TexasCHLforum.com

This is a huge issue right now for most of us. Find out when your local walmart and other sources get their trucks in and go early in the morning. I have heard the line at the door when Academy opens can be impressive. It is a crap shoot whether any ammo will actually come in on the truck so it can be frustrating. Another thing is to call around the smaller mom and pop stores asking. The .40 can be a little easier to find.

Do not be tempted to accept reloaded ammo from anyone or buy ammo at a gun show that is not clearly new in a box and correct for that box (head stamps match, etc). Reloading can be done safely, and many do, but you are staking your safety on it. Overcharged ammo can cause catastrophic failure of a gun. Unless you personally know that person and the degree of their knowledge and safe practices, I would not go there.

Your instructor can teach you how to safely use dry fire practice at home with snap caps as a big part of practicing your grip, stance, drawing, sight picture, and trigger control. Dry fire does not use ammo and is a valuable means of practice that instills muscle memory and avoids developing a flinch reaction to recoil. Practice smart. A hundred rounds of just punching paper is not as productive as 50 rounds with attention to each detail you are practicing and preceding it with regular dry fire practice you can do at home.

Glad to hear you are getting some professional guidance. Welcome to the world of those who have learned we are all on our own until help arrives. Now if we can just get a few million anti's to get it.

Welcome to the forum!

FMJ (full metal jacket) ammo is typically used just for target practice. It is cheaper. You don't want to use that for self protection because it also can shoot through and endanger others beyond your target.

JHP (jacketed hollow point) ammo is used for self defense because the bullet is designed to open up and stop inside tissue. This serves the purpose of causing enough shock and damage to stop the bad guy and it also serves to stop the bullet there so it does not go through.

JHP is much more expensive than FMJ so people do not typically practice with JHP except to make sure the one they have chosen for self defense does fire reliably from their gun (very important to know this obviously) and to make sure any difference in recoil and targeting become familiar.

I personally avoid any ammo that uses a steel case rather than a brass case because I had more than one gunsmith tell me the steel case ammo is hard on your gun. Besides, the brass case can be re-loaded by someone who does that. If your brother does, he might appreciate you keeping all that once-fired brass to give him

You will find endless articles arguing the merits of different weights and velocities. That matters, but it is a point of argument. The main thing is to learn the safety practices of handling ammo and your gun and training to shoot accurately. Where your round goes is vital and you must train so that you are proficient in placing your shots accurately. A basic handgun course is important with an instructor who can start you off with a proper grip, stance, and understanding of handgun safety. From there, your practice will help you attain skill. If you practice without that guidance, you may magnify incorrect habits that keep you from your goal of effective self protection so it is well worth it.

As for penetration, here is a good article:
http://www.handgunclub.com/hca/2005/11/ ... e-defense/