Question of the Day: What Handgun Ammo for Self-Defense?

“For years, Speer Gold Dot has been the pinnacle of duty handgun ammunition performance,” the company’s presser proclaims. “New Gold Dot G2 builds on this reputation with a next-generation duty bullet design. Instead of a large cavity in the nose, Gold Dot G2 has only a shallow dish filled with a high-performance elastomer. On impact, the material is forced into specially designed fissures to start the expansion process, as opposed to conventional bullet designs, which need target media to enter the hollow point and create expansion forces. The result is extremely uniform expansion, and more consistent penetration across barrier types, gun platforms and barrel lengths.”

I’ve carried Speer Gold Dots for years. And Hornady Critical Defense. And Cap Arms ammo. And other hollow point variants. While I can’t recommend ShootingTheBull410’s YouTube ammo reviews enough, I’m not really “into” self-defense ammo. The critical factor for me: will the hollow point ammunition cycle through my carry gun reliably  — not the cartridge’s theoretical performance parameters. Price is also a factor; I shoot and replace my carry ammo every month. What ammunition do you feed your self-defense handgun, why that brand and how long do you keep the rounds before you replace them — if you do?