9 mm Self Defense round, whats your favorite ?

[nathan]

I probably go for the CCI Speer Gold Dot 115 JHP plus P . I do have the same brand but in 124 gr JHP plus P load in my Sig P6. So many choices today compared in the last 20 yrs. Goes to show the development of bullet designs of the 9mm para makes it a more potent and viable self defense round.


http://www.ammunitiondepot.com/9MM-Ammunition-Bulk-s/1817.htm

 

[WC145]

Federal 9BPLE 115gr JHP +P+

 

[orionengnr]

If I could find 500 or so at a reasonable price to pass through my PM9, I'd like to try the HST.

Until that happens, I am satisfied with the Winchester Ranger 127 +p+ that works perfectly in my PM9.

Bottom line: a known quantity is better than the "flavor of the week".

Whatever you choose, most experts (and I am not one, but I don't tend to argue with them) agree that you should put at least 200 rounds of your chosen carry ammo downrange without a malfunction. Any malfunction of any type requires you to start again.

Needless to say, if you have a finicky pistol, this can get very expensive very quickly. Or, if you choose to change pistols regularly, that can get equally expensive.

I have about a ton of 9mm ammo (including the above-mentioned BPLE) in smaller quantities that are essentially wasted. I don't have enough to proof-test my carry gun, but I have too much to just burn off.

Sucks, but it is what it is.

Actually, if you think about it, that is the stupidest string of words ever uttered. Everything in the world is what it is, by definition...how could it be otherwise?

 

[C0untZer0]

147gr Winchester Ranger "T" Series JHP - RA9T

It has been flawless in my Rohrbaugh, and it is loaded in my nightstand gun.

I have the 147gr standard pressure HST in my Kahr CM9, the tests by ShootingtheBull410 show it to be a pretty good performer also.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3VfWkWMzOI&index=11&list=PLgNSGOEQko_M90AMdRCDMgd-w4Yozc27i

 

[CNobbe]

I've been carrying/shooting Critical Defense 115 and 124gr for a while, it feeds perfectly in my little EMP 1911 where a couple of the wide mouth JHPs would hang up in it. My PM9 and PPS feed everything.

 

[tarosean]

124gr HST

 

[RussellC]

HST or Gold Dot. If I cant find those, its Hornady critical duty.

Russellc

 

[Jenrick]

Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P is my choice. Seems to work very well, and while it has some pop for a 9mm round it's still very controllable.

-Jenrick

 

[TomJ]

I've been using Buffalo Bore's JHP 115 Grain +P+, except for in my P938, where I use their 124 grain +P JHP. From what I've seen, it's the best SD round I could find, but I'm open to suggestions.

 

[herrwalther]

147gr HST is my preferred 9mm round.

 

[Tony k]

Hornady Critical Defense 115 +P

 

[C0untZer0]

it's the best SD round I could find, but I'm open to suggestions.

What is your definition of best?

 

[TomJ]

What is your definition of best?

A combination of penetration, expansion and wound cavity without quality or reliability issues. It also needs to function in what I'm carrying, which is obviously my responsibility to test. Based on the gel tests I've seen, the +P+ round expands reliably, has a sizable wound cavity and consistently penetrates 15 to 16 inches. Attached is the link to one of the gel tests.

http://mousegunaddict.blogspot.com/2013/11/buffalo-barnes-9mm-p-115-grain-tac-xp.html

 

[AustinTX]

Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P is my choice. Seems to work very well, and while it has some pop for a 9mm round it's still very controllable.

-Jenrick

Same. I don't even find it at all unpleasant in my PPS.

 

[AustinTX]

I've been using Buffalo Bore's JHP 115 Grain +P+, except for in my P938, where I use their 124 grain +P JHP. From what I've seen, it's the best SD round I could find, but I'm open to suggestions.

I wouldn't use any Buffalo Bore unless it's with the Barnes HP (which comes in 115 gr., but not 124 gr.). When BB started, their ammo used Gold Dot JHPs, but at some point they stopped using top-tier self-defense bullets and switched to Montana Gold, which is pure garbage for self-defense, while leaving up pictures still showing their ammo with Gold Dots.

I don't know whether that serious shortcoming has been rectified, but the words "Gold Dot" are still conspicuously absent from any of the descriptions of BB's 9mm ammo. If they're still using that Montana Gold garbage, you'd be far better off with Speer's own +P rounds. And Underwood Ammo also loads to the same velocities as BB, but they are explicit about their use of Gold Dots.

 

[Tony617]

I typically use 124gr standard pressure Speer Gold Dots or Federal HST but I would feel comfortable with other brand as well and have tried the following rounds:

Speer Gold Dot 124gr
Speer Gold Dot +P 124gr
Federal 124gr HST
Winchester Ranger-T +P 124gr
Remington Golden Saber +P 124gr bonded
Remington Golden Saber 147gr Bonded

 

[1SOW]

Speer 124 GD, 'standard' pressure.
Widely tested and shoots very well.

 

[Water-Man]

HST 147gr. in my full size 9mm.

Black Hills Barnes TAC-XP 115gr.+P in my compact 9mm.

 

[RustyShackelford]

9x19mm greatest hits.....

In 2014, Id say these are some of the best 9mm duty or CCW/defense rounds:

Winchester Ranger T/T Series 124gr +P JHP, Ranger T/T Series 127gr +P+ JHP, Corbon DPX or PowRball, Hornady Critical Duty JHP +P, HST 124gr +P, Speer Gold Dot 124gr JHP +P.
My city's PD has used the Winchester Ranger T/T Series 127gr +P+ JHP(SIG Sauer P226R) for several years.
I like the Hornady Critical Duty +P 135gr. It's known to do very well in the FBI protocol tests.

 

[Bobson]

147gr Gold Dots are my first choice. Standard pressure 124gr Gold Dots come in second.

ETA:

This is a poll/thread I started on 9mm Gold Dots a couple years ago. Some interesting information. Here's post #27:

Bobson, you may want to look at all of the testing results from ATK's LE site - http://le.atk.com/wound_ballistics/l...omparison.aspx. Look at the results and decide which load best meets your needs / wants.

psyopspec, the 124gr +P won't necessarily give you either better penetration or better expansion, depending on test protocol. In the IWBA Heavy Clothing test the standard pressure 124 out penetrates the +P by half an inch, and is within 5 thousandths of an inch of having equal expansion. In the FBI Heavy Clothing test the +P load opens up a four hundredths inch expansion advantage, but still trails the standard velocity load in penetration by about half an inch. Against bare gelatin the +P load does get both better penetration and expansion.

ETA: After looking over the testing the standard pressure 115 grain has the least penetration after passing through wall board. At the same time it still meets FBI and IWBA penetration minimums after passing through safety glass or heavy clothing, and it still has good expansion. Based on those results I'd go with the 115 grain if it was readily available, and functioned reliably in my pistol. I'd also not lose a wink of sleep if I had to substitute one of the other loads because of availability issues.

 

[JO JO]

gold dot or hst have great test reviews I have 124gr hst in my edc
but most important is shot placement

 

[CNobbe]

Same. I don't even find it at all unpleasant in my PPS.

I've got a PPS 9mm too, nothing unpleasant about it with the hotter stuff.

 

[JDR]

Black Hills 115gr. Barnes Tac-XP+P

 

[JeeperCreeper]

Hornady Critical Duty +P... but I can't wait to try out some Buffalo Bore

 

[jamal28]

I use gold dot 124 gr standard pressure in my s&w sd9... ive thought about upgrading to the 124 +p but the increase in recoil just might not be worth it.... since the 124 is already a great performer.