Do y’all swap rounds when you head to the woods? I recently traded for another full size 40 pistol and plan on making it my go everywhere gun. I usually carry a number of 180gr JHP rounds for defensive rounds, but was pondering if I wouldn’t be better served with a FMJ or hard cast bullet for better penetration.

I guess considering the most likely threat to run into around here is feral dogs or another person, my JHPs may be the ticket. It’s unlikely I’d need the increased penetration of a flat nose fmj or hardcast bullet.

Just thinking out loud(or on line in this case), but what do y’all do?

I’d run what I always run.

I can tell you from experience that a 165gr golden saber from a .40 will shoot through a buck at 10 feet.

Jhp for the win. If it is good enough to handle the most dangerous threat you may encounter, it is what you should have on hand.

I usually swap clips when I go to woods with cheap ammo cuz more than likely I'll shoot em up before coming out...turtles birds whatever I deem a threat lol

I carry those in my 40 shield for no other reason than they were on clearance and they feed reliably. I have heard they are know for deep penetration.

If you went somewhere with bears or something, then yes..... With the threats you listed, then the hollow points are good. Depending on what stand I go to, sometimes I take an auto pistol.for such things. Sometimes I take my 357 Blackhawk for a shot at a deer right under my stand.

I like Hornady XTPs...

I use whatever carry round I have been using in my automatics. If I think I need more, I pick up a different gun.

A couple years back, I stuck a big sow with an arrow about 30 mins before dark. I waited until dark to begin the track. Kinda hairy tracking a big hog at night with nothing but a bow in hand. Since then, I carry my 9mm during bow season. I normally carry gold dots in it but change to jhp when in the woods. I figured if I had to stop a wounded hog, I want plenty of penetration. Y’all are making me rethink my plan. Will probably just keep the gold dots in it going forward.

This is how I handle it too. Carry my G27 in the woods and swap over to FMJ - cheaper to shoot as I tend to get trigger happy when I see mean ole snakes and chit!

165 great black talons will slip a pigs wig ....or any thing else it hits.

You might want to rethink 9mm.

The woods is where I like the public defender. I can run some .410 shot shells for snakes, or some .410 personal defense rounds or some .410 slugs or .45LC or a combination.

Agreed. I wouldn't want to be tracking an angry injured sow with a 9mm either

Usually a defensive mag(xtp’s) and a second mag of plinker rounds.

It's my EDC, a Glock 43. It fits nicely in the small fanny pack I bow hunt with.

I personally saw 2 hollow points from a 40 bounce off a hogs head but the fmj's did the job. I've since quit carrying the 40 to the woods and started carrying a 44 mag loaded with specials

Glock 43 is a sweet EDC.

I usually stagger FMJ and HP's in my 40's.