Personal Defense 9mm Ammo

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RetiredUSNChief said:
I carry Speer Gold Dot 115 gr. hollowpoints.

Why 115 gr. instead of 124, 135, or 147 grain?

For the simple reason that the standard velocity and mass match that of my typical target ammunition, Winchester White Box 115 gr.

I cannot distinguish any difference in point of impact between the two at the range, which means I can continue economic target shooting with WWB 115 gr. knowing that my choice in Gold Dot will be no different.

I wouldn't mind a heavier bullet, but then my preference would be to find a fairly inexpensive target ammo source with the same mass which shoots the same as the heavier self-defense round. I really have no desire to do so, honestly.
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Which is what I did; back when ammo was available and cheap; I kept ordering from TargetSports USA by the case for my lawman practice ammo. At one point it was .016/ea
 
Brubz said:
Thanks for all your help you guys have been great as usual I have access to Hornady Critical Defense so I will order some more while I can
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Just a follow-up to my own recent post you guys are advising a lot of great ammo but it's just not available that's why I'm jumping on the Hornady because it's actually in stock and I can buy it at a ridiculous price and outrageous shipping. Everyone criticizes the so-called ammo hoarders but in a way you really can't blame them if there's a shortage like this you just can't find what you want
 
I use plain Jane 115 gr hollow points. Federal I think. It is what I use because it is what I know works in my carry guns.
 
I like Gold Dots or Golden Sabres (used to be able to get them cheap form Target Sports USA, they used to have boxes of 50 LE Gold Dots for what the boxs of 25 cost in town) .

Gel tests are gel tests but for what it's worth
https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/

I would be happy with any of the HPs in the above test that showed decent expansion and penetration.
DPX, Gold Dot, Golden Sabre, VCrown, PDX1, HST....

If prices are equal (and they are available) next time I rotate SD ammo I would liek to try the Federal HSTs.
 
GRIZ22 said:
I don't think there is a "magic bullet". Any quality jhp will do IMO. While they might perform better in testing there is nothing that proves the (normal prices) $1.50-$2.00 a round designer ammo is better.
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This, taken with a grain of salt.

I see no reason to use Inceptors or anything "boutique". I have Gold Dot 124 JHP, not +P because I don't have them loaded in a compact (and I couldn't find the +P anyway at the time). I hit a sweet deal last May, $399 a case, so I now have basically a lifetime supply.
Before then, I had a few boxes of Federal 9BP, which is an older design, 115 gr JHP. Some folks like them, some folks said they don't expand reliably.
I don't know, I've never had to shoot someone.
 
lsudave said:
This, taken with a grain of salt.

I see no reason to use Inceptors or anything "boutique". I have Gold Dot 124 JHP, not +P because I don't have them loaded in a compact (and I couldn't find the +P anyway at the time). I hit a sweet deal last May, $399 a case, so I now have basically a lifetime supply.
Before then, I had a few boxes of Federal 9BP, which is an older design, 115 gr JHP. Some folks like them, some folks said they don't expand reliably.
I don't know, I've never had to shoot someone.
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I would like buy Gold Dot in a second but they're just not out there check ammo seek check wiki they're not out at any price. This is why I don't fault the so-called Hoarders they have what they want ammo shortage or no ammo shortage. Us "non hoarders" are out of luck
 
124 grain HST is my preference but I don't think ammo choice matters all that much for a civilian. I wouldn't lose any sleep over carrying standard Winchester or Federal hollow points, let alone other premium choices like Gold Dots or Critical Defense or whatever.
 
Hornady Critical Defense isn't designed to defeat automotive windshield glass. IMO it's a poor design for concealed carry use.
 
I don't go with opinions when there's science.

Lots of agency tests (e.g. FBI) are kept secret for various reasons. But Doc Roberts has done plenty of very legit testing, working with real agencies, etc and shares what he can with us. Here's the (sometimes updated) page on appropriate "duty" ammo. Read it as "defensive" ammo and same thing.

https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?4337-Service-Caliber-Handgun-Duty-and-Self-Defense-Ammo

I, and many people I know who carry 9 mm pistols for a living, use the Speer Gold Dot 124 gr +P JHP, but as you see there are other acceptable performing cartridges.
 
I carry Federal 124-gr HSTs or Winchester 147-gr Ranger-Ts from an over-run foreign contract. Both function and expand superbly in my Hellcat.
 
Currently loaded with Federal 9BPLE 115gr +P+ as I got 1k of it for $350 a few years ago. It's not a new design but it's field tested and works.

If I didn't have those I'd be fine with the Speer 125 +P Gold Dots too.

From my perspective most American standard pressure 9mmP is loaded to below standard velocity to avoid liability for damage to old or poorly built pistols. I don't now any antique or shoddy firearms in 9mmP and I'm fine with any increased wear for the amount I actually shoot the good JHPs.

BSW
 
My M&P Shield 9mm is very accurate with Speer GD 124gr +P and bought up extra when the panic started. Federal Punch 124 gr , Winchester Silvertip 147gr and Underwood 124gr +p they all cycled well.
 
Brubz said:
This is why I don't fault the so-called Hoarders they have what they want ammo shortage or no ammo shortage.
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Is buying ammo by the case 'hoarding?' Is buying an 8# jug of powder hoarding? It's simply an economic way of making sure you have enough for your needs. If it helps you prepare for the future... well, luck favors the prepared. I don't run out of toilet paper, either.

Personally, I don't think you can go wrong with any SD ammo, particularly if your pistol likes it (feeding) and it's accuracy is acceptable. Rule #1 of defensive shooting is to hit your target. What was the old saying... you can't miss fast enough? At the end of the day any SD ammo will at least act like FMJ...
 
Charlie98 said:
Is buying ammo by the case 'hoarding?' Is buying an 8# jug of powder hoarding? It's simply an economic way of making sure you have enough for your needs. If it helps you prepare for the future... well, luck favors the prepared. I don't run out of toilet paper, either.
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I hope its not hoarding. If it is I'm one of those evil hoarders. But at least I'm not one of the scalpers. I have given away some of my ammo. And yes a lot were not prepared. I have quite a bit but I wish I had bought another 5000 SP primers and a couple of cases of 9mm. But for a long while I'm OK.

As to SD ammo I use whatever HP I have on hand. Most of that in 9mm is the cheap old Remington 115 bullets that have sold forever in the green boxes. The poster 5pins did a test on them and they expanded about as well as any other HP bullets even the very high priced stuff. I am more concerned about reliability, penetration and accuracy than expansion.
 
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I use Hornady 124 xtp. This choice is colored by 3 factors. 1.It is accurate and reliable in both 9mms I have in this role. 2. I live in a cold climate and operate in rural settings often where black bear may be a problem. This bullet is known to penetrate both heavy clothing and small bears effectively. 3. The bullet is available as a relatively inexpensive reloading component and service loads are easily matched for practice.
 
Brubz said:
Just a follow-up to my own recent post you guys are advising a lot of great ammo but it's just not available that's why I'm jumping on the Hornady because it's actually in stock and I can buy it at a ridiculous price and outrageous shipping. Everyone criticizes the so-called ammo hoarders but in a way you really can't blame them if there's a shortage like this you just can't find what you want
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I know I mentioned the seemingly very popular Corbon 124+P early in this thread, and its been repeated, but I wouldn't worry much at all if I was using Hornady CD either. I have used enough of their bullets to know they are a quality manufacturer. Don't worry to much about it, you won't need more than 2 boxes in the next 10 years anyway, assuming you run 1 box to try out, and leave the gun loaded for a decade. One great thing about it, the ogive will tell you if you have experienced bullet setback, something underappreciated in defensive ammunition. Many people load and unload everyday, and bullet setback can be a problem. That bullet gives you a clear indication.
 
I have Hornady Critical Defense in my Glock 19 and in my Springfield XDM just plain old FMJ 115 gr. In my .357 LCR, HCD and in my S&W Body Guard I have Gold Dot. Those compromise my most carried arms. If I open carry my Kimber 1911 it has 230 grain FMJ.
 
ThomasT said:
I hope its not hoarding. If it is I'm one of those evil hoarders. But at least I'm not one of the scalpers. I have given away some of my ammo. And yes a lot were not prepared. I have quite a bit but I wish I had bought another 5000 SP primers and a couple of cases of 9mm. But for a long while I'm OK.

As to SD ammo I use whatever HP I have on hand. Most of that in 9mm is the cheap old Remington 115 bullets that have sold forever in the green boxes. The poster 5pins did a test on them and they expanded about as well as any other HP bullets even the very high priced stuff. I am more concerned about reliability, penetration and accuracy than expansion.
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I agree with you completely like a friend of mine says the definition of a hoarder is some guy that has something that you can't find
 
Brubz said:
Thanks for all your help you guys have been great as usual I have access to Hornady Critical Defense so I will order some more while I can
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CD is good stuff. As with any ammo you haven’t tried in your gun, just run some through it to make sure it cycles well in your particular gun.
 
Mine is Sig 124 grain JHP. Chronos from my pistol at 1120 fps (SA 1911 compact, 4" barrel) Their bullets are made by Sierra, an old highly respected bullet company.
The ammo is reliable and consistent in all of my 9mm pistols (Sig 226, Star BM, SA 1911 compact). ( Buffalo Bore 158 gr lead hollow point GC SWC non +P reside in my S&W snubby)
Truth be told, conventional defensive ammo from any main line company will be good and will be easily defensible in court if you are unfortunate enough to use it.
Perhaps not so with "Terminators, Destroyers, Manglers, etc etc."
 
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