of one penetrating an exterior wall. But the XTP does it just about right in the FBI gel test. Enough for acceptable penetration, but not too much. That's a lot of thinking about stuff that boils down to inches, but oh well. With 9mm, you'll get all the penetration you need with just about anything. That's more of a .380 concern, although not a huge one.
The advantage of FMJ is that it is cheap and you can afford to practice with what you shoot. Btw, I found myself to be very accurate with the SR9 and 9c, both. A little better than I am with Glocks. But at 6 or 7 feet, the difference doesn't matter.