9mm Carry Ammo

[RinkRat]

I was at a show last week and was going to get a couple boxes of the Winchester T-Series 9mm 127gr +P+ RA9TA but the ends of the casings and the primers didn't look crescently fresh, shiny clean, and had what appeared to be, maybe, a little corrosion?? The eight boxes they had all had the same embossed code on the end flap of the box and all looked that way, so I thought they might be a bit old or were maybe sitting around in the wrong atmosphere for too long. So I passed.

I did buy some 45 Auto +P 230gr RA45TP, which looked clean and shiny new.

How do you read the embossed letters and numbers code on the end flap on the boxes? Will it give you just a lot number or can it tell you when it was manufactured too?

Should I have just bought the 9mm and not worried about the appearance of the primer area? Or did I do the right thing?

With all the weather and humidity issues in various areas, these ammo dealers at the shows might buy up an old lot of ammo, or one that sat in the wrong environment for too long ?? though this one I see all the time at the three local area shows, and they always have the largest and a very complete selection, at very good prices too. I get some ammo from them every show and haven't had any problems with even one round from them ... yet. Though I always do look it over before I buy it

 

[MikeNice]

Rink, if they don't ask for proof you are a LEO they are probably selling department surplus or somebody else's overstock. If it doesn't look right you should pass. There is no telling why it was dumped off.

I usually buy mine from SJ ammo. I have yet to have a bad Ranger HP. I have had a box of Ranger fmj that was over pressure though. It was actually the best looking box of ammo I had ever recieved from an online dealer. It just goes to show that cosmetics are only half the equation.

 

[theicemanmpls]

The 9pble is ancient technology and not the best performer in any recent testing. I believe the issue was lack of expansion and early fragmentation.

Where did you read the unsatisfactory testing results? I can't find out anything negitive on the internet regarding this load.

 

[gofastman]

Federal HST 147gr +P.

ditto.
P9HST4

if I had a 4" or longer barrel I would also take:
124gr +P Gold Dot
124gr +P HST
115gr +P DPX
probably in that order.

 

[Aiko492]

Federal HST 124 or 147 gr +P or Winchester Ranger T 147 gr +P

 

[wnycollector]

Another vote for the 9BPLE (+P+ 115gr). Yes it's an old round...with a very long real world track record of stopping bad people from doing bad things.

 

[wally]

I don't carry a 9mm, but if I did it'd be with 147 gr HP ammo. Brand is much less important that your skill at putting the round in the vitals. Bullet placement, placement, and penetration are the three most important things in handgun effectiveness.

 

[RinkRat]

MikeNice ^^^

who is SJ Ammo?

I've been mostly using Winchester T-Series and I've never had a bad round yet myself.

I also have used their PDX1. And have some 9mm Speer GD 124gr +P for short barrel too.

I don't have any recoil or feeding issues and I get reasonable accuracy too.

And yes when ever I get ammo regardless of if it's at a gun store or a show, I always open the box and look it over, because... once I was at Cabela`s and while I looked inside the box. One of their sales people was stocking the shelve and said we would rather you didn't open the boxes sir. I said well look-ee here there are a couple rounds missing!!

He said oops sorry I'll let the manager know, I'm just doing what I was told

Do you open and look inside the carton when you buy eggs? Or do you wait till you get home to find out a couple are broken

 

[MikeNice]

I meant to type SGammo. They are an online company that sells LE ammo at great prices. They have common ammo types as well. I always check there for HPs or "better" range ammo.

 

[Pilot]

Cor-Bon. 124 grain +p.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

Winchester Ranger 127-gr. +P+ or 124-gr. +P.
Speer Gold Dot 124-gr. +P.

 

[Hypnogator]

None of the Above

In a full-sized battle pistol, I'd go with 124-gr. Federal HSTs.

In a compact 9mm, (like my PF-9) I carry 115-gr. Cor-Bon DPXs. Deep penetration and excellent expansion, even through heavy clothing, with less muzzle-flip.

 

[papa_bear]

@ theiceman...... Sorry the quote function doesn't work on my phone. I can't find the FBI report but I did read it a while back. I also believe I read reports from other agencies which I just don't have the time to find. However, a quick Google search brings up plenty of info. Here are a few unscientific links
http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=3&f=16&t=152345
http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/ammo-can/140206-any-reviews-federal-classic-9bple-ammo-2.html
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=258792

 

[SouthernBoy]

My preferences in 9mm carry loads are the following, in no particular order;

o Federal HST 124gr +P
o Federal HST 147gr +P
o Gold Dot LEO (53617) 124gr +P

On occasion, I have also carried Winchester Ranger 127gr +P+ RA9TA.

 

[ChCx2744]

My favorite carry loads in 9mm are as followed (In no particular order):

-Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P Bonded GDHP
-Federal LE Tactical HST 124gr +P JHP
-Winchester Ranger T-Series 127gr +P+ JHP

Of the 3, the HST is the cheapest, the T-Series is the second cheapest and the Gold Dots are the most expensive. I, personally, like the Gold Dots the best.

 

[theicemanmpls]

@ theiceman...... Sorry the quote function doesn't work on my phone. I can't find the FBI report but I did read it a while back. I also believe I read reports from other agencies which I just don't have the time to find. However, a quick Google search brings up plenty of info. Here are a few unscientific links
http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=3&f=16&t=152345
http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/ammo-can/140206-any-reviews-federal-classic-9bple-ammo-2.html
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=258792

Interesting results. I carried this load daily when I carried a G-17 for a living. My choice of rounds will always put a major hurt on a bad guy. I will change to something better when I burn through my 500 rounds of the 9BPLE+P+. This will take about ten years. I will use this load on the rare days I carry a 9mm. I agree there is better stuff out there. However, this load still works.

This data was taken from StoppingPower.net:

10% Ballistic Gelatin Tests for:
Federal 9mm 115gr. +p+ 9BPLE

Testing Platform: Glock 19

Barrier: 4 Layers of Denim


TEST RESULTS:

Round # 1:
Penetration: 12.50"
Recovered Weight: 110.1 gr.
Expansion*: .680 cal.
Velocity: 1298 fps.
Notes: .680 at widest “leg,” .551 cal average diameter.

* Expansion measured at widest point.

 

[Jonah71]

Hornady Critical Defense in most of my nines. But it won't feed in my old 2003 CZ 75 B.

 

[shooter_from_show-me]

Winchester Ranger 127gr +p+ in my Springfield XD Service with tritium sights

 

[D Rock]

I go with Hornady Critical Defense FXT. Here's a shot of 6 rounds thru a layer of denim and about 8" of wet phone books.



When I can't find Hornady I use Remington Golden Saber 9mm 124 +P although in my area I sometimes have no luck finding that either.

Dave

 

[Shawn Dodson]

This data was taken from StoppingPower.net:

10% Ballistic Gelatin Tests for:
Federal 9mm 115gr. +p+ 9BPLE

Testing Platform: Glock 19

Barrier: 4 Layers of Denim


TEST RESULTS:

Round # 1:
Penetration: 12.50"
Recovered Weight: 110.1 gr.
Expansion*: .680 cal.
Velocity: 1298 fps.
Notes: .680 at widest “leg,” .551 cal average diameter.

* Expansion measured at widest point.

The data were obtained from uncalibrated ordnance gelatin or non-standard ordnance gelatin, which incorrectly depicts deeper penetration performance than the round actually achieves.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I bought a box of 115 grain +p+ 9pble Federal hp's for 20 bucks/50. For that price I couldn't resist, its proven ammo.