[WestonSmith]

Hello everyone,

I\\\'m new to hand guns but am getting one for eventual concealed carry. I am planning on starting with the 9 mm for Springfield XD. There\\\'s quite a few types of 9 mm luger out there. What is the best type for personal self-defense? Are hollow tipped the best? Hydra-shock? What is the best and most likely to stop the lethal threat of another (price doesn\'t matter), but at the same time still legal and reasonably safe for the handgun owner and surrounding environment (such as bystanders, or property on the opposite side of a wall)? Any suggestions? Thanks :)

[ArchAngelCD]

In 9mm the best weight seems to be 124 grain.

Federal Hydra-Shok, Speer Gold Dot, CorBon, Remington Saber and a few others are all good defense rounds but all guns are different. You will have to fire a few different rounds through your pistol and see which works best in your gun and which you are most accurate with.

[boredelmo]

FYI \\\I think\\theres something wrong with your keyboard\\\\\

[longeyes]

Glock mit Winchester Ranger 127g T +P+

[waynedm]

FMJ! See: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=262124

[gezzer]

FREE! I loved shooting dept ammo, couldn't get enough.

[Jack19]

Frankly, whatever fires reliably, and accurately, from your chosen weapon.

Hollow point, soft point, FMJ, yadayadayada. Pick one that you can hit with.

I've carried a 9mm handgun for the better part of 30 years. The 9mm works, no matter what the fans of the other calibers say against it. I'm still here typing this after all. :D

There are no "best" rounds. Find a round that you shoot well, and buy a LOT of it and practice.

I'd also advise that you obtain professional instruction.

[c1ogden]

Any of the brand names hollow points are good but each has its own peculiarities. My issued ammo is CCI/Speer Gold Dot that works fine in my issued Sig but it routinely jams in my Kahr K9. It seems that Kahrs have rather tight chambers and CCI makes their ammo on the large side of the SAAMI specifications. Put AT LEAST 200 rounds of each load through YOUR gun. Disqualify any that don't function with 100% reliability. Then pick the most accurate of what is left.

[boalex207]

I'd also advise that you obtain professional instruction.




COULDN'T agree more. Training...good training...is crucial.

[Waywatcher]

FYI \\\I think\\theres something wrong with your keyboard\\\\\

:D

[Byron]

Weston, Welcome to THR. I think Jack 19 summed it up well. I have done water expansion tests on various 9MM HP's All did well and that includes the Remington UMC 115 grain HP. These are about $15 at Walmart. The WW Valu pack in 115 gr FMJ is a good bullet.I am comfotable with either HP's or FMJ for protection. The advice of professionalhelp is very good. Byron