I cannot choose a 9mm Luger JHP!

[wnycollector]

Federal 9BPLE 115gr JHP +P+

Another vote for the +P+ 115gr JHP. When the big ammo shortage hit last year I was down to my last mag of Federal 9BPLE. I did find a few boxes of Magtech +P+ 115gr JHP. I chronographed it doing ~1290fps out of a 4" S&W M910. I am using that until I can find some more Federal ammo!

 

[jon_in_wv]

The only problem with the 9BPLE is muzzle flash. A lot of it. Its never really bothered me though and other than that it is still a superb round. My other favorite is the HSTs in either 124gr or 147gr. You can't go wrong with the Gold Dots either. Just pick one and work on your shooting skills and stop worrying to much about what bullet it is. Where you put it is most important.

 

[dfjaws]

I carry Hornady Critical Defense in an HK P30 and a Glock 19. Both feed with 100% reliability and are accurate with it.

 

[postalnut25]

Winchester Ranger 127gr +P+ is what my local department uses. That should be good enough.

 

[CZF]

The 115 grain Barnes TAC-XP JHP as loaded by Double Tap..


Should be equally as dynamic and the DPX, as it uses the same bullet, but higher velocity.

 

[easyg]

I prefer 124g Speer Gold Dots.

 

[bigfatdave]

For the life of me, I cannot settle down on a 9mm JHP load for a 4" bbl house gun. I keep shifting from one brand to another grain to another with complete indifference.

So?

Congratulations, you now know of a group of loadings that feed reliably in your guns, now stock up on them as they go on sale or are available in bulk and stop worrying about it.
The exact loading in your mags is a VERY small part of the equation, I wouldn't go FMJ because I'll take all the help I can get, but any modern HP design will be close enough.

You have been doing reliability testing, right? You aren't just buying a box of 20 and assuming they will feed, are you?

 

[167]

Quote:
For the life of me, I cannot settle down on a 9mm JHP load for a 4" bbl house gun. I keep shifting from one brand to another grain to another with complete indifference.

So?

Congratulations, you now know of a group of loadings that feed reliably in your guns, now stock up on them as they go on sale or are available in bulk and stop worrying about it.
The exact loading in your mags is a VERY small part of the equation, I wouldn't go FMJ because I'll take all the help I can get, but any modern HP design will be close enough.

You have been doing reliability testing, right? You aren't just buying a box of 20 and assuming they will feed, are you?

+1

If it runs in your gun it will work. #1 concern should be your performance, not the bullets. Software is more important than hardware.

 

[sm]

Whatever runs in your gun and shoots POA/POI.

I personally prefer 124 grain.

Mine currently has 115 grain FMJ. I happen to want FMJ in mine. Just as I have over the decades on purpose carried FMJ/LSWC and other "non-hollowpoint" offerings, in various calibers.

 

[Manco]

I would recommend Winchester 147-grain PDX1/Ranger Bonded or Federal 147-grain HST. Modern JHPs such as these will expand reliably even with heavy-for-caliber bullet weights. 147-grain bullets in this caliber will achieve sufficient penetration with less blast & flash, and when the bullets tumble (as they do often enough in ballistic gel and even more often in flesh) they, being relatively long, will produce a wider permanent wound cavity than that of lightweight bullets, which frequently flatten out to disk-like shapes that turn sideways.

 

[Snowdog]

I had the same indecision not too long ago. I ultimately decided to stick with Winchester Ranger (Talon) 124gr +P (RA124TP). No bells or whistles, very little marketing other than to agencies, but in all three of my 9mm handguns, they're accurate and reliable. Positive expansion (impressively "pointy") to boot. The price is fair too, usually around $18 - $25 for a box of 50.

I reload for the 9mm, but only for range ammunition. I bought a case of these and plan on using only them for defensive use. I like the idea of consolidating, it keeps things simple.

Here's a link for them if you're interested.

 

[searcher451]

It's an easy choice for me: I buy the ammo that's available -- and not much of it is these days -- that I know will work well in my carry piece (Walther P99C). Fortunately, everything that I've tried cycles just fine. But for me, at least, it's a question these days of finding any self-defense ammo at all, rather than which among many good options to pick.

 

[Snowdog]

Searcher, I empathize with your frustration in availability of decent JHPs. I gave up on local shops when I realized the obnoxious mark-up on their ammunition (especially fierce with "premium" JHPs sold in 20-25 round boxes). That's the price of overhead, I suppose.

No stress in ordering on-line. The saving on a purchase of 500 rounds pays for the shipping several times over.

 

[DrLaw]

A proven stopper???

It's all going to depend on so many factors. If the SHTF, will you be calm enough to hold steady, or will your heart be pumping blood a mile a second through you? Will the bad guy be high on PCP or some other thing that makes him oblivious to pain? Will you remember to take a safety off?

The biggest thing you can do for yourself is have confidence from testing bullets yourself in ballistic gelatin with clothing covering the area to be shot.

As you see, so many have given you recommendations here that your head will be swimming. :banghead:

Best bet is to find something, stick to it, and trust it will work, AND that you will have to empty your magazine.

The Doc is out now.

 

[GRIZ22]

What is a proven load? No gimmicks, a proven stopper in the 9mm Luger.


Please note that no responses say "I've had 20 one shot stops with this ammo". People list what works well in their gun and seems to be a reasonable choice to them. If you ask the same question of some former SAS troopers they would respond with "full metal jacket". The fact is there is no magic bullet.

You need to find a quality (Speer, WW, RP, Federal, Cor Bon, Blackhills, etc) JHP that functions well in your gun. This is not difficult to do with a quality modern firearm. If you are a good enough shooter you then need to find which is the most accurate in your gun. Using these criteria I like Silvertips or Gold Dot in Glocks and any 147 gr in S&Ws, Berettas, or Taurus.

 

[Otto]

Speer Gold Dot 124gr+P for me, haven't found anything like it.

+1....Angus Hobdell also recommends it and I can get it for $23 for fifty rounds thru LE.
Here's an informal test of it on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcwaMwB13Gg