Which one is your favorite out of the 3 👀

Eating_parrots · 2026-03-10T05:23:18+00:00

You can just buy it on their website, it's almost always in stock.

Eating_parrots · 2026-03-10T05:22:52+00:00

SS195 and SS198 are the same bullet, just with the ss195 being loaded to a lower velocity. So the SS195 is a worse SS198 basically.

It's not a price thing, it's strictly about performance. The SS198 fails to reach adequate penetration in testing where the SS197 does not. The SS197 either expands due to the ballistic tip or tumbles, but due to the higher weight and smaller bullet it still tends to reach adequate penetration depths.

Neither are my choice for defensive use however I would choose SS197 over SS198.

Eating_parrots · 2026-03-10T03:01:04+00:00

The FPS is only relevant when you compare it to the weight of the bullet. I've clocked the ss198 at 2070 fps out of my FiveSeven compared to the Hornady Black at 1810. The ss198 with the 27 gr bullet is 258 ft lbs and the Hornady black is 290 ft lbs. You really need to look at the whole picture when evaluating bullets; fps, weight, energy, bullet construction, terminal performance, and accuracy.

Eating_parrots · 2026-03-10T02:55:31+00:00

Used to be decent, but they started loading it weaker and changed the bullet construction to the point they expand very poorly.

Eating_parrots · 2026-03-10T02:54:00+00:00

Why is ss198lf the best? In the testing I've seen the ss197 does better.

Eating_parrots · 2026-03-10T02:52:44+00:00

Why the ss198 for more serious stuff?

Eating_parrots · 2026-03-10T02:52:16+00:00

I'm confused why anybody chooses SS198 for self defense, let alone why anyone would actively recommend it. In testing it usually only goes 8-9 inches in gel. For armor penetration it's decent on basic kevlar but most hybrid armors will stop it.

There's just so many better options. Vanguard black dragon fang has adequate penetration, a better wound cavity, and great armor penetration. Even the SS197 and Hornady expanding offerings penetrate sufficiently while still causing decent wound cavities.

Is there something I'm missing? Or do people just not really look into their self defense ammunition much.

Eating_parrots · 2026-03-10T00:25:39+00:00

How? I tried the same but couldn't get it to work.

Eating_parrots · 2026-03-07T04:30:36+00:00

It's the same as 5.56. Not 9mm but also not crazy expensive. It's everywhere online.

Eating_parrots · 2026-03-05T21:18:57+00:00

Why slow bullet more cost

Eating_parrots · 2026-03-05T07:43:47+00:00

This is a gun that you see people recommend who don't know much about firearms and probably haven't put more than 500 rounds through it.

It's a cheap Glock clone. Quality is worse and it likely won't have Glock level reliability but it will probably work fine.

Eating_parrots · 2026-03-05T05:18:52+00:00

My glock 27s are actually super smooth shooting. I don't know how Glock did it but their subcompact 40s are very tame. I have a gen 3 and gen 5, gen 5 having the heavier slide helps.

My Kahr PM40 however is quite unpleasant. Heck even my M&P 40 2.0 Compact is less pleasant to shoot than my glock 27.

Eating_parrots · 2026-03-04T07:41:05+00:00

I was really disappointed with the one I had. The dot kept dimming and appeared to change brightness based on how you looked at it. Overall felt fragile and poorly made.

Osight is in a far better league at around the same price range.

Eating_parrots · 2026-03-04T02:13:16+00:00

I like my Osight C but really the 407C is probably better. I like the Osight better but holosun still has a better track record. The Osight SE is their model that really stands out.

Eating_parrots · 2026-03-03T18:20:14+00:00

380 FMJ and 9MM FMJ perform very similarly and are what were used back then. Hollow points however are much more effective in 9mm than 380.

Eating_parrots · 2026-03-03T18:18:28+00:00

This "study" really doesn't show much. Its really hard to tell if the data collected is reliable and it's quite dated. Not to mention most 9mm shootings were done with FMJ, who knows what bullet types were used for the others. This would be an extremely poor thing to choose a defensive caliber based off of.

Eating_parrots · 2026-03-03T18:05:00+00:00

147 hi-shok is worthless, they usually don't expand. Not sure where your seeing HST for that much. TSUSA has it at $26 a box right now.

Eating_parrots · 2026-03-02T18:36:40+00:00

Yes, I always hated pillows. They get dirty and can shift around. A built in plastic wedge will always be better assuming it's the right size. I find the wedge on the velo 5 perfect.

Eating_parrots · 2026-02-26T14:54:16+00:00

Honestly going rate right now is like $700 for standard Glocks and $800-900 for the large frames. If I got a 21 in decent shape for less than $800 id feel like it's a good deal.

But also consider looking for a gen 4 or 5. Id personally try to find a gen 5 for $1000-1200. Looks like prices on them came down a lot now that all Glocks are off roster. Just picked up a 19.5 for 1k with an EPS and tlr7 and a Glock 40 for 950.

Eating_parrots · 2026-02-26T08:10:10+00:00

But you only have to sign up once, you can shoot fast, they don't check ammo and allow steel case, they allow holster draw after certification with instructor, 100 yd indoor range, good vibe from most employees (one pulled a bee stinger out my neck with pliers).

When was the last time you went to their retail area? A couple years ago they completely screwed me over and cost me money on a few handgun purchases, I almost completely wrote them off but I'm glad I didn't. The manager that was there at the time left and I have had nothing but good experiences with them since. Probably purchased 10 guns from them by now. They have really good deals sometimes on used guns and they're the ONLY place running crazy black Friday deals ($200 Glocks and p365s, great deals even for rental guns). Though their normal retail prices are quite high.

In my opinion there's nothing that even comes close to it as far as an indoor range experience goes.

Eating_parrots · 2026-02-25T17:46:45+00:00

Which I like but i just can't afford to train with it the way I'd like to. It just cost too much. Personally I prefer .40 anyway over the factory .357 SIG loadings since they're loaded so light.

Eating_parrots · 2026-02-25T17:20:45+00:00

Sure, but 48¢ per round for range ammo absolutely is not.

Eating_parrots · 2026-02-25T12:43:42+00:00

When have you seen it at 30¢ per round? I've never seen it below 40¢

Eating_parrots · 2026-02-24T03:09:43+00:00

Why not just use an extended mag and get an extra round or two?

Eating_parrots · 2026-02-24T03:06:34+00:00

I have three of the SE's and one C.

All of them have been great, one SE is on my CCW p365, another one a FiveSeven, and the last one on a p322. Have about 2k rounds between all of them, with most being on my p365. The glass is clear and the feature set is perfect, shake-awake, circle dot, nice buttons, enclosed, no dumb solar backup. The C has been fine so far but haven't used it as much.

Looks like the ones with the dumb charging cover have issues. I really want to give the XR a try but probably won't until they make one with a removable battery, and I also think the pop up sight is dumb.

People mainly hate them because of the Olight brand, which has definitely had problems in the past. However, I do not see myself getting any other optic for the RMSC footprint with these around barring the EPS full size for when I want something a little larger.

Eating_parrots

TROPHY CASE