When I consider all of the articles and test results I’ve read over the years, I long ago concluded that the Glaser “Safety Round” is the best performer from the standpoint of safety and effectiveness. Until just recently, I carried a Walther PPK/s in .380 ACP, and loaded it with Glaser Silver. They make their ammo in “silver” (a silver-colored plastic sealing ball in the nose of the bullet) which has more penetration, and in “blue,” which has less. The H & K USP (in .40 S & W) which is my house gun is loaded w/Glaser Blue, which has little or no chance of penetrating a double interior wall. Neither will ricochet, and neither will pass through an assailant and endanger anyone else. I just bought a Sig 239 SAS (.40 S & W) as my new carry gun, and will load it w/Glaser Silvers in that caliber. The Glaser contains a large number of pieces of tiny lead shot in the nose, which is scored to allow it to disintegrate upon contact. It creates a “cone shaped” wound category and will not create an exit wound.
Recently I’ve become aware of a product called RBCD Performance ammunition; some people I’ve talked to that tried it were very impressed with it. It has most unusual ballistics; for example, in .40 S & W, their standard bullet is 77 grain, achieves a velocity of 2100fps and a punch of 754 ft/lbs., and is billed as “TFSP,” or “total fragmenting soft point. The “performance plus” version is 70 gr., 2320 fps, and 790 ft./lbs. Compare this with the typical .40 cartridges, with 155 grain bullets traveling at around 1000 fps. I believe that the bullets are “sintered” lead, but I plan to e-mail or call the manufacturer to get more pertinent information. RBCD can be reached by phone at 1–877-688–5985, and on the internet at http://www.rcbd.net.