FBI approved 9mm ammo... what to feed your Glock

[HammsBeer]

I absolutely steer clear of any +P or +P+ loadings. Needlessly beats up the pistol, and sometimes it can make the slide outrun the mag spring causing a malfunction. I want the thing to go bang every time regardless of what it's spitting out the front.

Gold Dot standard loadings for my pistols.

 

[oneounceload]

Personally, ANY reliable 124 JHP works in all my 9mms and is my choice. I don't need some gov't agency telling me that. I go with what works in MY gun, not what works in theirs......

 

[skt239]

oneounceload wins the thread.

 

[Dudedog]

124 Gold Dots or Golden Sabers. I rotate it out every so often and sometimes it's easier to find one than the other.
Target sports USA sometimes has good sales on the Golden Sabers.

 

[Lycidas Janwor]

So as I was poking around the interwebs, I found this chart listing all FBI endorsed 9mm ammo for SD. My personal choice due to price/quality is Winchester PDX1 124gr +P (S9MMPDB).

FBI approves these 9mm rounds:

Barnes XPB 115gr HP (35515) such as loaded by Cor-Bon (DPX09115)
Winchester Partition Gold 124gr JHP (RA91P)
Winchester PDX1 124 gr +P JHP (S9MMPDB)
Winchester PDX1 147 gr JHP (S9MMPDB1)
Winchester Ranger-T 124 gr +P JHP (RA9124TP)
Winchester Ranger Bonded 124 gr +P JHP (RA9BA)
Winchester Ranger-T 127gr JHP +P+ (RA9TA)
Winchester Ranger-T 147gr JHP (RA9T)
Winchester Bonded 147gr JHP (RA9B/Q4364)
Speer Gold Dot 124gr JHP
Speer Gold Dot 124gr JHP +P (53617)
Speer Gold Dot 147gr JHP (53619)
Remington Golden Saber 124 gr +P JHP bonded (GSB9MMD)
Remington Golden Saber 147gr JHP (GS9MMC)
Federal Tactical 124gr JHP (LE9T1)
Federal Tactical 135gr JHP +P (LE9T5)
Federal HST 147gr JHP (P9HST2)
Federal HST 124gr JHP +P (P9HST3)

Wondering what you guys keep loaded up for CCW or home defense? Gold Dot is obviously still a great choice and IIRC, Win Ranger T & PDX1 is same bullet as the old Black Talon w/out the black coating. Try not to make this a 9 vs .45 vs .40 argument... Thanks

I thought the Black Talon bullet was illegal?

edit: nevermind

 

[KB0VSO]

Hornady #35500 90gr HP/XTP 90gr Bullet
Powder Hodgdon Longshot 6.8gr
Primer CCI 500 MAG / COL 1.030”
Velocity Average 1337ft/sec
Range Terminal Vel. Terminal Energy
20ft 1275fps 325 ft/lb
30 1230 303
40 1190 283
50 1154 266
60 1122 251


Larry Northern Minnesota USA

 

[TwinReverb]

Federal Guard Dog. Last time it was Federal HydraShok. You see, I rotate (shoot off) my defensive ammo once a year per their recommendations.

Next after I shoot off this defensive ammo: Federal HST.

 

[JDR]

Quote:
I like the Hornady American Gunner 124 gr. +P more than I like Win PDX1. It shoots accurately in my Gen3 G-17 and my HK P30, and it is readily available at a more reasonable price than most of the other "FBI approved" ammo on that list.
Yes, I've been looking to try a box... it uses the FANTASTIC reliable XTP bullet. Nearly the same projectile I use for .357mag SD loads.

There You Go, I have some XTP bullet reloads that are accurate as the day is long, best range practice ammo I have, and it makes sense to carry the Hornady AG's since it's the same bullet, and I can keyhole a target very nicely with my practice and my carry ammo.

 

[Bama Drifter]

Is the listed ammunition actually approved by the FBI or is it a listing of ammunition that meets the FBI test protocol's? There is a difference!

Excellent nit to pick, sir. I should have called this "9mm Ammunition that has passed the rigidly vaulted FBI Protocol" but that wouldn't have been as concise. And YES, I realize just cause the gubmint buys something and runs w/ it doesn't mean Joe Private Citizen will want/ need to use it. Obviously the Black Hills and Hornady loads are excellent, but they don't have a contract... put another way, how many of us use a full size Humvee as a hunting rig? I think we all take the FBI list w/ a grain of salt, but it does provide a nice benchmark. Just my $0.02

 

[Peakbagger46]

Federal HST in 124g for my shield. When you look at a 3" barrel, some rounds (such as the Gold Dot 124g non +P) don't expand.

 

[burk]

I've switched to Hornaday 135 +P Critical Duty as my 9mm carry load for my G19. And I'm very impressed with them. When I get around to getting a 17, I'll run it in that gun too. For my LC9 Ruger I run the Gold Dot 124 grain. But no +P's for the little Ruger.

 

[Edcnh]

Hornady Critical Duty 115g Flex Tip or Spear Gold Dot 124g in my M&P 9mm.

 

[JohnnyBravo]

I would be fine using any of the listed rounds.

For a long time I carried the Federal Tactical Bonded 135 grain +P because I found a cheap supply.

Currently carry Speer Gold Dot 124 grain +P because it isn't terribly expensive in 50 round boxes.

My H&K P7 gets the Gold Dot 124 grain standard loading.

I have also carried the Federal 9bple round with confidence although it is not on the list.

The Winchester round would also be a good one if I could find it here at a cheap price.

If you stick with the major manufacturers there isn't a lot of bad ammo out there anymore.

 

[ritepath]

I feed my CZ Federal HST 124s

 

[JDR]

I absolutely steer clear of any +P or +P+ loadings. Needlessly beats up the pistol, and sometimes it can make the slide outrun the mag spring causing a malfunction. I want the thing to go bang every time regardless of what it's spitting out the front.

I don't use +P+ 9mm defensive loads in my carry guns. I don't shoot a steady diet of +P 9mm defensive loads but that's what I've been carrying. I get my carry guns armored at least once a year and I have seen no damage from occasionally shooting +P ammo. If I wanted to revert back to standard pressure defensive ammo I'd probably go back to carrying 40 S&W autopistols, which I prefer not to.

 

[SpookyEng]

135gr Critical Duty std pressure in my PPQ and Shield.

 

[Bama Drifter]

I have also carried the Federal 9bple round with confidence although it is not on the list.
If you stick with the major manufacturers there isn't a lot of bad ammo out there anymore.

JohnnyBravo, you're absolutely right. Feed your gun any modern quality hollow point ammo and you'll be fine.
Between Federal, Winchester, Speer/CCI, Hornady, and Remington there really isn't a true winner or loser. America now produces the finest ammo in the world and I'm amazed how well 9mm has "caught up" w/ .45 auto in terms of terminal ballistics. A recent mag article I read showed that many LE depts are switching back to nine after years of hassle w/ expensive .40 ammo and premature wear on service pistols. While I love my 1911s dearly, the 9mm Luger ctg continues to be the "universal pistol round". No matter what you feed your guns caliber wise, shot placement is crucial. Remember three hits w/ a .380 is better than five misses from a .357mag!

 

[Capt. Ct.]

Gold Dot 124 gn. or Golden Saber. 124 gn.

 

[DSAPT9]

Speer Gold Dot 124gr JHP +P in a Glock19 and have for years.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

Original source of the list is not FBI. It is the result of independent testing by former IWBA member Gary Roberts ("DocGKR"). See - https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?4337-Service-Caliber-Handgun-Duty-and-Self-Defense-Ammo

Federal Guard Dog - I've seen it hit glass, the nose flattens and be deflected without breaking the glass.

Federal 115gr +P+ 9BPLE has inconsistent terminal performance (unpredictable) compared to modern bullet designs.

 

[jad0110]

There's no point to using +P+ 9mm. The bullet is being driven so fast it falls apart inside the body and doesn't penetrate as deep. +P is just fine and probably more accurate.

Given modern bullets like the HST and Gold Dot, +P isn't even required IMO either. TNOutoors9 does some pretty extensive testing of various 9mm loads, and as an example there was basically no difference in penetration and expansion between Speer GD 124+P and the same load in standard pressure. This lead me to select the standard pressure load for my CZ-75 over the +P: same performance, slightly reduced recoil and wear / tear.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL727CAFF8A6C0D3BF

Federal 115gr +P+ 9BPLE has inconsistent terminal performance (unpredictable) compared to modern bullet designs.

If memory serves me, it either expands violently and under penetrates (7 to 9") or the hollow point cavity clogs and it overpenetrates (20"+).

 

[lpsharp88]

115gr XTP over 6.7gr Power Pistol. Chronos around 1208 FPS, is accurate, and functions flawlessly

 

[Berger.Fan222]

The key word you used is if bullets WERE designed for those velocities. The 9mm bullet and .357 bullets are totally different bullets and most manufacturers of 9mm +P+ are just loading regular 9mm bullets not optimized for the extra velocity.

Winchester Ranger-T 127gr JHP +P+ (RA9TA)

The Win Ranger T load above is the only 9mm +P+ load on the list. This bullet is optimized for the velocity. This is one of the best performing loads in 9mm, perhaps THE best performing load.

Another advantage of this load is the use of flash suppressed powders. If you have to shoot at night, this could be important.

 

[JohnnyBravo]

Federal 115gr +P+ 9BPLE has inconsistent terminal performance (unpredictable) compared to modern bullet designs.

There is that.

But it doesn't concern me much.

 

[Bama Drifter]

Original source of the list is not FBI. It is the result of independent testing by former IWBA member Gary Roberts ("DocGKR"). See - https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?4337-Service-Caliber-Handgun-Duty-and-Self-Defense-Ammo

Federal Guard Dog - I've seen it hit glass, the nose flattens and be deflected without breaking the glass.

Federal 115gr +P+ 9BPLE has inconsistent terminal performance (unpredictable) compared to modern bullet designs.

Thanks Shawn for posting link! My table was "copy of a copy" so nice to see original context.

+1 on avoiding Guard Dog... unless you are a captive of New Jersey or other hostile gov't. And interesting that 9BPLE isn't on the list. But I'm guessing that load pre-dates Hydrashock, maybe? Thanks.