Defensive capabilities

There are a million different types and manufacturers and flavors of ammunition out there and each one is good in its own way. Some are only good because of price, some are great for target shooting, some are great and ease of feeding, etc etc...

However, when it comes down to what you should carry in your CCW pistol, make it a defensive round. Almost all calibers have a defensive round in its ranks. The only exception I can think of is the .22 and I may be wrong about that.

A defensive round is what is normally called a "hollow point". If you don't know a hollow point is literally that. The nose of the bullet is hollowed out and the outside edge of the bullet has grooves running longitudinally down to the bullet casing.

What this allows for is the bullet to expand upon impact with a "hydro-static target". That's a fancy term for a person; since we are mostly water.

The bullet hits and starts to mushroom out. This does a couple of things. The first being it causes a larger wound channel and greater tissue damage. The other thing is that because the surface area is increased the bullet has a better chance of expending all of its kinetic energy within the target.

What does all of that mean? Greater trauma, quicker incapacitation, and a better chance that you're going home in one piece.

So, whatever you carry, go do some research on your particular caliber and see what's generally rated to be the most effective defensive round out there and then get some and practice with it. Then, ultimately, carry it!