9mm Defense Loads?

[pdh]

Hi all
Well,I got my 9mm several months ago and I would like some advise on some self defense ammo.
Have been shooting Winchester 115gr JHP.What is your all's opinion on it?
Thanks,
Paul

 

[Dave R]

If it functions reliably in your pistol, there's nothing wrong with it.

There are hotter loads available, if you feel the need for more power. Cor-Bon, for example. That means more recoil and muzzle blast.

 

[cratz2]

Well, the Winchester Rangers should be about top dog along with the CorBons. I've generally used 124 +P Gold Dots and they make pretty nasty looking holes in smaller animals.

I'd feel very well armed with any of those as long as they were reliable in my gun.

 

[voilsb]

I haven't tried them yet, but the Federal Expanding Full Metal Jacket rounds look pretty nice.

 

[Brigrat]

The lighter Corbon rounds, and the EFMJ, are all fine, but should be considered a reduced penetration round, and possible not the best all around choice. Here are some recomendations that I have seen on ammolab, and tacticalforums.

1. Winchester 147gr Ranger T (RA9T)
2. Winchester 127gr+P+ Ranger T (RA9TA)
3. Speer Gold Dot 124 +P
4. Speer Gold Dot 147gr
5. Remington Golden Saber 147gr (GS9MMC)

I am sure not all will agree with these choices, but thises seem to be the recomendations of those experts I choose to listen to. The Stopping Power Types (Marshall and Sanow) may or may not agree.

All the rounds mentioned above have been proven to expand reliably in even the toughest 4 layer denim covererd gelatin test, and all have shown that they can reliably penetrate 12-18 inches. Good luck with your research.

 

[PCRCCW]

I have a simple rule for 9mm's and CCW. Keep it mid weight, 124-127gr, +P or +P+ and make it Gold Dots, Sabers, Corbon or Rangers..........

I have faith they will always work when I need them too............god forbid the day comes.

They are all the best performers for energy, penetration and accuracy.

shoot well.

 

[orangeninja]

Try these

I know its unpopular to say it...but the 147 gr. Winchester Silver Tips are the first choice for me. Followed by 147 gr. Hydra shock....the +P and +p+ stuff are great for gel...but over penetrate in real life...unless you live in Fargo where everyone wears a parka. If my memory serves correct....the DEA version of Urban Drug Lab etc. etc. "SWAT" team uses the 147 gr. subsonic. Just a thought.

 

[Brigrat]

I hate to say it, but the 147's penetrate more deeply than the lighter +p, and +P+ stuff. Than is their benefit, plus they tend to have deeper hollowpoints which leads to more uniform expansion. I would take a 147 in fargo of a +P+ any day.

 

[orangeninja]

What?

How is it that a 147 penetrates More? Does it hold shape longer? Lighter weight + higher velocity normaly = more penetration unless the light weight expands or distorts rapidly which causes resistance. While I agree that the 147 has a more uniform expansion I am at a loss as to why or IF it would penetrate deeper unless it is slower to expand. It deffinantly does not have the same velocity.

 

[Lennyjoe]

What platform are you shooting them from?

I have been round and round (no pun intended) trying to find the best defensive ammunition for my G19 and I finally have a winner.

I have always liked what I have seen with performance in the Gold Dot JHP bullet and have since went with Black Hills Ammunition. I selected the 124 gr +P Gold Dot JHP pushing 1250 fps and 430 lbs of energy at the muzzle.
Feeds fine, groups good and follow ups are easy.

I have used Speer, Cor-bon, Winchester Ranger and Remington in the past. Im happy with the Black Hills.

 

[Avery Goodschott]

It's got mo' mentum than the others

 

[Brigrat]

heavier bullets retain their energy longer than lighter. don't take my word for it, take a look at the ballistics tables on ammolab, or any other scientific site. You will find that heavier bullets usually penetrate deeper. Energy figures mean nothing, expansion and penetration are what counts with handguns. Rifles are another story.

 

[WonderNine]

If I'm going to carry a hollowpoint I prefer it's a bullet with a bonded core. Alot of typical hollowpoints like Golden Sabers and Gold Dots make me nervous when it comes to penetration. Just last time shooting some .357 Golden Sabers at a target the things were making about .45 caliber holes in the front and back of the cardboard...

 

[cheygriz]

If you're looking for a self defense load/home defense load, get 115 GR +P+ from Federal, Winchester or Remington.

Plenty of power, good expansion, and more penetratrion than you will ever need.

LEO requirements are different from non-LEO. Cops shoot through car doors. Non LEO who use a gun for defense don't need as much penetration, and in fact are better served by rounds that do not overpenetrate.

Even in LEO circles, the 115 +P+ has a PROVEN record of getting the job done on the street for many years.

 

[fawndog]

SFSO uses 147gr Federal Hydrashock, they seem to expand well, in a few cases the jacket separates from the core.

 

[Wildalaska]

147 grain Rangers....

WildheavybulletAlaska

 

[RON in PA]

147 grain JHP Winchester white box sold at Walmart. They're cheap enough that you can shoot a box fairly often and not go broke. They penetrate well and expand, even in 4-layer denim gel tests. Their performance seems to be about as good as any other 9mm ammo. Reference: Ammolab.com.

 

[Snowdog]

For my handguns, it depends on what the pistol is.

In my house, the shorter the barrel, the lighter the bullet.
For example:

PT99 (bump-in-the-night pistol) 147gr Winchester Rangers
Glock 19 (trail pistol) 127gr Winchester Rangers
K9 (carry pistol) 115gr Georgia Arms +P+ Gold Dots*

Just one person's opinion, but it works for me.

*127gr +P+ Rangers expanded very well out of my K9, this may soon replace the 115gr gold dots, pending accuracy/dependability test

 

[earthworm]

Glasier +P in the chamber,then alternate 115 HP & BEP. All feed
reliably & shoot to same point of aim.

 

[TN-popo]

Brigrat provided some good advise/info in his posts.

Alduro...check ammolab.com and tacticalforums.com to clear up any confusion.

 

[SapperLeader]

I shoot 115gr standard pressure in my star bm and my keltec p-11. I use 124gr speer gold dots in all my other 9's. Im planning on upgrading the 124 gr to speer 124+P gold dots as soon as I make it to the store that sells them around me.

 

[pdh]

Wow.
Lennyjoe...I have the S&W3913.

RON in PA...I have been using the Winchester 115gr JHP that was purchased at WalMart.It functions and shoots well in my pistol.Would I be better off with the 147gr though?

Thanks gentlemen for all the replies and your help.

 

[wally]

I disagree that only LE might have to shoot thru a car door or window.

There has been a group of "bump'n'rob" car jackers operating here recently.

I can easily seen the need to shoot thru my window from the inside!

--wally.

 

[stans]

Have been shooting Winchester 115gr JHP.What is your all's opinion on it?

It pales in comparison to a 155mm Howitzer!

When I carry a 9mm I stoke it with Remington 115gr JHP +P ammo. Why? Because it is readily available in my area, it is accurate in my 9mm, and it does move out a bit faster than standard pressure 9mm ammo.

As for discharging a pistol from inside a car, all I can say is it is very loud and powder burns hurt. And I was actually wearing ear and eye protection and shooting from inside a mock up of a car!

 

[orangeninja]

Earthworm

I highly recommend not mixing and matching ammo in a clip...it might work 99 out of a 100....but theres always that 1.