It isn't illegal. Neither is the 5.7mm that everyone thinks is. It is just restricted by the manufacturers. Some of this is just marketing --call it LE and everyone will want it. Anyway, it is out there and not a problem to purchase.
I can get the T-Series right down the street in all flavors and types, plus the Ranger 9mm +P+ 115gr. I'm sure I could get the HST also, but I haven't looked for it, and that particular store doesn't have it, at least I don't think. I'm happy with these T-Series (the new Black Talon round, which all media hype aside, is a great bullet). My wife carries them in 124gr.+P in a G17. I use the 165gr. .40 in a G27, and the 230gr. .45 in a G21. Everything else I handload exclusively. They've pretty much chrono'd the box numbers for me too, albeit a little less in the G27.
My advice is to look around at local shops and online. There are some places that do this online, and somebody will probably come along that buys them online and point you in the right direction.
You can also find this stuff at gunshows. But look around to find good prices, lately when I go to gunshows they have these ridiculous prices (on everything) so ridiculous I might not renew my membership this year. Old Glocks for new prices, 30rd. very used FAL mags for $85? No more cool collections, but more new junk dealers (teddy bears, trinkets, garbage). Why bother? Rant done.
And like the other fellow said, Speer Gold Dot. You can't go wrong with those, especially the 200gr.+P .45ACP. I think the ones I have are LE marked, and maybe that is why they are +P. I don't know, but that thing opens up like an inch or more! I haven't used the 9mm, but as long as you get the lighter bullets in +P, they should be every bit as good as the HST or T-Series. Certainly in that league. CorBon is another one. Their plain jacketed hollowpoint bullets are pretty hot, not much different from the LE stuff. The Barnes bullet versions are VERY expensive, and in my opinion, not worth it. Anyway, they used to use an XTP bullet, then I heard a Nosler? Not sure. Whatever they use, they work. I've used and carried CorBon for a long time too, before switching to the T-Series, and I did that simply for cost and close availability.
Hornady has some new stuff, their critical defense line, and their XTP is a great bullet, known for penetration, but sometimes it won't open up well. Especially at low velocities, which is where they load their 9mm at. Maybe their new bullet with the plastic tip fixed this. But they may have some hotter stuff, look into them as well. I don't know of a more accurate hollowpoint in general than the XTP, and I bet that new one is good to go too. I load a lot of the XTP's for just that, accuracy, and it is my preferred handload period in 10mm.
Lots of choices, just because it says LE doesn't really mean much. You just want a good bullet going at the fastest speed you can get for that particular round. If you can get CorBon local for cheap, I'd go that route. That is good ammo that seldom lets down, although it suffers a bit in accuracy due to the fact they hotrod it. Their 115gr.+P 9mm goes 1350fps, and the 115gr.+P+ LE Ranger (non-T-Series) goes about the same, maybe 1375. Both are smoking hot, both are the same really. In this case, I actually like the CorBon bullet better than the Winchester Silvertip.
