9mm Carry Ammo

Poll is not there

Regardless of that, I carry Hornady CD 115gr in my 9mm

I'm assuming they all feed equally reliably in your carry gun. I've used PDX1 in .380, 9mm, and .40S&W. Partially because it's one of the most common brands in my area, and partially because it feeds reliably in all the guns I've fed it to. It's also a pretty consistent performer in the tests I've seen.

As a side note, I believe the FBI uses a version of the PDX1 line in .40S&W and possibly 9mm, though I could be wrong.

I'd go with the Winchester 147 grain.
Not a premium JHP, but it's affordable and you can practice with it more.
And it's a heavy weight so even if it doesn't expand your still hitting them with a 147 grain slug.

115 gr +P+ 9PBLE.

Easy to find and has a great record.

Winchester Ranger T 127gr +P+

It is a wicked load for 9mm and your Glock 19 should eat it safely and reliably.

Being you asked for a carry load I am going to assume your working with a sub 4" barrel. The best performers seem to be the 148 gr bullets. I would recommend federal hst or Winchester rangers. I have spent a lot of time researching this very question. The 148 grain recommendation comes from an engineer that works for federal who was involved in the r&d of the latest ammo. I don't recall the name but it was the same guy who developed the hydroshock back in the 80's.

Federal 9BPLE 115g

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.

I carry Hornady CD. Feeds reliably, and expands nicely in every test I've read. Plus, I like the rubber in it to help expand. Sounded like a good idea to me when I bought em, so I stuck with em.

I like the Winchester 124g PDX1 9mm+P ammo.
But I also like the Speer Gold Dot 124g 9mm+P ammo.

Federal HST 147gr +P.

Winchester Ranger T 127 +P

Nothing better.

Maybe equal but not better.

Since I work two miles from there:
Georgia Arms 124 grain Speer.

Not to much recoil from my Kel-Tec P11.
And cheap enough to practice with.

I use Federal Hydra Shok 135gr in my LC9. I'm sure that no matter which bullet you choose, you will be fine.

I'm sure that no matter which bullet you choose, you will be fine.

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+1
While all bullets are certainly not created equal, any of the ones listed above should do you fine. Having said that, I really like Golden Sabers and have always used them in my guns anytime I'm not at the range (bedside, carry, etc.)

Indoors I use Critical Defense. It's low noise, low recoil and low(er) penetration.

Outdoors it depends and it's not always 9mm. For woods I often put in WWB 147g HP because I'm looking for penetration. Other candidates are any decent 125g +p load. I used to use Gold Dots, but lately they're hard to get.


Hornady just announced something I'd consider for outdoors, it's a 135g and 135g +p load with the flex tip and a Core-lokt like jacket bulge.

I carry the Winchester T Series in calibres I don't load defense rounds for, in particular +P loads in 9mm and .45ACP and .40. I don't like loading high pressure rounds right to the limit or over without being able to check the pressure to see if it is safe. The bullet is the new black talon bullet, without the scary name. Expands well.

There is also the Winchester Ranger +P+ 115gr. Silvertip. That bad boy is moving at around 1400fps? Smoking hot, more like a .357.

All these are the Ranger line, the law enforcement stuff. If you can't find it locally (the closest store to me sells a LOT of it) you can find it online. You want the +P or +P+ stuff for carry, provided your pistol can take it. I've heard of QC issues with it, but never had any. I even shot a fairly accurate ten round group, about 20" with half at about 10", at 100m, with the .40 165gr. T Series out of a G27. Not too shabby for store bought ammo.

I don't know about the Critical Defense, but the XTP is one of the best bullets out there for accuracy. I load them a lot. Hornady has a tendency to load some rounds soft, like their Custom XTP 115gr. 9mm, 1100fps ain't gonna cut it, but I appreciate the honesty (their 00 buck TAP FPD is another story... so-so recoil, 8 pellets at 1600fps!). Their 155gr. .40 XTP load isn't too bad, but their 10mm is just hot .40. So with Hornady, it kind of depends...

Another one you didn't list is the Gold Dot +P. 115gr. or 124gr. This bullet expands well and doesn't come apart. The Gold Dot is one of the better bullets out there for defense, and you can usually find it.

Corbon makes good ammo too, but stick with the standard ammo. The solid copper stuff is very pricey and not as fast as the regular stuff. I think they advertise 1300fps with 115gr. They used to use the XTP, then the Nosler or Sierra I think... Or maybe the other way around. Not sure what they use now. I have some that are ten years old that shoot and chrono like they were made yesterday.

Any big manufacturer, hollow point, 115-127 grain, and +P or +P+ loading from the factory, one is going to be about as good as the next. If one feeds better than the other, use that, otherwise use the one that makes you feel the safest or is the most available. There is no magic bullet, but that recipe in 9mm is time tested and proven.

Winchester Ranger T 127gr +p+

I like Federal Hydra Shok.

Remington Golden Saber 124 gr.

Pretty much any of the Personal Defense loads or Police Surplus ammo is fine for self defense. I tend to favor ammo that has been or is being used by law enforcement in either surplus or civilian market equivalent. Currently my Glock 19 is stocked with Winchester Ranger Partitions with spare magazines loaded with the same and Federal Hydra Shoks not for any particular belief in their superiority oer any other such ammo.