9mm Defense Loads...Light vs Heavy?

[WonderNine]

I go with 124gr. FMJ NATO or 127gr. +P+. for defense loads.

124gr. is the weight 9mm was designed for and I don't like the stray far from original specs. I tend to believe from personal experience that the lighter grained loads regardless of pressure seem to be just a hair less reliable. Even the 115 grainers. Most people will disagree with this, but I'm just going from my experience.

IMO 124gr. is the perfect balance for penetration, reliability and speed. And the light high pressure loads tend to be alot louder.

 

[Mikul]

I used to carry 115gr Corbons until I fired into wet telephone books. The round penetrated dramatically and VERY early... too early. It seems to have penetrated within the first inch which would be lousy with someone wearing a jacket, so I switched to 124gr ProLoads.

A friend who has played with a lot of 147gr 9mms says "There are no 147gr hollowpoints" because he's never seen one completely expand at handgun velocities.

Another common theory that makes sense is that you either need a big bullet, or a small bullet that expands and moves fast. Fast is commonly accepted to be in excess of 1,200fps. I know of no 147gr 9mm round that approaches that speed out of a handgun.

 

[George Hill]

I have.

Fast is relative.

 

[OF]

Bren: you're short an 'm' in your ammolab link.

www.ammolab.com

- Gabe

 

[Shawn Dodson]

Defense loads, light vs heavy?

What are your requirements for terminal performance?

I believe a bullet must damage vitals to be reliably effective in stopping an attacker. To accomplish this task I have to place my shot(s) well and ensure the bullet(s) has enough penetration potential to reach and damage vitals from any angle, after passing through an arm and/or encountering an attacker with a heavy build. I prefer a bullet to meet the penetration requirements of the IWBA Handgun Ammunition Specification (12.5-14" peneration in bare gelatin and 13-16" in gelatin covered with four layers of heavy denim cloth).

Notice I don't make any mention of bullet weight? Why? Because it's irrelevant to my performance requirement.

 

[DonGlock26]

I've seen 147gr Golddot bullets perform very well in several recent shootings in my Dept.. They penetrate auto glass, penetrate deeply, and expand. I don't think you could ask anymore of a self-defense round. FWIW