9mm SD ammo

[TheRealJQP]

I just bought a G2C, and AFAIK it doesn't have any known/specific problems eating +P, so I was looking around for a SD ammo that has a nice balance between price and performance.

I read this page:

https://gunnewsdaily.com/best-9mm-ammo/

And decided I'd start with Hornady XTP +P 124g. GND links to it here:

https://www.cabelas.com/product/Hornady-reg-Custom-Handgun-Ammunition/1159883.uts

But that price seems a bit steep, so I went searching for better deals. I found several sources for this:

https://carolinamunitions.com/horna...uger-p-124-gr-xtp-hollow-point-25-rounds.html

Which is what brings me to my question - is that the ammo I want? Or is "American Gunner" something different?

Your general thoughts on 9mm SD ammo in general, and Hornady XTP +P (or any other choice) in particular are also welcome.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Check out SGAmmo.com.

I like 124 gr +p Federal HSTs.

 

[fxvr5]

The XTP bullet is the same whichever line it's loaded in AFAIK.

 

[TTv2]

9mm +P is not much better than standard pressure. The best cheap 9mm JHP is all standard pressure and it works, so to me there is no sense paying double for an extra 50 fps.

To some it might because they want every advantage, but there's always a point of diminishing returns and 9mm+P is a clear case of that.

 

[sparkyv]

https://gunnewsdaily.com/best-9mm-ammo/

FYI, article is a little goofy. Best of 2019? Comments date back to July, 2017. Underwood Xtreme defender/penetrator shows image of XTreme plated bullets. I'd take this article with a grain of salt.

 

[Hartkopf]

You can possibly go insane looking at too many gel test results!

Look for articles about the effectiveness of ammo in actual shootings.

The Gold Dot 124gr +p has a long and successful track record.

I like SGammo.com

 

[bdickens]

Too many people overthink this.

Asking what's the best [insert caliber here] SD ammo is kinda like asking what's the best food. You like burgers and I like pizza.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

You can possibly go insane looking at too many gel test results!

Look for articles about the effectiveness of ammo in actual shootings.

The Gold Dot 124gr +p has a long and successful track record.

I like SGammo.com

That’s my other go to when I can’t get HSTs.

 

[JayZee]

I'd agree with a few people in that there isn't a clear answer. Different strokes, different folks. Different hammers, different jobs. 115-147 is standard, I'd avoid hyper velocity lightweight sub 115 grain ammo myself.

124grain JHP is what I prefer. Usually European, since the ammo is loaded warmer in pistols(closer to milspec). I'd just get a reliable JHP design and pick someone who loads it.

I like Fiochi ammo a lot.
Carry it in the P32, and my Shield.
73gr ball & 124gr JHP.

I'd get a 115-147gr JHP for thr street and 147 gr8 fmj/hardcast for the woods.

 

[fxvr5]

FYI, article is a little goofy. Underwood Xtreme defender/penetrator shows image of XTreme plated bullets. I'd take this article with a grain of salt.

Yup, the author got that wrong big time. And the link is to the Xtreme plated bullets, too. Sad.

Here's what the Underwood load really is: https://www.underwoodammo.com/colle...-grain-xtreme-defender?variant=18785693466681

 

[Dibbs]

As previously stated, very little is gained by "souped up" ammo. Get Gold Dot, or Critical defense, in the weight you normally shoot, be it 115 gr or 124 gr, and call it a day.
If standard 9mm is "not good enough", you're probably better served getting a larger caliber. 40S&W pistols are readily available, at good prices, right now.

 

[Garandimal]

Std. pressure 147 gr. HST - and then put it where it counts.

​

GR

 

[1KPerDay]

Watch Paul Herrell's youtube videos and look at luckygunner.com's gel tests, and make up your own mind. The chances of you needing your defensive ammo are minuscule, and the chances of any good JHP defensive round's "failure to perform" are an nth percentage of that minuscule percentage, IMO.

 

[ms6852]

I don't use or buy "SD" ammo, I just carry what I practice with twice a week and has proven reliable to me. The only exception is I like wadcutters in my 686 SW and ball ammo in my 1911. This has proven reliable in my firearms for decades without a hitch.

 

[Flatbush Harry]

I just bought a G2C, and AFAIK it doesn't have any known/specific problems eating +P, so I was looking around for a SD ammo that has a nice balance between price and performance.

I read this page:

https://gunnewsdaily.com/best-9mm-ammo/

And decided I'd start with Hornady XTP +P 124g. GND links to it here:

https://www.cabelas.com/product/Hornady-reg-Custom-Handgun-Ammunition/1159883.uts

But that price seems a bit steep, so I went searching for better deals. I found several sources for this:

https://carolinamunitions.com/horna...uger-p-124-gr-xtp-hollow-point-25-rounds.html

Which is what brings me to my question - is that the ammo I want? Or is "American Gunner" something different?

Your general thoughts on 9mm SD ammo in general, and Hornady XTP +P (or any other choice) in particular are also welcome.

Thanks in advance.

When I moved to CO 15 years ago, I called the local PD where I lived and the County Sheriff's office of my county. I inquired of both what ammo their officers were issued and then bought the same. In 9mm it has been Federal HST 124gr JHP. If it protects them am our residents, it will be fine for me as well.

YMMV but it probably shouldn't.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Here's my view on the subject:

How much self-defense ammunition do you see yourself going through that you really need to worry about price?

If you choose a round which pretty much shoots at the same point of aim as your chosen target ammunition, then once you've established the reliability of your self-defense rounds you won't be feeding your pistol a steady diet of high-priced ammunition. You'll only need a box or two on hand.

My chosen target ammo is usually WWB in 230 gr. .45 ACP and 115 gr. 9mm.

My chosen SD ammo is 230 gr. .45 ACP Speer Gold Dot and 115 gr. 9mm Speer Gold Dot.

I've found they shoot identical to my target ammo and function flawlessly in my guns. I keep 2 or 3 boxes of self-defense ammo in each caliber and while I have ammo cans full of target ammo.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I use 147gr HST's in all of my 9MM's. G19, 43X, G2C, Walther CCP.

 

[ChanceMcCall]

I just bought a G2C, and AFAIK it doesn't have any known/specific problems eating +P, so I was looking around for a SD ammo that has a nice balance between price and performance.

I read this page:

https://gunnewsdaily.com/best-9mm-ammo/

And decided I'd start with Hornady XTP +P 124g. GND links to it here:

https://www.cabelas.com/product/Hornady-reg-Custom-Handgun-Ammunition/1159883.uts

But that price seems a bit steep, so I went searching for better deals. I found several sources for this:

https://carolinamunitions.com/horna...uger-p-124-gr-xtp-hollow-point-25-rounds.html

Which is what brings me to my question - is that the ammo I want? Or is "American Gunner" something different?

Your general thoughts on 9mm SD ammo in general, and Hornady XTP +P (or any other choice) in particular are also welcome.

Thanks in advance.

I'm sort of searching around for the best choice as well as I am changing from 45 to 9mm. One of the things that I'm struggling with is short barrel ammo vs standard barrel ammo. Hope we both find what we are looking for.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

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

Anything on this list will perform adequately

 

[94045]

Budget ammo:

Short Barrels: Winchester White Box Personal Protection JHP 115 gr

It works well out of shorter barrels such as the G2C. (You might look at Ammo Quest Test on You Tube).

If you want something that's passed the full FBI test protocol remember their testing is done in duty length barrels. I would try to find test out of shorter barrels.such as Ammo Quest and Lucky Gunner's Test.

The XTP doesn't generally do well out of shorter barrels and I don't really think it's the best price/performance round in 9mm.

 

[Rbstuartjr]

When it comes to SD ammo, I feel whatever JHP works reliably in your firearm is best. When I was with the NYPD it was 124gn Gold Dot + P. We could only use that ammo in our firearms. When I switched to my local PD, it was whatever was on sale that month. I carried mostly Winchester and Federal HP from 115gn to 147 gun, +P, +P+, and P.
Now that I’m retired, I carry Federal HST micro in my Sig P365, Hornady critical duty 135gn in my Kahr K9 and 124gn Gold Dots +p in Sig P226. Just what works for me.

 

[Charlie98]

Get Gold Dot, or Critical defense, in the weight you normally shoot, be it 115 gr or 124 gr, and call it a day.

+1... with the caveat that I run 135grn CD in my Kahrs.

If you are carrying to defend yourself against gel blocks, then all the research is valid, but there will be nothing text book about performance if and when you would have to fire that ammunition in the Real World... there are simply too many variables. My suggestion is to find appropriate ammunition that functions 100% in your particular weapon, and otherwise performs well for your shooting style. For example, I've sworn off +P ammos... the muzzle blast is usually too great compared to regular ammos and I find it distracting. Hitting your target with a firearm that cycles properly under duress is far more important than expansion test results. I would easily carry FMJ that cycled 100% over some HP's that gave me fits.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

There was just a thread on this subject, closed I think. Use quality hollow point ammunition that functions well in your gun. A few rebels like myself even roll over own even though it angers some and could put us at an incredibly small, perhaps nonexistent, legal risk.

 

[Kleanbore]

If you are carrying to defend yourself against gel blocks, then all the research is valid,

That's silly.

...there will be nothing text book about performance if and when you would have to fire that ammunition in the Real World... there are simply too many variables.

Of course there are a lot of variables, but in terms of terminal performance, barrier and gel testing results are corroborated by real wold performance. The really important variables have to do with entry wound location and angle and the posture of the target, and not terminal performance.

...I've sworn off +P ammos... the muzzle blast is usually too great compared to regular ammos and I find it distracting.

I tend to agree.

Hitting your target with a firearm that cycles properly under duress is far more important than expansion test results.

Yep.

 

[Kleanbore]

A few rebels like myself even roll over own even though it angers some and could put us at an incredibly small, perhaps nonexistent, legal risk.

I know of no one who is angered by others who assume unnecessary risks to themselves.

The risk is small--it will be important only if the introduction of gunshot residue test results would be important to the success of a defense of justification.

When that happens, and it does, the risk is not "nonexistent".

How often has that happened? One cannot tell. No one reports and compiles such data. But Massad Ayoob has recounted a few cases with which he was involved in which the admissibility of GSR date proved important. Of course, the shooters had used factory loads, and the results were admissible, or they would have been in a bad way.

Likelihood aside, the stakes can be high--such as spending decades in a cage with unpleasant people.

fro ma risk management standpoint, it's a no-brainer.