[laser monkey]

I'm have my heart set on a Glock 17 but I'm not that used to carrying 9mm. I carry 165gr. Golden Sabers for my Glock 22 but I'm interested in what the learned carry.

So, what 9mm ammo do you carry...manufactorer, weight etc. Any input would be helpful. Thanks.

Oh yeah...and what not to carry?

[krept]

124gr +P Golden Saber. Prefer Gold Dot, but that's what the store had, that's what ran good so that's what I load in my P7.

Don'ts? don't load light fast bullets if you want max penetration, don't load heaviest stuff if you want the best expansion. If you stick with the quality ammo and put it where it needs to go you should be A-OK. cheers

cheers

[Wildalaska]

147 grain ranger SXT

WildgoodstuffAlaska

[sm]

In my personal Keltec P-11 : I currently have the 115 Speer Gold Dots.
One extra mag has the 124 gr version, another has the Fiocchi FMJ, and another the Blaser the FMJ.

Babysitting for someone these have:

In a BHP Speer Gold Dot 124 +P , same for extra mag

In a Glock 26 Win 115 STHP and same for spare mag.

The other two Keltec P-11s , one has 115 gr STHP the other has 115gr Montana Gold Reloads.

"Parents" come home tommorrow....I have to take them back. The BHP behaved very well while in my care. I did not take the others out to play. Go ahead and report me - see if I care. :D

[9mmepiphany]

my sig 226 and glock 19 are stuffed with the winchester SXT 127gr +p+ because they issue me the stuff...if i had to buy it i migt go with the gold dots in 124gr.

i try to stay in the middle ground of bullet weights.

my hk p7 is still loaded to federal 115gr 9BP because it is so accurate. the 147gr wouldn't reliably operate the p7 and i haven't used it since

[chevrofreak]

124gr +P Gold Dots

[Snowdog]

As some already know, testing JHPs against play dough is among my hobbies. The results gleaned are quite similar in terms of penetration as ballistic gelatin. Unfortunately, one cannot instantly see the crush cavity as with gelatin, but the medium is reusable. I'm convinced if it cannot perform as advertised in playdough, it will likewise fail on the street.

After testing scores of different 9mm JHPs, I've settled on Winchester's 147 Ranger. It's more accurate out of my K9 than Winchester's 127gr variety while offering more of a picture-book expansion, which is never a bad thing. Furthermore, the "talons" do deploy as they should.

Deep penetration, reliable expansion, nasty talons that always "deploy" and quite accurate, I have a good feeling about this particular load.


Ranger/K9 tests from left to right: 127gr +P+ Ranger into playdough after 2 layers of denim, 147gr Ranger into bare play dough, 147gr Ranger into play dough after 2 layers of demin
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid111/p99df2936ab5505798b32344ab8a0ec90/f91208e5.jpg

127gr Ranger (top); 147gr Ranger (BL); Displaced 115gr G-A Gold Dot carry load (BR)
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid111/p29a5a6091a9818999147d47364ec5061/f911fb11.jpg

The Winner in my book
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid110/pc3794cf6a9c6ae8a38bde766ee4e3d3e/f91427f4.jpg

[faustulus]

Cor-bon 115 +P
because speed kills.

[thatguy]

SnowDogs success at getting the 147s to expand is interesting. Perhaps because he is working under fairly ideal conditions? In the real world I keep reading and hearing of failues to expand with the 147s and I would not trust them to woork in a real gunfight. I carry Federal 9BPLE 115 JHPs rated +P+. Federal marks this as restricted to law enforcement but that's their policy and not any sort of law. Most of the studies tracking cartridge performance rate this load very highly.

[Lennyjoe]

Black Hills 124gr +P with the Gold Dot JHP bullet.

http://www.midwayusa.com/midwayusa/applications/mediasvr.dll/image?saleitemid=577164


124 Gr. Jacketed Hollow Point+P
Velocity 1250 FPS
Energy 430 Ft. Lbs

Midway USA.

Product #: 577164
Manufacturer #: M9N3
Our Price: $17.47

[Chipperman]

Speer Gold Dots in the gun, a second mag with Federal EFMJ.

[RandyB]

Currenty Federal 9PB 115 JHP, would like to go to a 124 gold dot +P soon.

[WT]

Federal 124 gr FMJ designed specifically for deep penetration in a typical overweight American.

[wolf]

feels good in my mind

feels good in my cougar

speer 124 gold dot

wolf

[cratz2]

I carry Georgia Arms 124 Gr +P Gold Dots. Have plenty of faith in the ones from Speer, but I just prefer the Georgia Arms.

I also prefer the Golden Sabers in 40 and 45, but for whatever reason, they just don't inspire confidence in 9mm. In my humble opinion.

Of course, I like Ranger Ts in every cartridge. The 147 Gr 9mm Ranger Ts I think deserve a pretty serious look.

[Wildalaska]

In the real world I keep reading and hearing of failues to expand with the 147s and I would not trust them to woork in a real gunfight.

References please...especially regarding the 147SXTs...

If you make a statement "They say", let us kow who "they" is and show us what "they" say

Wildfirmbeleiverin147sAlaska

[thatguy]

I didn't realize there would be a quiz. Like I said, I have read and heard anecdotal evidence of 147 weight 9MM failures. I was not offering expert testimony, only stating what I have read and heard. I have read several authors state that the 147s don't expand reliably (I think Ayoob is one but as noted I didn't realize I would be tested later so I didn't take notes) and one cop friend said that his department was unhappy with the 147 load due to failure to expand and over penetration in actual shootings. I have no personal experiance as I have avoided the 147s from the beginning feeling that they lacked the velocity needed for reliable expansion. Maybe I'm wrong but that's the way I feel. Take what I say exactly for what it is: words in Internet Land.

[isp2605]

The 147 stuff, particularly W-W Subsonic, from 10-15 yrs ago had a reputation for being a terrible performer on the street. Plenty of penetration but no expansion. From personal experience I investigated 7 shootings done by a local agency that issued the W-W 147 SS. Every one of those shootings involved multiple hits. In every case the recovered rd had no expansion larger than the caliber. It was performing like a FMJ. About their 4th or 5th shooting they were starting to look at something else. It was the 7th shooting that finally got them to move. They had a running gun battle with a subject and hit him 7 times COM and 5 other peripheral hits. The subject finally ran out of ammo and gave up. He's still alive today. He lost very little blood as the entry and exit wounds looked just like FMJ holes. This was just as the 357 SIG was coming out and they transition to it.
Since the reports of the early 147 problems there's been refinement of the 147 to where it's a much better performer giving much improved expansion and not overpenetrating.
Personally, when we carried the 9mm our issue ammo was W-W Ranger T 115 JHP+P+. I investigated quite a few shootings with that rd so I saw first hand what it would do. It is a superior performer. When I carry a 9mm today that's the rd I'll load. It will do the job. At one time we also carried Fed 115 BP and BPLE. I wouldn't hesitate to carry those either.

[Super Trucker]

I have went into several gun stores here in SE Michigan and asked for the Ranger SXT and they have all told me that is LEO ammo and they don't carry it. So am I just SOL or is there a way you are getting them I don't know about?

[tarrigoni]

I like the 147g Ranger SXT.

Super Trucker - you can order it from this (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=101553&highlight=ra9t) thread. It's the RA9T. Good stuff

[laser monkey]

What about 147gr. Hydra-Shoks? The Ranger T seems to be considered among the very best , do 147gr. Hydra-Shoks compare? Are they considered too slow to reliably expand?

[nitesite]

Lennyjoe-

I am fairly confident that your link/pic does not show Gold Dots. They look more like some Tritons I have. Did Triton use Hornady bullets? But definitely Triton look-a-likes.

Definitely K-mart. Yeah.... definitely K-mart.

[tc300mag1]

147 Winchester SXT i think it is

[Ala Dan]

I can't address what they are, as they are a secret! (:D LOL)

Its some type of Federal Hydra-Shok known only as the
infamous 9m/m Secret Service Load; as given to me
by my local PD rangemaster.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[Snowdog]

Thatguy, I'm glad you find my expansion tests interesting... I know I sure do. As for ideal conditions, I can't exactly haul 75 pounds worth of play dough out to 7th avenue, yank the garb off the nearest thug and fire away. ;)

Even though my tests are informal and more of a hobby than applied research, they do somewhat mirror results yielded with ballistic gelatin.

As far as 147gr subsonics go, I've known a few old standby 147gr JHPs fail to expand or upset during my play dough tests, even under “ideal” conditions. More to the point, if one were to hand me some subsonics from the early 80's to test, I'm sure we'd be hard pressed to find any that would reliably expand under any condition.

However, we no longer find PacMan the epitome of software sophistication, likewise the evolution of subsonic 147gr JHPs have marched in step.

Winchester’s 147gr SXT, 147gr Ranger SXT, Federal’s 147gr HydraShok, Remington 147gr Golden Saber and most other premium 9mm subsonics I’ve tested have all performed just as advertised. We live in a new age of JHP designs.

Sure, we still have some subsonics that don't always perform as we would hope (I've never been able to get the 147gr Winchester Silvertip to expand after 2 layers of denim), nevertheless the newest generation of subsonics should be placed in a completely different category as those of yesteryear.

[Rob96]

I have been using 124gr+p Speer Gold Dots. I would not feel undergunned if I was using 124gr +p Golden Sabers, or 115r +p Remington JHP.

[only1asterisk]

I carried winchester ranger 127 +P+. I never felt bad about them.


David

[bpisler]

I carry black hills 115gr GD +P's in my S&W9VE,very accurate,low flash and at less than 20 bucks for a box of 50 a good deal.

[Super Trucker]

Alright guys educate me. I finally found the win. ranger ammo at a gun show today I bought 2 boxes 1-9mm and 1-.40 the 9mm are different looking than the pics on the previous page as the bullets are black, not gold. the numbers on the boxes are as follows RA9SXT and RA40T the 40 are gold the 9 are black, why? I still have some win Black Talons in 9mm and .357 so are these (rangers ra9sxt))old bullets? that resemble the old black talons(about 12 years old) I have. I was told that if I used the Black Talons in a defensive situation the prosecutor would say I was a maniac out to kill the world, with the cop killer bullets. but I want the same damage level that they have. BTW I don't like the gold dots I have already tried them.

[deputy tom]

laser monkey,why when you already carry a .40 would you want to drop in caliber to a 9mm while still carrying a full size firearm?Please explain.tom.:confused:

[laser monkey]

laser monkey,why when you already carry a .40 would you want to drop in caliber to a 9mm while still carrying a full size firearm?Please explain


I guess the short answer would be magazine capacity. 17 rounds of quality defense ammo is impressive. But, honestly, I probably won't quit carrying my Glock22 on a daily basis because I like it and trust it too much. But I have wanted to own a Glock 17 for a long time and I figure that if I own one, I would want to own some quality defense ammo for it even if I don't forsee it being used as a gun for defense. I also have a CZ P-01 that I want to start carrying instead of my .38spl when circumstances make it hard to conceal a full size Glock. So I'll probably be picking up some ammo for it when I buy my Glock 17.

[Ryder]

Other than light handloads or FMJ I don't think there is any commercial 9mm ammo I wouldn't carry.

[Obiwan]

RA9T

And a word of advice.....

Anecdotal evidence can get people killed!

And it all start with "Well I heard that"

[mtnbkr]

Winchester Ranger SXT (RA9T) 147gr. Shoots small groups to POA in my Beretta 92F. All reports indicate it expands well. It's much cheaper than Speer's 124gr +P Golddot, so I can actually afford to practice with my carry ammo from time to time.

Chris

[W Turner]

I carry either Gold Dot 124's or the WWB 147 gr. JHP.

In more than a few tests, the WWB JHP's were right up there with the big boys in expansion and penetration. The bonus is that I get to practice with what I carry more frequently.

W

[W Turner]

I carry either Gold Dot 124's or the WWB 147 gr. JHP.

In more than a few tests, the WWB JHP's were right up there with the big boys in expansion and penetration. The bonus is that I get to practice with what I carry more frequently.

W

[armoredman]

Wally World ammo, the Winchester white box 115gr JHP. Evan Marshall did some testing of the cheap ammo upon urging from people on his board, and the cheap Winchester stuff proved to be a quite good performer. Also, on a state wage I gotta buy cheap - ammo or baby food is a bad decision.
Lasermonkey, have you czeched out czforum.com about your PO1? That's my carry peice, with one of CZs incredible high priced high cap mags in it, in a Galco paddle rig. GREAT pistol!!:cool: :D

[GlocksRock]

124 grain +p Gold Dots

[laser monkey]

Lasermonkey, have you czeched out czforum.com about your PO1? That's my carry peice, with one of CZs incredible high priced high cap mags in it, in a Galco paddle rig.

Thanks for the advice, I'll check it out. I've been looking for a holster for it also, so I might investigate what Galco has. Thus far I was only looking at the higher end Kydex holsters w/ no luck for a P-01.

[saltydog452]

Snowdog...

Did you ever test in your rather unique medium any 115 JHP +P Corbons? I gather from his articles, that Mas Ayoob seems to prefer them for soft targets as long as they function in the respective gun/mag combination that they are fired in. I realize that his opinions aren't etched in granite brought down from the mount by Moses, but his 'anecdotal evidence' carries significant weight.

Obiwan...

No disrespect intended partner, but 'anecdotal evidence' is about all that most of us are able to consider. Even guys like Fackler and Sanow can't seem to agree. Sanow and others report what appears to work on the street, and Fackler gives his evaulation of what those results were, but, admittedly, those evaulations were formed after the fact in a medical lab.

LEO restricted ammunition...

You guys and gals must use it, we don't have access to it.

As a civilian, in a 36 calliber handgun , it would seem that the fast and speedy projectiles would be preferable to slow and heavy.

I value your opinions, so how do they differ?

salty.

[Marshall]

Federal Hydra-Shok's in 124gr.

[nitesite]

Summertime:

Speer or ProLoad Gold Dot 124-gr +P, or Federal 9BPLE 115-gr +P+



Wintertime (in the south):

The above Gold Dots, as they nearly always expend and don't stay plugged by heavy clothing. I have some 1000-fps 147-gr Win Black Talons I might carry some this winter if I'm not totin' my 1911.

[Snowdog]

Saltydog, yes I have tested 115gr Corbons, though I forget which bullet they were using at the time... I'm thinking Sierra. I also forget which CD-ROM I put the pictures on. In the morning (working 3rd now) I'll find it and post a jpeg.

From memory, I do recall it expanded and fragmented somewhat. However, I believe fragmentation under controlled conditions practically guarantee expansion in the "real world". From memory I recall the penetration was around 8" or so, but I'll have to look up the log I stored that data in.

[mlr777]

Winchester 115 gr +P+

They seemed to work pretty well for the ISP for many years.

Oh yea, P7M8 X 2 and a Grock 19

[Snowdog]

I think this ammunition was made while Corbon was using Sierra JHPs instead of Noslers. I'm sure both are dandy for defense; I've always held this ammunition in high esteem.

The only records I have pertaining to this round were 7.5" (bare play dough / severe fragmentation) and 9" (2 layers of denim / moderate fragmentation). I'm almost certain the pictures are of the same bullet from the second test with moderate fragmentation.
I had a few more photos I'm sure, but these look pretty good.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid144/pd0bec4c12061e9b41c49ebf551b63673/f67f82f8.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid144/p3a084e8e59a1fd0787103fb66cda4ea0/f67f8276.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid144/p207d1a97ef7fafa46b03662c6b383c77/f67f8231.jpg

[DonGlock26]

I use 147gr RangerT in my G-26 for off-duty carry. We had several shootings in my Dept. and the 147gr. Golddot penetrated deeply and expanded well. 147gr. Golddots are my second choice(easy to find).

LAPD and LASO have used 147gr RangerT for years and we haven't heard any horror stories from them, have we? The 147gr. widow-maker myth is pushed over and over again by Ayoob and gun writers quoting Ayoob and S&M. Perhaps, it didn't work well in the 1980's. Wolberg said it did. It works today and that's what counts.

RangerT and Golddots,ect. are all made to perform to FBI standards. So carry the weight you feel is best. I want a bullet that will penetrate deeply and defeat light cover. So, I like 147gr 9mm, 180gr .40, and 230gr .45ACP.



Stay Safe,

Don

[Carbon_15]

115 JHP +P Corbons or Winchester 127gr +p+ Ranger Talons

[C. H. Luke]

Ranger T-Series 127 gr. +P+. Never 147's!

[ggamyang]

Hornady Custom 115 gr

[Berg01]

124gr +P Pro Loads in the good 'ol P228

[Otherguy Overby]

In the Glock, which I rarely carry it's just plain 9mm white box Winchester 147 JHP from WalMart.

In the 9mm 1911, it's 9X23 Winchester 124 gr JSP. I like the almost 1500 fps velocity... :) Even at 100 yards the velocity is still around 1100 fps which is better than a lot of 9X19 loads at the muzzle.

What I normally carry is a small 1911 chambered in 40 Short & Weak.

Sometimes I do go traditional with a full size 1911 in good ole 45 ACP.

[dkochan]

Georgia Arms 115 gr. Gold Dot JHP +P

[Missouri Mule]

124gr Gold Dots

or 115 grain CorBon +P

[kimbernut]

My Carry:
Colt P-9 w/ 124 gr. Rem. Golden Saber handloads

Wife's house gun:
Browning HP w/ 115 gr. Speer Gold Dot handloads

[PUMC_TomG]

In my Glock 19 I carry the 147gr. Winchester Ranger SXT.

A VERY good round.

[Big Mike]

124gr Gold Dots or 115 grain CorBon +P

Ditto. My current carry is CorBon, only because that is most recent box purchased. Mike

[mountainclmbr]

I usually carry either a Kahr MK40 .40 cal with Speer 155 Gold Dots or a Para Ord 12.45 .45ACP with Win Ranger-t +P 230 JHP's.

I am wearing a Glock 19 as I type this and it is loaded with Win Ranger-T 127 +P+. I went for the highest capacity today due to terrorist threat that could tremotely happen when I was in Denver today. I have a 15rd with +2 extension +1 in the tube and two 15 rd spare mags for a total of 48 rds.

I have to admit that I like the .45 for confidence and the Kahr for concealability with a pocket holster. With the cold weather it is easy to carry the Kahr in the pocket and the Glock on the hip.

[Wildalaska]

I went for the highest capacity today due to terrorist threat that could tremotely happen when I was in Denver today

Your totally insane, thats not enough, I been packing a SAW. After all there is a remote threat

WildboyscoutAlaska

[Super Trucker]

Let me see if I understand this :confused: If I have 48 rounds on my person and a terrorist has a dirty bomb in a suit case, I should think I am safe? I was under the impression they don't have signs on themselves saying, I will detonate this bomb in 9 seconds to give you the opportunity to shoot at them, guess I was wrong.

[RugerOldArmy]

Home Defense load:

New Win cases
WSP primers
6.4 gr Power Pistol
Barnes 115 Gr DPX
1.150 OAL
.380 crimp

Should work just fine. Hopefully I'll never know.

[Jack19]

Remington 115gr. +P+

[Jack19]

Let me see if I understand this If I have 48 rounds on my person and a terrorist has a dirty bomb in a suit case, I should think I am safe? I was under the impression they don't have signs on themselves saying, I will detonate this bomb in 9 seconds to give you the opportunity to shoot at them, guess I was wrong.

Super, mountainclmbr isn't wrong. A dirty bomb is one thing, an AR or AK another, and remember, you may need those 48 rounds to get home or to where you've arranged a family meeting point.

Not all the bullets are for shooting terrorists....although I'll take the shot if they give me the opportunity. I don't expect everyone to be an angel after the next terror attack...they weren't after 9/11.

[Mastrogiacomo]

115 grain, Winchester silver tip hollow points

[chevrofreak]

Mastrogiacomo, those are the same thing as the USA9JHP you can get for $10.96/50 at Walmart

[Missouri Mule]

Cor Bon 125gr +P HP

[mountainclmbr]

Winchester Ranger-T 127 +P+. Good stuff!

[Doug S]

115 gr Winchester Silvertips HP. 10 rounds in my G26 with a 17 round reload.

[Dees]

Snowodg, you're tests are VERY interesting and I appreciate them. Have you tested the Speer 124 GDHP's? How do they perform?

[Snowdog]

Have you tested the Speer 124 GDHP's? How do they perform?

What haven’t I tested? :D

The photos I have for the 124gr Speer Gold Dot include a 6x6 cube of play dough. The cube in the photo is almost certainly the second from the front in a line up of 3 or 4, with the first block usually completely destroyed.

As you can see, the Gold Dot did expand (after 2 layers of old denim), but some of the lead from the petals stripped off. Some folks seem to think since the jacket is bonded to the core the bullet is impervious to fragmentation, which is simply not true. Sure, some lead from the petals remain on the petals (this is why in the second photo they’re silver in color ;) ), but in some situations, the bulk of the lead from the petals detach just as with other JHP designs.
The bonded jacket feature was intended to eliminate core/jacket separation, not necessarily fragmentation/petal loss.
Fragmentation and petal loss is simply less likely with Gold Dots than with other JHPs. Bonded jackets also don’t prevent petal loss, which is very common with Georgia Arms 115gr +P+ Gold Dots after bare play dough, and occasionally encountered even after having bested 2 layers of denim. However, I wouldn’t think this makes the bullet less lethal. The Gold Dot is a proven design.

I think the following photos were taken more for the cube of play dough than for the bullet, but these are of a 124gr +P Gold Dot from Georgia Arms. The recorded depth of penetration for this particular shot was recorded at exactly 10", FWIW.

Here is a 124gr Gold Dot after 2 layers of denim resting next to the hole it left in the second block of play dough, fired from a G19
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p3ca131409b66c2c12a0d8f8188ff282c/f65c6673.jpg

Same bullet and play dough cube (notice the stripped lead from the petals)
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p5a6056a19b8ea3f0cb9515b2dd5af896/f65c6678.jpg

Same bullet and cube, side shot
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/paa3dd0542b544c985e836dc261ca83df/f65c6510.jpg

[Sean85746]

In my Glocks...and my Browning Hi Power...heck, in ALL but one of my 9mm's, I carry Remington 115gr jhps.

I have found that they are really really accurate, and I am still one of the firm believers in SHOT PLACEMENT.

Best of all, you can get hundred packs at Wally World for 13 bucks!

I must have 2,000 rounds of it in my ammo locker as we speak!

HOWEVER...I must say that I like the 124gr Hydra Shoks too. I carry those in my 70 Series Commander with the brushed nickel finish. They hit about an inch high, and about a half in left at 15 yards.

But....my daily carry gun is a Glock 23 daily in 40 cal, loaded with Hydra Shoks also.

[incursion]

Winchester Ranger T 127 gr. +P+ in my P7M8
Winchester Ranger T 147 gr. in my Walther P99

[threefeathers]

I'm afraid I carry Federal 135 grain personal def. They are expensive but shoot a very tiny group in both my H Powers and Sig 229. I have a handload that approximates this very well and turn out 300 of them an hour. So I practice a lot and feel quite fine about both loads. I keep a Taurus 92 in a Shoulder holster with 15 rounds of Black Hills 124 grain ball. This one shoots military ball very well.

[Johnny Guest]

:)
No, seriously. I could get along with several good quality ammo choices in my 9 mm handguns. As a government certified Surly Ole Curmudgeon, I clearly recall when I searched hard to find Remington 124 gr. FMJ ammo, to have a little more bullet weight than the common 116 loads - the most efficient ammo available for my sleek new S&W Model 39. :p I was excited when an exotic Scandinavian company (Norma!) announced their JACKETED HOLLOW POINT 9mm load. Unfortunately, it had a lot of very soft exposed lead at the nose. This quickly battered almost shut with repeated chamberings, to the detriment of accuracy. It also simply wouldn't feed in my P38, or, later, in an old High Power.

Lee Jurras at Super Vel came out with a 90 gr. JHP, loaded really warm, and it would feed in a newer High Power. Hot DAWG! My partner and I had a difficulty with a couple of robbers one summer afternoon, and I was flustered to learn that these Super Luger bullets wouldn't reliably penetrate Chevy safety glass at much of an angle. But, neither would Larry's 110 gr .38 Specials. I didn't trust 9mm for duty use for some time thereafter, and I still prefer a .45 for daily use.

A bit later, Remington introduced their 116 JHP with fully protected nose and an ogive (I didn't know that term back then, but I knew what it was) duplicating that of FMJ ammo.

I eventually settled on the Federal HydraShok 124 load for the rare occasions carrying a 9mm. My agency began issuing Speer Gold Dot 124s several years back, so this is what I use. My BHPs and Glock 19 shoot it well, and test reports are promising, so I am satisfied. I'd be equally happy with a similar bullet weight in Golden Saber, Hornady/Frontier XTP, or Winchester SXT.

I guess I've about come full circle. There was a time I felt pretty well armed with a Colt .22 autoloader, because I practiced enough to ensure pinpoint placement. You know, that's STILL the true nature of the exercise.

:D
Johnny

[Brian41]

Georgia Arms 115gr +p JHPs.

[Graystar]

I load my Glock 17 with Federal EFMJ. With the manufacturing issues solved, providing reliable and good sized expansion, is there a need for anything else?

[strambo]

Speer 124 gr +P. Good expansion, good oomph (for a 9mm.)

[Stevie-Ray]

147 gr HydraShoks.

[Glock19Fan]

Snowdog- Have you tested WWB 147 grain JHP? If so, could you post the results?

Just wondering, becuase thats what I have in my Glock 19.

Thanks!

[GTKrockeTT]

don't carry (CA resident), but i have 124 gr hydrashoks in my P228 bed-side.

[goste]

Snowdog, very neat tests. :)

I don't think my choice has come up yet. :confused:

Have you done any testing, on the 124 +p starfire?

[The_Shootist]

Winchester whitebox 115gr JHP - at 10 bucks a box its very affordable for constant proctice with my Glock 19.

Ammolab ran some tests on this round - the expansion appeared pretty good for a bargain basement personal defense round.

[mountainclmbr]

If I am carying my Glock 19 I have Ranger-T 127 +P+ loaded right now.

[Brasso]

Right now I'm carrying my Hkusp9f with Fed. Tactical 135gr+p. When that runs out I'll probably switch to 124+p or 147gr gold dot. They're just easier to get.

[seeker_two]

Depends on the gun...

Ruger P95: Cor-Bon 124gr +P HP in the gun & spare mag backed up by two more spares w/ Spanish NATO-style 115gr. FMJ-FP's. The Ruger can easily take the hot loads.

Firestar M43: Starfire 115gr HP in the gun w/ spare mag of S&B 115gr. FMJ. I use only standard pressure in the Firestar just to be easy w/ her (replacement parts harder to get than for the Ruger).

[Snowdog]

Glock19Fan, I haven't yet tested any WWB in any caliber, but I'm moving in that direction. I'm becoming curious with the performance of "economy" JHPs that's growing in popularity for defense. It won't be long now.

Goste, I have tested PMC’s Eldorado Starfire in .38special, 9mm and .40S&W. However, I'm under the impression the 9mm I used was 115gr non+p. Offhand, I recall positive expansion after 2 layers of denim with Starfires in all calibers, but some shallow penetration in some cases. If I can find those photos and data, I'll PM them to you. I don't want to hijack this thread any more than I have. :o

[Pumpkinheaver]

As of late I've been keeping my Xd-9 loaded with 124 starfires. I got a good deal on a bunch of them and after firing several boxes I decided to use them as my carry load.

[themic]

S&B 115gr JHP. Because they're cheap enough to practice with too.

[pharmer]

Hornady custom either 115 or 124 gr hp. Feeds flawlessly in 6906, accurate as I can manage,spunky too. Joe

[Greymoor]

When I picked up a Kahr PM-9 for carry I was concerned about ammo performance. With it's stubby 3" barrel I was wondering if the JHP ammo I was carrying would expand properly. So I fired 3 shots of 4 different JHP and 1 FMJ into wet news print to give the ammo a look see. the ones I had on hand were . .

115gr JHP Winchester White Box Personal Protection (WPP)
124gr JHP Speer Gold Dots (SGD)
124gr JHP Federal Hydra Shocks (FHS)
147gr JHP Winchester SXT (SXT)

also . .

115gr FMJ Winchester White Box (FMJ)

I fired them into about 24" of wet news print at a range of about 4 yards.

The FMJ penetrated approx. 12-13" with no expansion.
The SXT penetrated approx.. 11-12" with minor expansion. The recovered bullet looked like a star nose mole. Just the tip opened.
The FHS penetrated approx. 7-8" and expanded nicely.
The SGD penetrated approx. 7-8" and expanded nicely.
The WPP penetrated 6-7" and expanded fully, some jacket separation occurred.

For my PM-9 it would seem that the SXT simply did not have the velocity to expand fully. The recovered bullet looked like it had a crown. The Gold Dots and Hydra Shocks expanded nicely but not quite completely. The Winchester Personal Protection expanded and also had the jacket separate from the core in 2 out 3 cases.

This test gave me some insight on what I could expect from my ammo out of my pistol. For me, when using the PM-9, I carry the Gold Dots or the Hydra Shocks. A pistol with a longer barrel would most likely get the SXTs to expand as needed.

If anyone is interested I can break out the digital camera and take some pics of the recovered bullets.

Be well . . .

[bama1911]

I carry Speer 9mm+P+ 115gr. GDHP.

[bigmike45]

147gr. Hydrashocks in my KelTec P11. I like the heavy bullets in my 9'.

[cgv69]

I don't carry yet but in my beside gun I have Winchester Ranger-T 147gr. SXT (RA9T)

[yayarx7]

124gr +P Gold Dots

+1

[TRK2AJK]

I don't carry concealed, but my bedside weapon is a refurb p7 (psp) with golden saber 124+p. extremely accurate and 100% reliable w/500 rounds down range. :)

[Todesengel]

Winchester Ranger 147gr BT or Federal 147gr Hydra Shock

[SunBear]

Some of the info here is dead on. If you want DATA, search on 9mm on the Terminal Effects Forum at www.tacticalforums.com They don't tolerate hearsay or opinions there. You will find lots of test results there. :evil:

[8830]

124 Gold dot.

[M40A1]

Federal Hydrashok 124 grain +P+

[stevelyn]

Wolf 115 gr FMJ.















































































































Just yankin' yer chain. :D BHP is fed 115 gr Speer Gold Dots. :neener:

[B36]

BHP, P7, 1911, will have one of the following, Cor Bon PB +P, Fed 9BPLE, Speer GD, the last two +P+. Kel Tec has Cor Bon DPX.

[asleepinTucson]

Issued 147gr gold dots from Glock 19

[denfoote]

No, I don't have a mouth to feed, unless you count two cats and a wife.
But, I shoot Winchester 115gr White Box, HB and HP, for both practice and carry!! The ammunition works in all my guns and, while I don't place much stock in Evan Marshall's "research methods", I do appreciate him proving that my ammo choice does, indeed, work!!

The clerks at my Local Wallyworld (Avondale, AZ Supercenter) are pretty much trained!! The see me coming and have two boxes out and waiting for me!! ;) :evil:

[fastbolt]

Presently carry the issued 127gr +P+ RA9TA.

In years past I've carried 124gr +P GD & GS, as well as some of the different 147gr loads ... even the basic Winchester 147gr Subsonic Duty/Personal Protection loads at different times (and in previous years it was 147gr Hydra-Shok, following the first Olin OSM loads :uhoh: ).

Who knows what I'll be issued and carrying 6 months from now.

As long as it's one of the premium rounds produced by Winchester, Remington or Speer it doesn't really concern me.

[Gunnutz13]

If I not using my Black Talons ( 115 gr ), I carry Hydrashoks ( 115 gr )...both cycle well and hit where I am 'em through my FN Hi-Power. :evil:

[williegee]

Winchester 115 gr. Sivertip HP

[Snowman92D]

Winchester Ranger-T 124-grain +P jhp's.

[tbeb]

Speer Gold Dot 124 gr. JHP+P.

[TheEgg]

(+P+) 124GR. FED P9HS3G