SD ammunition question

[Barksdale123]

Good to be back after a long sabbatical. Looking for some input. Best SD ammunition for a 3 inch barrel. I have heard light ,115 Gr JHP is the best way to go. But I'm sure there is good input, pro or con here.

In the end shot placement trump's ammo choice. But, that doesn't come on the forum.

 

[jstert]

semiautomatic pistol or revolver? maker? attitudes of local prosecutors to civilian defensive use of a handgun? local laws concerning ammo type? caliber?

 

[Shawn Dodson]

115gr? I'm assuming 9mm.

If true, then 147gr loses the least velocity when fired from a shorter barrel.

147gr HST is rated at 1000 fps by Federal. In my G43 it chronographs at 960 fps.

 

[sgt127]

I bought a couple cases of Federal 115 (RCMP). Kind of a Federal 9BP (+P+) light. Years ago. Never chrono’d it. But, it’s fairly spicy.

Still have 1000 rounds left. If I carry a 9mm. That’s what’s in it.

I don’t keep up with the latest cutting edge Ammo technology (cough..marketing) and I’m not paying $1.00+ a round for ammo.

I’ll shoot my crappy bullets with the most accuracy I can and, hope for the best.

Pick one you can afford enough of to shoot a bunch of it in your gun. Know where it hits.

I’d order a case or two of one of these and, call it good.

 

[AUhiker]

Me personally I like 115 gr or 124 gr in 3 in barrels to get the velocity up. I keep the heavy projectiles for the full size guns. HST 147 gr does expand very good out of short barrels. Still I worry about expansion when falling below the 1000 fps. I would stick with the big brands for self defense rounds just due to quality standards. You want the round to go bang every single time. Hornady, speer, federal, Winchester etc. Nothing wrong with the cheap bulk hollow points like wwb or Remington umc. I think they’ll work just fine I just worry about a bad primer. Whatever you do decide to roll with make sure you test fire it in your gun.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I run 115gr Hornady Critical Defense in my P938 and it feeds fine.

 

[Agsalaska]

It is a good question. As you get down to shorter barrels the amount of ammo that will reliably penetrate and expand shrinks quite a bit.

If you go to youtube and search shootingthebull you will find a guy that tested like 40 different rounds in a three inch barrel. And sure enough a lot of ammo that works great in a 4 or 5 inch barrel didn't perform will in the 3 inch barrel.

My shortest barrel is a 3.27 inch H&K P30SK. I use Federal HST 124 gr. You can find them online in boxes of 50 for about $.70 a shot with free shipping. Search it on ammoseek for F/CF shipping.

 

[IWAC]

Good to be back after a long sabbatical. Looking for some input. Best SD ammunition for a 3 inch barrel. I have heard light ,115 Gr JHP is the best way to go. But I'm sure there is good input, pro or con here.

In the end shot placement trump's ammo choice. But, that doesn't come on the forum.

Caliber? Go to the Lucky Gunner website. Lots of very good info there.

 

[Riomouse911]

I use the Hornady Critical Defense 115 9mm in a couple of mid-sized 9mm SD guns, Federal HST 150 gr Micro in my smallest 9mm’s. Both choices work very well in testing (I hope that I never have to use them, though).

In my full sized CZ-75 SP-01 I run the Federal 147 gr HST.

Stay safe.

 

[C-grunt]

Any of the proven LE rounds are good to go. Federal HST, Speer Gold Dot, Winchester Ranger, and Hornady Critical Duty.

You can get into analysis paralysis with this. Each have their pros and cons, but in the end they are all proven performers. Pick one and run it.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

IMO a 124gr bullet is best in the 9mm and that's what I carry.

 

[wayneinFL]

You mentioned a shorter barrel. You might try Speer- they make a short barrel Gold Dot 124 grain.

 

[Pat Riot]

If you’re interested in the performance of 9mm and other semiauto ammo check out the Lucky Gunner website. Scroll down to the tables to see how different SD rounds performed.

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/

 

[Buzznrose]

Lots of good ammo…but if you want “best”….

http://www.black-hills.com/shop/honeybadger/9mm-luger-hb/

 

[Mike J]

From the testing I have seen online I think heavy for caliber, 147 or 150 grain bullets are best. I believe 124 grain plus P cartridges would be second. I would suggest looking at different cartridges that are available then searching for ballistic gel testing of that particular cartridge. All 147 grain cartridges are not created equal.

Pat Riot made a good suggestion.

 

[CapnMac]

Go to the Lucky Gunner website.

Ditto.

See what's available local to you (being 'locked in' to having ammo shipped in is not always "panic proof").
Get like a small box of each available.

Run that through your firearm.

See which one does best in your gun with you shooting it.
That's likely going to be the best ammo for you.
Being comfortable with the ammo; getting enough fired to have reliable experience; having a near-instinctive 'feel' for where it will hit are all key to best shooting. A tighter, consistent group is better than the best gel test.

 

[powermad]

I was using147gr HST's in my full sized pistols before I got a 365 and after trying out a few flavors just stayed with that.
Most of my blaster ammo is 147gr as well, only 115gr I have is Winchester M1552.

If I want to go hotter than that I just use Speer Gold Dot 125gr in .357 Sig.

 

[Buckeye63]

I carry 124gr HST standard pressure