Which 9mm round for P.D.

I am looking for a new L.E. duty round to replace our current Federal Hydra-Shock 147 grain 9mm. We are replacing the Hydra Shock because of the price. So far, I am going to consider testing these rounds.

Winchester Ranger T 147 grain
Hornady TAP 147
Golden Saber 147

I am also willing to consider +P rated ammo as long as it will not harm our Glock 17's. The only +P round I am considering is the Speer GD 124 +P. Of course, I want all the goodies like penetration, expansion, and both of those through auto glass. Are there any other duty rounds I should be looking at? We will not be considering any +P+ rated rounds. By the way, this new duty round must also work for our Glock 26's. I've heard that the 147 grain rounds will not expand after being fired out of those short barrels. Thanks.

Depending on a few things, my preferred load may be a Corbon traditional 115 JHP (or the 125), or a DPX 115 gr. I have no idea on LE pricing on those. Of the three you listed, I'd be tempted to give the TAP a try. I chose those mainly because of the need to use in the G26 as well. I may have no idea what I'm talking about, either.

Anyone else? Would like to see more responses.

The 124gr 9mm+P Gold Dot has an estimated 95% one shot stop rate. The Glock-17 will handle +P without damage. I'm no fan of Glocks but they are very durable. The Hornady XTP opens up quite well. Try either the regular XTP or TAP-PD in 124gr. +P+ will most likely damage Glocks.

A little while ago I researched everything I could find on 9mm defensive ammo -- lots and LOTS of info -- and concluded that the Speer 124-grain Gold Dot +P was clearly the way to go. I wish I'd kept links to all the info, but sorry, I didn't. I do remember that auto glass was part of the performance equation. My 9mm's are the Glock 17 and 19 and the Browning High Power.

I would go with a + p regardless. NYPD had been using the 124+p gold dot with very good results. If not that Winchester is making a 124 +p ranger round and its is supposed to be very good but the cream of the crop per alot of sources is the 127 +p+ ranger (which I use off duty in my G19) It will not harm your guns if you do like my dept does you practice with cheaper low pressure fmj's and your guns will last as long as they are supposed to.

I carry the 124 gr. Ranger +P off-duty I like them alot. Very reliable and hard hitting round.

No real huge brand pref. but I personally much prefer 124 grain +P variety.

Speer 124grn+P is hard to beat... I like better the 147grn+P...I currently carry Geargia Arms Gold Dot 147grn+P..Rated at 1050fps.. Looking to get some Double Tap in the 147grn+P flavor.

All of the 147 grain 9x19mm loads seem to perform well. I have not tried the Ranger SXT, but have played with +p and +p+ level handloads using XTP's, Golden Saber's and Gold Dot's. All of them penetrated deep, expended reliably and held together. 147gr. is definitely the way to go for PD 9mm.

That said, the design of the Golden Sabre has proven beneficial in some of my more finicky guns. The "driving band" with the reduced diameter where the case is crimped seems to aid in reliable feeding.

All of the 147 grain 9x19mm loads seem to perform well.
Ditto. Seen the autopsies to prove it.
-David

DoubleTap 124g or 147g +P. About 100-150fps faster than other +P ammunition and about $0.25 cheaper per round.

147gr rounds seem to have no problems out of short barrels at all. I like the ra9t ranger round personally. Federal's HST round is popular and seems to have excellent expansion but I'm a little more comfortable with the deeper penetration from the ranger.

To bad they don't offer more FMJ designs for LE and SD.
Materials science, deep penetration, moderate expansion, reduced ricochet and all that.

Hmm.. custom load some Lapua CEPP bullets..
Probably a hassle/expense though

Thanks for all the replies. I would say we will be testing the Win. Ranger T 147, Speer GD 124 +P, Hornady TAP in 147 (we'd test the 124 if it was +P), and maybe the Remington GS in the 124 +P and 147. I wonder if the bonded versions of the Ranger and GS would be worth it? I would say the price will have a big impact on our final selection. Did I mention we will be purchasing 10,000 rounds?

I've been a big fan of the Ranger loads.

I carry the 127 +p+ in my SiG (No, it won't hurt your glocks. Especially with the relatively low round count most PDs will see), and I've had very good luck with the 147 in the GF's Kahr. She preferred the recoil impulse of the 147.

The informal gel tests I've done seem to show both rounds performing quite well.

Corbon DPX

Many of the SF,CA Bay Area PDs use Federal 147 gr HST2. These expand well even through 4 layers of denim, penetrate well and show superb accuracy. Federal has offered this ammo at very low prices to PDs. They also shoot to the same POA/POI as the cheaper Federal 147gr Hi-Shock ammo. The HST2 is a great load.
I believe it offers consistent accuracy/reliability, about 15 to 17" of penetration with at least .62 caliber expansion and its cheap for PDs.

Gold Dot, 124gr+p is the way to go. But I would check into the load offered by Black Hills.