9mm Self Defense

[skiwi]

http://www.handloads.com/misc/stoppingpower.asp?Caliber=15&Weight=147

the link above is to the handloads.com website. Interesting stuff. It appears the Federal Hydra Shok is used a lot and quite effective.

This is copied from the result page:

Diameter and Penetration are the average from bullets recovered in actual shootings. All data taken from Evan Marshall and Ed Sanow's book: Stopping Power: A Practical Analysis of the Latest Handgun Ammunition and used with permission from the author.

 

[Taurus_9mm]

A lot of good suggestions here by the previous posters. I think many of the aforementioned SD rounds would serve you well and would be hard to go wrong.

 

[Lord Palmerston]

American ammo is outstanding quality, as a whole, therefore any well known brand will do the job. Should you like to shoot +P rounds, I would choose COR-BON in 115 gr. and Remington Golden Saber in 124 gr. IMHO, 147 gr. bullets are too heavy for a 3.1" barrel. Regular non +P JHP ammo, I like Hornady Critical Defense 115 gr. and Federal Hydra Shok 124 gr. But I do insist, any well known American brand will do a great job on a BG, provided the bullet is well placed.

 

[Erik M]

I prefer Hornady TAP and Gold Dots, both in the standard pressuer 124 grain variety. I also have some Federal 9bple rounds I used to use as a carry load. They are hard to come by now so I cant practice with them, so that was the end of the road for them.

 

[hans471]

I did ammo tests with my PF-9. The round it liked least was the 147. It was not 100 reliable. That might have changed in time as I did the tests when the pistol was fairly new. It ran 100 with 115 and 124 grain rounds. Which one? I would run any good JHP in the lighter ranges. Again, this is based on my limited experience with 147 gr. in my own KT PF-9, others seem to like that round. I think the round I settled on was the XTP.

 

[Ken Rainey]

As has been said, reliability is first...even if that means a full metal jacket, in which case I'd prefer the 147 grain ammo followed by the 124 grain and preferably with a flat point = if it functions 100%, if not then the round nosed versions would be called for.

In hollowpoint ammo, I'd be inclined to check out the Winchester White box 147 JHP ammo, it has a good "tested" reputation and a good price compared to the "premium" lines of JHP ammo...other than that one, a 124 grain JHP of anyones making would be my next choice to test for reliablity and accuracy. Generally speaking, the more rounded the nose profile, the more feed friendly it is, but this is not always required.

Shot placement rules, but the bullet must be able to penetrate deep enough to hit something critical, which is why I prefer the heavier bullets. I have found that in general, the 124s shoot closet to point of aim at distances of about 15 yds and greater than the 147s which tend to hit a littler higher - it all depends on your pistol, sights, etc.

I carry Winchester Ranger 147s and keep Winchester White Box 147 FMJs in my back up mag for my Glock 26. I'd feel comfortable with 124s as well and some of my pistols are more accurate with a 124 grain bullet so that's what they get = hollowpoint and/or fmj.

Remember, it goes like this when choosing ammo for a defensive pistol; Reliablity first, Accuracy a close second, and Type (FMJ, JHP, etc.) and weight last...it has to be able to function the firearm and hit where you aim or the type of bullet will make no difference. A FMJ thru the heart, brain or major organ will very likely produce the same final results as a hollowpoint that took the same path...likewise, a marginal hit with either will get you marginal results.

Premium ammo, especially if it's designed for Law Enforcement, will likely have flash suppressed powder which is good for low light shooting and also nickeled cases which is a plus for feed reliability - is either one necessary, maybe not, but they sure don't hurt either...kind of like night sights.

 

[1Deernut]

I shoot Golden Sabre 124 in my P11 since this is what I had most of on hand when I bought the gun. Never had a problem.

 

[Xfire68]

sprice, you will need to test for yourself and see which bullet types work best in YOUR gun.

It makes little difference what someone else is using as each gun has it own likes and dislikes of ammo.

If your gun has no issues cycling HP ammo then look at some of the already mentioned loads with Gold Dot's, HST, Ranger, XTP's and the list goes on.

 

[Super J]

I love federal HST 124gr +P however I've never fired them out of a keltec. Best prices that I've found them for are at kyles gunshop (online store).

 

[Hypnogator]

I carry Cor-Bon 115-gr DPX's in my PF-9. Less muzzle flip, but deep penetrating and reliable expansion.

If your life depends on stopping power, you're an idiot to buy defensive ammo based on price.

 

[skoro]

What is a good 9mm cartridge for self defense?

I carry Gold Dots in my PF-9. Other good options are Golden Sabers, Winchester Rangers, Federal HST, and Hornady Critical Defense. I think any good quality JHP round would work well.

 

[c1ogden]

Any modern hollow point will do as good as any other. Buy a few hundred rounds of each brand and try them all. Eliminate any that aren't 100% reliable in YOUR GUN. Then go out and buy a good supply of whatever your gun shoots best out of the brands remaining.

 

[BP6925]

SPRICE.....I have a Kel-Tec P11 and I reload my own

case= win.
primer= sp rem 500
powder/ charge= w231 4.3 grn
bullet= hor. LRM FMJ split head hollow point 124 grn
seat= 1.165

 

[ironhead7544]

I use the CorBon 115 gr load in my G26. It goes 1260 fps over my chronograph. I would call CorBon and ask what round they would recommend for your pistol. The main thing is 100% feed and function with any autoloader. The Federal 9BP load and the Remington 115 gr standard 115 gr JHP will feed in most pistols and I wouldnt be afraid to use them in any circumstances. If only ball will feed then use that. Recoil is also a consideration in that model. The 147 gr HydraShok will expand nicely and will have less recoil so that may be the way to go. I tested this round and was impressed with its performance. Just my .02.

 

[MikePaiN]

Back to the op...these are rounds for a PF9...I always had trouble shooing mine well(too slight of a grip, sharp muzzle flip etc..), especially follow ups and drill type shooting, which is why I got rid of it after a few years...Anyway, I kept the carry round basic to minimize control issues. I used standard pressure Winchester 115g Silver Tip HP in the PF9 with no functional problems.

 

[vtecrkp]

I would slowing pick a few boxes up and decide what cycles through your personal pistol, and what you personally shoot most accurate. For my 9mm I use Winchester PDX1 +P 124gr. I also like the Corbon DPX.

 

[MedWheeler]

Another PF-9 carrier here, and mine is happily loaded with Remington UMC 115gr JHP ammunition.

 

[Don357]

My P-11 likes Federal 124gr Hydra-Shoks quite well, but also does well with 147gr Win White Box PD HP's.

 

[Ken Rainey]

I just got some of the Fiocchi 124 JHP (9APBHP) rated at 1180 fps, which is about standard NATO spec - not as slow as some 124s but not as fast as some +P 124s either - but close. I haven't fired any of them yet but they have a nice rounded nose profile so they should feed well and with that speed, cycling shouldn't be a problem either...and, they might just open up a tad too! Price is around $17 per box of 50.