...and a few days before that, too.
whats the best 9mm defensive round??
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...and a few days before that, too.
Grmart
Member
I used Winchester Ranger T-series 127gr +p+, for years, then looked at the recoil factor.
Shooting people is about penetration, and how many of these rounds you can impact your target, bad guy, bad guys! And that is the reason we carry guns.
So the 147g Ranger T non Plus P, very accurate, minimum recoil, compared to that heavy kicking +P+ got the nod. And the Glock 19 has 16 of them.
Shooting people is about penetration, and how many of these rounds you can impact your target, bad guy, bad guys! And that is the reason we carry guns.
So the 147g Ranger T non Plus P, very accurate, minimum recoil, compared to that heavy kicking +P+ got the nod. And the Glock 19 has 16 of them.
easyg
Member
For +P ammo I prefer Remington Golden Saber 124g+P or Speer Gold Dot 124g+P.
For standard pressure I like Winchester Silvertip 115g.
For standard pressure I like Winchester Silvertip 115g.
hariph creek
Member
I have a six step plan. You will of course need to determine which bullet weight and pressure rating you want. These factors will help with step #1. It may also be a good idea to stick to JHP's that have passed the FBI protocol.
#1-Pick a reputable manufacturer.
#2-See IF you can find their products, ANYWHERE! (if not, return to step #1)
#3-Make sure it functions in your gun. (if not, return to step #1)
#4-Make sure it goes where you aim it. (if not, return to step #1)
#5-Buy a BUNCH!
#6-Buy me some, too!
#1-Pick a reputable manufacturer.
#2-See IF you can find their products, ANYWHERE! (if not, return to step #1)
#3-Make sure it functions in your gun. (if not, return to step #1)
#4-Make sure it goes where you aim it. (if not, return to step #1)
#5-Buy a BUNCH!
#6-Buy me some, too!
sixgunner455
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I like Speer Gold Dots. Today, though, when you go to the store, you pretty much have to take what you can get. Good luck finding the exact load you decide is perfect.
Good luck finding the exact load you decide is perfect.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
The round YOU can fire accurately and do so repeatably in YOUR pistol. What anyone else shoots has no effect on what you should shoot in your pistol. The best ammo in the world loaded with the best bullet in the world at any velocity will do you no good unless you make good hits.
Most commercial self defense ammo on the market today will do what it's meant to do if you do your part first.
CharlieDeltaJuliet
Member
ArchAngelCD is exactly right. Self Defense ammo is usually designed within specifications to have a certain amount of penetration. Not saying it is all equal, but it is all designed to do (as ArchAngelCD said) "it's job". So just like ArchAngelCD said, find what feeds the best for your weapon and is the most accurate for you...
Old_Gun_Hand
Member
No best. All of the top brands will do a good job if you place them in the right spots. If you stick with those who pass the FBI test for penetration you should be fine. Placement and penetration are of prime importance. If your bullet penetrates and hits what it is supposed to it really does not matter if it expanded a fraction of an inch or not.
In random order: Remington 'Golden Saber', Winchester PDX, Federal HST, Speer 'Gold Dot'.
Please answer is question. 11.25mm isn't same as 9mm.[/URL][/IMG]
Ed Ames
Member
I believe the poster was attempting to insinuate that the best choice would be to use something other than 9mm. It's similar to how if someone asked about the best bicycle for F1 racing you could answer that bicycles aren't the ideal choice for the intended application.
I think it is somewhat silly myself, but it was a valid answer.
My own answer is that the best ammo for defense is the ammo you can afford to practice with regularly, works reliably, and you shoot well. If you must choose between a $40/20 box of whatever ridiculousness they are currently charging $2 a round for, or $20/50 generic JHP, you should go with the generic assuming it feeds and fires reliably. That's true whether you are buying .32 or .45.
I think it is somewhat silly myself, but it was a valid answer.
My own answer is that the best ammo for defense is the ammo you can afford to practice with regularly, works reliably, and you shoot well. If you must choose between a $40/20 box of whatever ridiculousness they are currently charging $2 a round for, or $20/50 generic JHP, you should go with the generic assuming it feeds and fires reliably. That's true whether you are buying .32 or .45.
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Byrd666
Member
wolverine_173
If that last question was for me, it is standard ammo. Black Hills 124 grn HP. Works great in my M&P c9 and my Ruger SR9 and my Bersa Thunder 9 UC Pro, before I sold the latter one.
If that last question was for me, it is standard ammo. Black Hills 124 grn HP. Works great in my M&P c9 and my Ruger SR9 and my Bersa Thunder 9 UC Pro, before I sold the latter one.
g_one
Member
To a small extent, some are different things for different needs. I use Critical Defense in my 380 to make up for the lack of penetration inherent to the caliber.
In other calibers, I carry Golden Saber in a lighter grain. I would be just as happy/comfortable with Speer Gold Dots, Winchester SXT. To me, among the well-known quality brands, it purely comes down to preference. I use Federal in my .357, because I think they tend to have less issues with over-penetration; even that though, is probably just hearsay with no real truth behind it.
In other calibers, I carry Golden Saber in a lighter grain. I would be just as happy/comfortable with Speer Gold Dots, Winchester SXT. To me, among the well-known quality brands, it purely comes down to preference. I use Federal in my .357, because I think they tend to have less issues with over-penetration; even that though, is probably just hearsay with no real truth behind it.
Creature
Member
Yeah, okay....
This standard statement always makes me want to shake my head. Despite the seemingly twice weekly topic of discussion of "which ammo is best?", I am pretty sure the OP was asking (all things being equal as far as pistol accuracy and reliability go) which 9x19mm ammunition is the better performing self-defense round.
How about each of us make the leap and actually pick a round and discuss it in terms of merits, shortcomings and advantages as compared to other brands?
Ed Ames
Member
What if the various factors that make up "performance" are weighed in such away that brand differences are of a lower order of significance?
The pie of handgun performance seems to slice up along these lines:
70% actually hitting the target (some situations can be resolved without this, but not many)
20% placement (hitting an arm is unlikely to resolve a situation compared 'to CNS)
7.5% bullet type (jhp, fmj, tc, etc.)
2% terminal energy/"shock"
.5% miscellaneous stuff perhaps including brand
Seems reasonable to acknowledge that, and to suggest spending your mental energy on those factors that are most beneficial to influence, such as hitting your target.
The pie of handgun performance seems to slice up along these lines:
70% actually hitting the target (some situations can be resolved without this, but not many)
20% placement (hitting an arm is unlikely to resolve a situation compared 'to CNS)
7.5% bullet type (jhp, fmj, tc, etc.)
2% terminal energy/"shock"
.5% miscellaneous stuff perhaps including brand
Seems reasonable to acknowledge that, and to suggest spending your mental energy on those factors that are most beneficial to influence, such as hitting your target.
One of my Students shot an attacker, range 4"! This was a Revolver, .38 special, 158g non hollow Point, lead semi wad cutter.
Through and through, bullet found on gurney, just a dent on one corner. Non responsive at scene, body cavity full of blood. Sloshed when moved.
At the shot, stopped all forward movement, "OH" half step back, instant collapse, straight down, a fold down.
Through and through, bullet found on gurney, just a dent on one corner. Non responsive at scene, body cavity full of blood. Sloshed when moved.
At the shot, stopped all forward movement, "OH" half step back, instant collapse, straight down, a fold down.
Ok, understanding that all pistol caliber discussions are like comparing Snow White's seven dwarves to see which one can kick dwarf butt better than the others (hey, serious stopping power belongs to the long gun. Period, only the old .357 "street king" loads start to compare) I have to agree with others who contend that people worry far too much about choosing the best load compared to worrying about marksmanship and mindset.
Pick a load that you and your gun likes in one of the three popular grain weights for 9, get competent with it, then forget about it.
I like Gold Dot, HST, and Cor-bon DPX. I also like not going too far from the grain weight of my training ammunition. YMMV.
Pick a load that you and your gun likes in one of the three popular grain weights for 9, get competent with it, then forget about it.
I like Gold Dot, HST, and Cor-bon DPX. I also like not going too far from the grain weight of my training ammunition. YMMV.
mljdeckard
Member
Someone wanna tell me where I can pick up a box of full wadcutter 9mms, and why on earth they would make good defensive 9mm loads?
And yes, thank you yet again, to the guy whose uncle was in Vietnam and told him that if you carry anything other than a .45 you might as well put on a dress. Not only is it just as good as any other defensive pistol round, most of us can shoot it significantly faster than we can a .45. I carry a .45 1911, but my wife shoots a XD-9 better. Am I supposed to tell her to get rid of it because only a .45 is going to save her life?
And the reality is, there is very little difference between defensive ammo brands. It is much more productive to test what works in your gun than which one is more effective. And for modern service autos, you are unlikely to have any problems with any gun/ammo combination.
And yes, thank you yet again, to the guy whose uncle was in Vietnam and told him that if you carry anything other than a .45 you might as well put on a dress. Not only is it just as good as any other defensive pistol round, most of us can shoot it significantly faster than we can a .45. I carry a .45 1911, but my wife shoots a XD-9 better. Am I supposed to tell her to get rid of it because only a .45 is going to save her life?
And the reality is, there is very little difference between defensive ammo brands. It is much more productive to test what works in your gun than which one is more effective. And for modern service autos, you are unlikely to have any problems with any gun/ammo combination.
Snowdog
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I believe anything 9mm and up is perfectly adequate and I'm certain the .32acp and .380acp are capable of getting things done as well.
I very much did bow and scrape to the "anything-under-.45-is-foolish" alter in my youth, but I no longer subscribe to that philosophy. Now I accept the anything-less-than-a-rifle/shotgun-is-a-compromise mantra.
I prefer the .40S&W as I have a boatload of ammunition for it (bought all the XM40HC and XM40LP1 I could find 3 years ago).
However, I do like the Golden Saber, HST and Ranger for the 9mm. In reality, just about any defensive JHP will be fine.
I very much did bow and scrape to the "anything-under-.45-is-foolish" alter in my youth, but I no longer subscribe to that philosophy. Now I accept the anything-less-than-a-rifle/shotgun-is-a-compromise mantra.
I prefer the .40S&W as I have a boatload of ammunition for it (bought all the XM40HC and XM40LP1 I could find 3 years ago).
However, I do like the Golden Saber, HST and Ranger for the 9mm. In reality, just about any defensive JHP will be fine.
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