Best Grain and Affordable 9mm ammo?

[Huntolive]

Recently bought first 9 mm subcompact for concealed carry. After checking out several reviews and examining them in the store physically I chose the Sig Sauer p365. Also getting a Ruger in a 4 inch barrel. As many of you know the p365 Sig has about a 3.1 inch barrel and is a tiny little sucker that seems very well put together. Both have very different but fantastic triggers and good sites.

The gun came with a box of cig 115 grain Full Metal Jacket. I have since bought some 124 and 147 grain ammo both in Full Metal Jacket and in jacketed hollow point. A police officer friend of mine said they use 147 grain 9mm. But both the neighboring counties to mine use either 40 cal or 45 ACP.

So what reasonably priced ammo and grain weight do y'all recommend for 9 mm ?

And while you're at it what's your two cents on 9 mm vs 40 cal primarily for concealed or open carry self-defense?

 

[Tony k]

A few years ago I was exploring the same question and stumbled upon Shooting The Bull's Ammo Quest.

https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgNSGOEQko_M90AMdRCDMgd-w4Yozc27i

Big eye-opener for me was that the lower velocity of short barrels affects the terminal ballistics more than I thought it would.

 

[joneb]

For range ammo I tried some Federal American 124gr jacket round nose which shot very well in a Sig p-938. The blazer brass 124gr shoots well and is a little cheaper.
Something to consider is heavier bullets will have a higher point of impact than lighter bullets, this can vary a bit depending on the velocity of the bullet, barrel length and gun.

 

[C0untZer0]

Winchester White Box hollow points are surprisingly good, but they're not so cheap right now. A box of the 147gr WWB at Walmart was going for $22.00

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...box-147gr-jhp-in-clear-ballistics-gel.829788/

 

[nettlle]

Reasonably priced for a range gun could be anything that Walmart has on sale. For concealed carry it's 124 gr Speer Gold Dot. I have tried 147 gr. What's gained by the heavier bullet weight is lost in velocity. 124 gr seems the best compromise to me.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

For carry, 124-gr. or 147-gr. Federal HST. Shopped for carefully, bought in 50-round LE boxes rather than the 20-round Cabela's boxes. Competitive price would be under $30 per box, I've gotten it as low as $25.

 

[Spats McGee]

I carry Remington Golden Sabers in bonded 124 grain +p. When I'm out of those, I carry Speer Gold Dots, also 124 grain.

For practice, I use 124 grain Blazer Brass. That's what was on sale the last time I bought a case of ammo for practice. Next time around, we'll see what 124 grain is on sale.

 

[Pat Riot]

I shoot 115 grain Blazer Brass or Remington FMJ for practice. I reload all my ammo except 9mm and .380. This ammo is the most cost effective where I lived in Oregon. I could never find bulk 124 or 147 grain ammo. Since I use 115 grain in practice my defense loads would be 115 grain as well.

My 2 Glocks like 115 grain ammo. They seem to be more accurate with it. My Remington R51 likes heavier bullet weight ammo, but I will never carry this gun or plan to use it as a defensive pistol.

 

[FL-NC]

The 9mm is an excellent round for any defensive purpose. It is more economic when compared to anything else, and the choices of guns and ammo to feed them is limitless, within reason. it is the most common/popular handgun caliber in the world, which makes surplus/used pistols and ammunition more available.It seems like more 9mm pistols in smaller sizes for CCW are coming out every week.
On ammunition, I keep my pistols loaded with whatever American made HP ammo I find on sale from an established manufacturer like Hornady, Winchester, Remington, or Federal (after confirming the specific gun functions reliably with that ammo). For practice, I do the same thing, except with ball ammunition- buy 1 or 2 boxes of what you want to practice with to insure reliable function so that you don't end up buying a bulk case of 1,000 to find out after 2 magazines your gun doesn't like it. Practice frequently with the cheaper ball- it's only the hits that count. Load HP for defense, and move on.

 

[Spats McGee]

. . . . I could never find bulk 124 or 147 grain ammo. . . . .

For bulk orders, I use sgammo (https://www.sgammo.com/) and Target Sports USA (https://www.targetsportsusa.com/). I'm sure there are other good ones around, as well, but I've been happy with those two.

 

[bannockburn]

Some of my guns don't do well with 115 gr. ammo so I tend to stock up on the 124 gr. for both practice (Fiocchi, S&B, American Eagle), and self defense use (Federal, Hornady, Speer).

 

[Huntolive]

Thanks Guys!

 

[Huntolive]

Thanks Guys!

So what rounds would you suggest for 9mm SD?
147 Grain?
124 Grain?

Best 3 options Under $1 per round?

Is +P necessary for 9mm SD?

If that's the case, I think I'll stick w/ 40 cal, unless I am where I only am willing to carry a Very small gun like the Sig. p365.

 

[MedWheeler]

My Kel-Tec PF9 runs just fine with R-UMC 115-grain SJHPs, and Winchester 115-grain "Defend" JHP (from their "Train and Defend" series), and either is easy to come by around here, so these are what I use. They also go in my Ruger P95, which is my bedside gun.

 

[NapalmMan67]

Contact your local PD and ask what they use for duty ammo. I carry Federal HST or Speer GD in 124gr. non +P.

Range fodder, 115 or 124gr. commercial reloaded offerings, mostly from MBI.

 

[earlthegoat2]

When I was shooting a Hi Power it did not like 147gr. That has made me think all 147gr are unreliable and I have never tried them again. I think Stephen Camp didn’t like 147 at the time too and that further reinforced my single minded decision.

I used Remington Golden Saber 124gr.

 

[Doc Samson]

So what rounds would you suggest for 9mm SD?
147 Grain?
124 Grain?

Best 3 options Under $1 per round?

Is +P necessary for 9mm SD?

If that's the case, I think I'll stick w/ 40 cal, unless I am where I only am willing to carry a Very small gun like the Sig. p365.

Federal HST in any grain consistently tests very well, as does their Train & Defend line. There really are so many options that work well, it is up to you, based on your needs and research. I wouldn't worry about cost since, if you need to use it, it's because you believe your life is on the line.

As for +P, I learned recently that it does not necessarily mean what I thought it meant -

 

[SharpDog]

I shoot Federal 147 gr. HST Tactical for carry and buy 147 gr. practice ammo for less than $0.13 per round. Check out http://www.ammoseek.com

 

[Shawn Dodson]

I load my Glock 43 with Federal 147gr HST JHP. Federal's velocity specification for this load is 1000 fps. In my G43 the load chronographs at 980 fps, which is incredible but 147gr loads generally lose less velocity in shorter barrels than lighter weight bullets. Plus there's hardly any recoil with this load in my pistols.

For training I handload 124gr FMJ to 1100 fps using Alliant Unique powder. It recoils just a little more than the 147gr HST. I haven't noticed any difference in POA/POI between my defense load and my training load

 

[Riomouse911]

I use the 124 gr Win SXT +P load in an LC9. So far it cycles well.

I use 127 gr Win SXT +P+ loads for duty in Glock 19 or 34. They are starting to issue the 124 Gr +P for everyone now since the +P+ apparently was voiding the warranty on personally owned guns at the Sheriff's Dept. I will guess that they didn't want to get roped in to paying for gun repairs if a deputy has an issue and the gun maker won't honor the warranty because they're issued +P+.

The Federal HST is an excellent choice, and the 147 gr in small autos is one that is popular and works well. Can't go wrong with it, IMHO.

Practice often, and stay safe!

 

[JR24]

I like 147 grain standard pressure. Used to be HST but switched to Golden Saber bonded when the HST price skyrocketed online (I had only switched to HST when I couldn't find the GS years back). I load my practice ammo to pretty close to the carry ammo for practice.

When I was shooting a Hi Power it did not like 147gr. That has made me think all 147gr are unreliable and I have never tried them again. I think Stephen Camp didn’t like 147 at the time too and that further reinforced my single minded decision.

I used Remington Golden Saber 124gr.

I have recently discovered, I think, my Hi Power doesnt like 146 either. Not malfunctions but the accuracy gets very wild when I shoot my 147 grainers in it, which are extremely accurate in my Glocks and Sigs.

In the past I used to shoot 115 grain through it and recall it being very accurate.

Maybe twist rate?

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Maybe twist rate?

That would make sense perhaps. 124 gr was the original Luger loading, and the HP is an old design. If it was kept true to it's origins the twist rate may not be fast enough to stabilize the longer bullet.

 

[IdaD]

I like 115 grain and 124 grain. I use whatever I can get a good deal on in FMJ (non-steel case) for plinking/practice, currently that's some Federal Aluminum stuff.

For carry my premium choice is standard pressure 124 grain HST, or my more budget choice is 115 grain WWB JHP (available for $16 per 50 locally).

 

[Zendude]

For short barrels, heavy bullets might not achieve the velocity required for reliable expansion.
As a general rule, I always thought it was best to go with the heaviest bullet that would expand reliably in the particular gun (assuming it feeds reliably too).

 

[Zaydok Allen]

For short barrels, heavy bullets might not achieve the velocity required for reliable expansion.
As a general rule, I always thought it was best to go with the heaviest bullet that would expand reliably in the particular gun (assuming it feeds reliably too).

I agree. Out of a pistol I prefer 124 gr for the balance of velocity and mass. It seems it will help ensure expansion.

I would not hesitate to use 147 gr ammo from a carbine though, due to the velocity increase.