What do you guys recommend for a 9mm self defense round?

[Joe Link]

Right now in my Glock 19 I carry Winchester Personal Protection hollow points in the white box. I'm wondering with all the +P and other stuff out there if there's maybe a more 'modern' round with more stopping power. Thoughts?

 

[Happiness Is A Warm Gun]

Federal LE HST 147gr. No need for +P has good penetration and massive expansion even through heavy clothing.

http://le.atk.com/general/irl/woundballistics.aspx

Take a look at the LosAngelos testing (has some 9mm tests).

Test #2 IMHO is the most important (shooting through heavy clothing).

The HST gets 14" of penetration and 0.63" expansion when firing through heavy clothing; that's good enough for my needs.

IMHO (just my $0.02) the 147gr HST is best SD round right now for the 9mm.

No real need to get +P the HST are improved over Hydroshocks and expand reliably (even through clothing) at lower velocity. Of course the +P can't hurt but I find my recovery is quicker with normal pressure rounds.

They run $20ish for 50 online so they won't break the bank.

 

[911Boss]

In my 9's I use Speer 124gr. +P Gold Dots.

They have a good reputation, and I got a great deal on them ($14 box/50)

 

[chupacabrah]

I think I use 124 gr Speer Gold dots of non +p variety, and some 147 gr Hornady non+ also. Oh, and some WWB JHP, cant remember the weight.

 

[Disaster]

+1 on Happinesses Federal HST 147gr. Proven expansion and penetration.

 

[burningsquirrels]

i use anything cops use. they're the ones who spent tens of thousands of dollars testing what's out there.

speer gold dot
federal hst
rem. golden saber

pick whichever one feeds 200 rounds flawlessly through your gun.

 

[Coronach]

I would caution against "anything the cops use" logic, in general, but it's probably OK in this instance. Good quality hollow points that feed reliably in your gun are just what the doctor ordered. Some may be better than others, but the biggest step is from FMJ to HP ammo. 9mm in ball format is not optimal for defense.

The problems with the "it's what the cops use" logic are:

1. There's a lot of ignorant monkey see, monkey do in purchasing decisions.

2. There's a lot of ignorant "this worked fine for me back when I was walking the beat in in 1972, so my officers don't need anything more" going around, too.

3. "Lowest bidder" is a term near and dear to the heart of purchasing agents.

4. The sound decisions made upon actual real-world performance are often lost in the shuffle with no.s 1 - 3.

Mike

 

[Water-Man]

+2 for Federal HST 147gr.

 

[NG VI]

I like HST the most, it is about the cheapest of the current duty/defense loads available and also the best performing in ordinary, clothed human assailant self defense situations. And like they said, it gets BIG. I have 124+P, 147, and 147+P and I don't think I've used any rhyme or reason to load my magazines with. My CZ PCR has 147+P, and my FNP has one mag of 124 +P and one of 147+P. They are both great bullets, but the 147 is the better of the two.

Gold Dot, Golden Saber, Ranger-T, XTP, they are all very good bullets, and often easy to find for cheaper than the same brands civilian "personal protection" or classic loadings.

 

[JERRY]

for most private citizen encounters the standard velocity 115 grain bullets do it pretty good in real world stats. +p ammo adds the chance of more reliable expansion from shorter barreled guns, but also gives more recoil. for barrier/obstical penetration the 147gr. laods have been superior.


the SDPD has had good results with 147gr. loads, and the DeKalb County PD has had good results with the 115gr. +p loads.

all this tends to point to shot placement being the deciding factor over bullet weight, speed, or design.

 

[Browns Fan]

What about the HST 147gr +P? I picked up a couple of boxes at the last gun show.

 

[hartzpad]

I buy and carry the Remington/UMC 115 gr. hp 100 pack from Wal-Mart, they are currently $23/100 or just $4 more than WWB fmj. This allows me to run a bunch through my carry guns to ensure that they are reliable and they are always easy to pick up. I have done my own ballistics testing with them using wet phonebooks, water jugs and dispatching of live creatures and they expand very well and reliably. I kind of wish they had them in 125 or 147 grain, but I've been very happy with the 115's so far.

I also buy and carry Wal-Mart White Box Winchester Personal Defense 147 gr. 50 round box.

 

[NG VI]

What about the HST 147gr +P? I picked up a couple of boxes at the last gun show.

The 147 HST has been doing very well in all of its tests and its limited real-world applications so far, so the +P 147 can't possibly be any worse, just another 50 FPS of the same.

 

[Phelptwan]

Corbon DPX is my pick.

 

[Odd Job]

Another vote for 124gn Gold Dot.

 

[lechiffre]

the 124gr or 115gr hollow point that gives you the best reliability and accuracy

 

[Shadow1198]

Corbon DPX or Corbon Pow'RBall. Two of the best IMO. The Pow'RBall feeds perfect in almost everything due to the round nose profile. There are plenty of others that work well, though.

 

[Artiz]

I would recommend you the Magtech First Defense, or the Magtech Guardian Gold, wich both have awesome stopping power, outstanding accuracy, deep penetration and devastating expansion, add their proven 100% reliability and their extensive quality controls.

 

[possum_128]

Cor-bon 115 grain.

 

[wuchak]

Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P

Got a killer deal on them from Chester's $250 for 1000 or $5 per box of 20. A friend and I split a case so I have a lifetime supply.

 

[357wheelgunner]

Someone on Glocktalk shot a 150lb deer with standard velocity 124gr Goldensaber. The bullet fully expanded and was recovered in the opposite shoulder of the deer, which dropped with one shot from a small 9mm pistol.

I had a bunch of it that I used to carry in my Glock, so I shot that up for reliability testing and now use it in my P6.

I also used to carry 124gr+P Gold Dots. They always worked and have a fantastic real world record.

Any decent, name brand carry round should work. Shot placement FTW.

 

[innerpiece]

I like Winchester STHP 147gr, or FederalHydra-Shok 124gr.

both have worked quite well in all the tests Ive ran.

 

[Snowdog]

After quite a bit of switching between different JHPs over the years, I decided it doesn't get better than Federal's 147gr HST. As some may know/remember, I tend to test all handgun ammunition I run across against bare playdough and playdough "wearing" four layers of denim. HST is among the absolute best I've tested and reliably expands after 4 layers of denim, which is no small feat, especially for 9mm subsonic JHPs!
As I'm more of a .45acp/1911 guy, I've narrowed my 9mm collection down to a HiPower and Kahr K9. Federal 147gr HST ammunition resides in both.

My second choice would be Winchester's 147gr Ranger. I'm sure it's obvious I'm a slow 'n heavy fan.

BTW, whatever your choice boils down to, if you can't buy it in boxes of 50 for less than $30 including any shipping fees, you're paying more than you should (IE gimmick) IMO.
I believe I purchased the HST for $18/50 (+shipping) a few months back. The Ranger ammunition I mentioned sells for about the same.

 

[Browns Fan]

Quote:
"BTW, whatever your choice boils down to, if you can't buy it in boxes of 50 for less than $30 including any shipping fees, you're paying more than you should (IE gimmick) IMO.
I believe I purchased the HST for $18/50 (+shipping) a few months back. The Ranger ammunition I mentioned sells for about the same."

I guess that I didnt do too bad at the gun show, 147 gr HST +P for $20 per 50 rd box.

 

[xray 99]

I would stick with contempoary designs like Winchester Ranger, Federal HST, Federal Tactical and the Gold Dot.