9mm Self Defense Ammo

[Bear2000]

I keep 15 Federal Hydra-Shok 135 gr in my XD9.

 

[Flopsy]

I've found Remington Golden Sabers to be 100% reliable in every caliber and every weapon I've used them in. Penetration and expansion comparisons always show impressive and consistent results.

 

[cookekdjr]

Federal BPLE/other 115gr +p+ varieties
Speer Gold Dot 124gr +p
Most 147gr offerings, especially federal hydra-shock
Winchester Ranger, both 127gr and 147gr

 

[tremiles]

147GR Federal HST's have been 100% reliable in my M&P's and CZ75 SP-01

 

[Hook686]

The following loads have all demonstrated outstanding terminal performance:

9 mm:
Barnes 105 gr JHP (copper bullet)
Fed 124 gr JHP (LE9T1)
Speer 124 gr +P JHP (53617)
Win 124 gr JHP (RA91P)
Win 127 gr +P+ JHP (RA9TA)
Fed 135 gr +P JHP (LE9T5)
Rem 147 gr JHP (GS9MMC)
Speer 147 gr JHP (53619)
Win 147 gr JHP (RA9T)

from: http://www.tacticalforums.com/cgi-bin/tacticalubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=78;t=000581#000002

Good luck in your quest.

 

[mattk]

I use Federal HST 115s in my HiPower and my 1911 9mm. I really like Federal's soft relible primers.

I have a shooting buddy who works in the state Firearms Lab. He says Gold Dots are the most relible expander in all calibers.

 

[BikerRN]

For a Browning Hi-Power I'd use Federal 115 Grain JHP's. The old tried and true 9BP, but not the +P+ BPLE.

I keep +P+ in my Glock.

BikerRN

 

[Elvishead]

Yeah, when I'm killing bad guys, I prefer the GDHP 124g +P, but the Golden Sabers work pretty good too.

No, really, I use Gold Dot HP 124g +P for the same reasons somebody else does on this thread, because I got a good deal on a case/1000.

 

[BlindJustice]

CZ 75B - about 3 months now, I've been running anything and everything through it, 100% reliability with almost 600 rds so far doesn't
matter about FMJ/JHPs I've kept the two mags loaded with either
SPeer Gold Dot 124 gr. JHPs or Win 147 gr. JHPs - because that's what
I had left over from range sessions. The 147 gr. are softer recoil and
less muzzle blast fwiw.

I just received some Double Tap 124 gr. Speer Gold Dot JHps @ 1310 FPS and I'm off to the range to see how they shoot. If I like them I'll get
a variety pak next... a good price compared to buying over priced
boxes of 20 at the local shops.

Randall

 

[jaholder1971]

Most every modern 9mm load made today will work fine for self defense, even the old school Federal 9BP and Winchester 115 Silvertips.

Find the ones that are the most accurate for you and your weapon and go with it.

 

[GZOh]

Take your pick, all great SD ammo:
Hornaday Tabs, Speer Gold Dot, Rangers...

You will never be 'under-armed' with either of these!!

BTW: Great pics hook... kinda tells ya alot!

 

[BlindJustice]

CZ 75B

Win 147 gr. JHPs 20 rds - subsonic
REM/UMC 124 gr. FMJ 50 rds - Supersonic - about the same recoil though as the 147 gr.
Double Tap 124 gr. Speer GD JHP @ 1310 FPS - definitely more recoil/muzzle rise, but it's still just 9MMx19 in the all
steel CZ 75

I also bought a 20 rd box of Rem Golden Saber 147 gr. JHPs but
didn't fire any - I want to look up the velocity claimed & wait to get some
other 147 r. for side by side comparison.

Afterwards waiting for my shooting buddy to finish up - the other guy who had been shooting was sitting around. We showed each other our pieces,
He liked the Coco Bolo grips on my 617. He had a nice older J-frame 49 - ALso got to handle his new to him Kimber Tactical - a 4" model anyway. I showed him my CZ 75B - first one he has seeen - he was impressed with the
smooth, tight slide action

Randall

 

[Drgong]

Thanks all, I think I will go with the Federal 115 Grain JHP's, as they are inexpensive enough to train with and work well with my Gun.

Thanks a ton!

 

[wristtwister]

I know this goes back up the post chain a bit, but 9mm is fine SD ammo unless you are shooting through a car at your target. I spend every weekend at the range, and I see the guys with the big guns and calibers that couldn't hit a barn from inside it... so their "SD ammo" isn't very good if you can't hit what you're aiming at.

I've got guns in all kinds of calibers from .22LR to .44mag, and each one of them will kill you dead as a rock. It might take more than one hit with some to "stop" you, but most of them will drop you like a stone if you hit the 10-ring (center mass or head). I like 9mm and .40 caliber, because they carry lots of follow up shots and you can carry a lot of ammo by simply putting several clips in your pocket... but I wouldn't hesitate to shoot with my .38, .357, .44, or even my .22's. I'm going to put my shots in your vitals... which is what counts.

Now, If you want to argue "body armor", there are considerations that need to be made, but for general self defense... any caliber will do, and those with +P, or a handgun picture, on the box will work for maximum knockdown in that particular caliber. The .22's have some specials, like "stingers" that are "upgrades", but I don't need to buy Hydra Shoks to knock you down with a 9mm... all I need to do is hit where I'm aiming.

WT

 

[NotSoFast]

I'm using Speer 124 gr. Gold Dots.

 

[tblt]

cabelas has speer gold dot jhp 9 mm 250 bulk for 99 bucks with a ammo case.

 

[klane]

I shoot +P 124gr. Speer Gold Dot and +P+ 127gr. Winchester Ranger SXT in several of my 9MM pistols including my BHP. Both perform well for me.

 

[chieftain]

Funny, the higher end SD rounds seem to penetrate nearly the same in all popular duty calibers and have almost the same size wound channel.

BINGO!

My choice when I am carrying one of my Highpowers vs one of my Colt Gunsite Pistols, is CorBon DPX 115 +P. In those Colts in 45acp I use Remington Golden Saber 230gr JHP or Gold Dot 230gr JHP.

Either one doesn't matter to me, 9 or 45 both will do the job if I do mine. It is about me not the weapons or tools I use.

It's about the SOFTWARE not the HARDWARE.

Go figure.

Fred

 

[Deanimator]

I'm very partial to the 147gr. Winchester white box JHPs they sell at Walmart. They're reliable, accurate and very reasonably priced. I believe they got a very favorable review at Box 'O Truth, which is what prompted me to switch to them. I have them in both my BHP and my Glock 19.

 

[KBintheSLC]

9mm Self Defense Ammo is an oxymoron.

... Enter those who lack any trace of genetalia and always attempt to compensate... notice how they never volunteer to be your target.

Anyway, I like 124g +P ammo, be it Golden Saber, Gold Dot, etc... Any premium expanding ammo ought to do. I believe that 124g is the best balance between weight and velocity... and +P is a must out of any barrel shorter than 4.5".

 

[doc2rn]

I prefer the Winchester Ranger in my FNP-9.

 

[hotpig]

I prefer Ranger but if I run low on Ranger inventory and have a lot of Federal Tactical bonded I will carry it instead.

 

[NG VI]

I like Federal HST, either 124+P or either of the 147 flavors, +P adds a little bit of juice to it but not that much, standard pressure works great anyway but the extra 50 or so FPS just makes everything work that much better.

 

[Mainsail]

I'll add another vote for Federal HSTs. I carry the 147gr in mine.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

How old is your Hi-Power? The older ones with the humped feed ramps can have issues feeding some of the newer wide-mouthed hollowpoints.

The newer Hi-Powers (mid-80s onwards) all have a straight feed ramp that handles every modern hollowpoint I have fed mine.

The newer Hi-Powers can also handle a steady diet of +P ammo.

My personal favorite is the Black Hills +P loading of the Speer 124gr Gold Dot - the same ballistics; but a great price.