Ammo Suggestions: 9mm for home defense & stockpiling?

[Will_Power]

Hi guys,

I've been lurking at THR for a while now, but this will be my first time actually posting. I could use your expert opinions!

I've only gotten really into firearms and hunting in the last year. I've got a Remington 700 and have now set my sights on my first pistol, specifically a CZ 75 SP01 (well, and a Browning BLR that I'm currently obsessing hard about!).

Here's the rub: I'm looking for some ammunition suggestions for home defense, with particular attention to cost-effective (but still reputable) brands and manufacturers for stockpiling/SHTF.

Federal, Hornady,

As a correlary, can someone give me a quick rundown on +p / +P+ ammo - is it vitally important for self-defense rounds, especially in 9mm Para? I don't think I've picked up the nuances in the hot load argument...

I'm sure that some of this will boil down to what the pistol shoots well, but in an ideal world, I'd like to find a particular box of ammo that I can trust to serve me well if things go bump in the night AND I can start putting back an extra box or two when I can that won't break the bank.

Thanks for your help in advance - as a firearms newbie, there's a lot to digest and wade through.

 

[docnyt]

I would suggest getting the gun first and seeing what ammo runs through IT best rather than the other way around. Nice choice of 9 mm by the way.

I've run Federal HydraShok, Winchester Ranger and the occasional Speer JHP and even Black Talon through my CZ P01 and it's digested all that, as far as HD ammo.

Range ammo - Winchester WB, NATO, Remington UMC, RWS - all ran fine.

 

[mcdonl]

If stock piling, SHTF (In terms of ammo availability during turbulent political environments) and accuracy/reliability are your concerns I would consider meeting someone who reloads and seeing if you like it. It is not for everyone but it would meet all of those needs.

I used to laugh at people who had 1000's of rounds of ammo, but since I have been reloading a couple of years I now have thousands of rounds AND I shoot a lot more than I ever did.

 

[Vonderek]

For cheap practice ammo..Winchester white box, S&B, PMC, PRVI
For low-cost self defense...Federal 9BPLE(+p) or 9BP

 

[phoenix79]

Federal HST, can be had at not-retarded prices and one of the best SD rounds on the market.

 

[jem375]

what he wrote... Federal HST

 

[.357 magnum]

Very Good choices

Winchester 147gr +P and Non +P Bonded [LE Ammo Only]

Federal 147gr HST +P and Non +P [LE Ammo Only]

Speer 147gr and Speer 124gr +p

The Winchester and Federal have been the BEST for me. Very accurate-Never Fail. I Really like Heavier weights-such as the 147gr-I agree with Deep Penetration when it comes to Self Defense.

The Best to You and Yours!

Frank

 

[9mmepiphany]

For year my 9mm default load was the Federal 9BP 115gr JHP...because it fed in every gun I owned and shot very accurately. If a new 9mm wouldn't feed and group the 9BP it almost wasn't worth a lot of attention.

When I'm teaching I use a lots of PMP 115gr FMJ (I can't find it anymore, but bought lots when it was <$100/k) locally and CCI Blazer 115gr or 124gr FMJ when traveling (easy to find and cheap).

I've gotten to the point over the years of staying pretty close to the original designed weights of cartridges. For the 9mm, this is 124grs. For practice, I like the Blazer 124gr FMJ and the Speer 124gr +P Gold Dot for defense

 

[CZ57]

If you can find it, Winchester White Box also comes in a 115 gr. JHP version. There are probably better defense loads but not many as easy to stock up on $ wise.

 

[1SOW]

Re your original post: +P is a SAAMI/CIP max. rated load with a measured pressure rating for 'modern'-well built handguns. The SPO1 you are thinking about will shoot all the cartridges being discussed nicely

+P+ is not a rated load by these agencies, so the manufacturer has arbitrarily rated the load. Reputable manufacturers will provide cartridge pressure data. Less reputable +P+ loads may even be 'less' pressure than +P. There is no way to know as they aren't rated against a published standard.

There are fine 9mm SD cartridges made today with valid standard or +P load ratings.

Like 9mmepiphany, I like the 9mm 124/125 gr bullets for reliable feed and accuracy.