Grain ammo

[primetime]

Hey guys I'm new here so bear with me if this sounds stupid. I have a Glock 19. It uses 9mm ammo. 9mm isn't much for stopping power I know. But I've heard that a higher grain ammo will be better for stopping power.. Now how much, a lot or a little, my guess is that it is minimal.. But I could be wrong. Any thoughts would be appreciated. This is a great site. Thanks.

 

[GRIZ22]

9 mm is not a bad stopper. There are better but they usually are a bit more difficult to shoot. 9mm ammo generally runs 90 to 147 grain. The lighter bullets usually lack good penetration. Pick a 115-147 grain hollowpoint that functions well in your gun (just about any in a G19). Don't worry so much about a super premium $2 a round ammo. There is no magic bullet its all about shot placement. I stay away from +P and +P+ in 9mm as it doesn't gain you much, if any, edge.

 

[primetime]

Thanks alot for your input Griz...This is exactly what i needed to know. Appreciate it!

 

[CDW4ME]

Nothing wrong with the 9mm.
For personal protection, I would use a +P hollow point, either 115 gr. or 124.
Of course, shoot "enough" of the chosen ammo to confirm reliability.

 

[JJE]

Standard bullet weight for a 9x19 handgun is 115 or 124 grains. When 147 gr ammo first came out, it did not perform as well as standard weight ammo (I shot an expensive box of "1st generation" 147 gr Federal Hydra-Shok in my G19 and had my first and only ammo malfunctions). Supposedly, state-of-the-art 147 gr self-defense ammo sold today performs reliably. I don't have the time or the $$$ to do performance testing of 147 gr ammo in my handguns, so I'm sticking to the 124 gr ammo that they were designed to use.

 

[GRIZ22]

Remember if you buy a 124 gr hollowpoint you can usually use full metal jacket of the same weight as a practice round. The weight for the practice ammo usually works if it is close it doesn't have to be exactly the same weight. FMJ cost less than hollowpoints.

 

[primetime]

Sounds good. I'll experiment with a variety of different grains, and hollow points etc. I just wanted to make sure what I "heard" was actually true. About the higher grain having better stopping power.

Good point about the practice round weight Griz..that was going to be my next logical question..

 

[GRIZ22]

hey primetime, the correct term is bullet weight not grain. Grain is the unit of measure used for bullet weight.

 

[primetime]

Thanks..good to know. i don't wanna sound like an idiot so thats something I need to know!! lol

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

Do folks still switch to heaver 147gr ammo in the winter to help penetrate thicker clothing or has ammo progressed to where it's not an issue anymore and 124gr will work fine through more layers?

 

[GRIZ22]

Do folks still switch to heaver 147gr ammo in the winter to help penetrate thicker clothing or has ammo progressed to where it's not an issue anymore and 124gr will work fine through more layers?


Most have forgotten that the original purpose of the 147 gr 9mm ammo was to shoot a subsonic round for use in surpressed gun. I don't think it penetrates that much better than a 124 gr. I do use 147s in my S&W and Taurus guns as I found it more accurate not for some magic penetration.

i don't wanna sound like an idiot

No sweat! We have all sounded like idiots at times.

 

[Hk Dan]

And the recoil impulse is 'different'. USPSA shooters like it--I'm one and I prefer 115s.

If anyone derides you for carrying a 9mm, invite them to stand against the nearest wall and let ya shoot 'em in the thigh. It's only the thigh...Caliber is nothing, shot placement is everything, don't feel bad about carrying a 9mm.

Dan

(Said by a dedicated .40 man...LOLOLOL)

 

[azyogi]

primetime FWIW one ounce is 437.5 grains and there are 7000 grains in a pound. Just to give you an idea of what the weights are in more familar terms. 437.5/124=3.5 so 124 grain bullets takes about three and a half of them to weigh one ounce. 437.5/147=2.976 or three 147 grain bullets to the ounce. Hope that helps

 

[primetime]

Thanks azyogi...I keep learning everyday and you guys are helping a lot!

 

[Mags]

124 grain NATO ammo is pretty good stuff.

 

[wishin]

Since it sounds to me like you're new to the 9mm, let me add that this cartridge goes by several names, 9x19mm, 9mm luger, 9mm parabellum and probably others that I've forgotten.

 

[NMGonzo]

If you do your part any 9mm round will do theirs.

 

[GunsAmerica Fan]

The 147 grain bullet is subsonic so it is good for silencers and just about nothing else. In tests through the years they tend to over penetrate and go through the target. You are better off with 115gr +P hollowpoints for a carry round, but make sure you practice a little with it at least. The flip is much more and the flash greater. Nasty little cartridges though.

 

[primetime]

9x19 is what it is...And I'm new to the 9mm yes..But not new to handguns. I used to use a Glock 23C which uses .40 Caliber rounds..I didn't pay as much attention to the bullet weight when i had the 40. It worked fine, I liked it, but thought I'd move down to 9mm to see how I like them..So far, so good..

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

I was considering trying the 147gr Federal HST based on the review I've seen HERE and other places on the interwebs.
Looks like it did very well and penetrated just an inch more than the 124gr flavor of the same round.
I remember 147gr used to be considered worthless in the 9mm unless you were going to suppress it (I think the original stuff was called Special K or something) but some of the new ones seem to open up well and not over penetrate as much.

 

[stinger 327]

Try out the Buffalo Bore ammo 9mm+P in 115 grain.
You can also look into Mag Safe ammo.

 

[Bobarino]

don't worry so much about "stopping power" because there is no such thing. It's a term brought about somewhere around the Marshal and Sannow study (and i use that term loosely) about one shot stops and such.

The goal in a defensive shooting is to stop the threat. That is usually accomplished in one of two ways. Interruption of the Central Nervous System (CNS) (think head shot) or through rapid blood loss (center mass shot). That means you have to hit the attacker somewhere where one of these two things will occur. Where you hit the attacker is more important than with what caliber or what weight you hit them with.

Of course, penetration, expansion, tissue disruption, would channels, and energy transfer are all factors in this but they none of this stuff does you any good if you can't hit him somewhere vital. A shot to the left butt cheek with a .50AE isn't going to do as much to stop an attack as a .380 to the ticker.

Being as you're using a G19 with a shorter barrel, i'd shy away from the 147/subsonic rounds since you're going to experience a little loss of velocity and may not get reliable expansion leading to over penetration and possibly endangering others. If it were me, i'd go with whatever brand and flavor of 124 or 115 grain JHP defensive ammo gives you the warm and fuzzies when you see it in the store or shoot it on the range.

Bobby

 

[stinger 327]

The 115 grain 9mm has more velocity and energy than the 124 grain as to if it really makes a difference I don't know as long as you can hit with it and it's reliable and you feel comfortable with it.

 

[primetime]

Bobby, yes i fired off some 124 and I think it gives me the warm and fuzzies you were talking about!!

 

[Bobarino]

Good on ya! Confidence in your equipment goes a long way with your ability to defend yourself. A lot of people will deny it but the emotional connection to their gun, ammo choice, etc affects their ability to be proficient with their firearm. If you "feel" you're going to miss your intended target, it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy and you'll subconsciously make it happen. The same is true for feeling you are going to hit your target too, of course. If people didn't use their emotions to pick equipment, we wouldn't see nearly as many 1911's being used as defensive weapons. They're hardly the most size or weight efficient, are low capacity by modern standards, and the uber tight race guns and uber cheap knock offs are not known for reliability. But they make their users feel confident in their ability to protect themselves or loved ones and that's what matters.

People virtually never pick a gun based solely on an objective analytical comparison of the gun's features and benefits. I'm certainly that way. I picked my carry gun because it made me feel protected by what I saw as the best weapon available.

If 124 grain rounds are the ones you feel will serve you best, then they will. Don't worry about the mythical "stopping power", just place your shots where they need to be and fire until the threat stops.

Bobby