What's the hottest 9x19 +p factory load available?

[N555]

What's the hottest 9mm luger factory ammo available?
A quick search says probably buffalo bore +p+. The 147gr at 1,175fps doesn't sound like a particularly great idea.
Underwood ammo 147gr +p sounds pretty hot too, 1,130fps.
Anything else?

 

[sparkyv]

I would have expected to see a really light projectile listed as the one with the highest velocity (assuming that "hottest" refers to velocity).

 

[hso]

I'd want to see the FBI gel test on anything I bet my life on.

A "hot" round that overpentrates wastes energy. One that doesn't expand consistently wastes "tha heat" in a different manner. Too light, too heavy, too...

Defensive ammo is a Goldilocks problem.

 

[9mmepiphany]

What's the hottest 9mm luger factory ammo available?

Disregarding performance...simply "hot", I'm thinking Inceptor Ammunition's 65gr +P ARX moving at 1695fps (415 ft/lbs)

It isn't a traditional HP, the bullet is fluted....which causes it to "...constrict, pressurize, and eject tissue outward according to a phenomenon known as the Venturi Effect."
Sort of like a Glaser round on steroids, as it isn't pre-fragmented

 

[W.E.G.]

The +P or +P+ designation really only refers to velocity, and does not speak to bullet performance.

What do you want the bullet to do after it contacts the target?

You can have penetration or you can have expansion. Rarely can you have both.

Then you have to have function/cycling. Which you may not reliably achieve if your gun isn't sprung for the load that looks good on paper.

 

[Rock185]

I've used the factory Federal 9BPLE 115 JHP and Winchester 115 +P+. Usually 1300 FPS or more in 5" barrels. The 9BPLE actually did 1400+ FPS in one of my 5" barreled guns. The Winchester 115 grain "Active Duty" round averaged 1319 FPS in a 5" barrel. Some Ruger branded ARX type 65 grain ammo averaged just over 1700 FPS in a 5" barrel, and just over 2000 FPS in a 16" gun. I think considering bullet weight, the "hottest" was not even labeled +P+. It was the older CorBon 115 +P. The CorBon averaged 1440- FPS in a 5" gun, and 1665 FPS in a 16" barrel.

 

[N555]

I'd want to see the FBI gel test on anything I bet my life on.

A "hot" round that overpentrates wastes energy. One that doesn't expand consistently wastes "tha heat" in a different manner. Too light, too heavy, too...

Defensive ammo is a Goldilocks problem.

I'm just looking for reference ammo.
Penetration excessive or the lack there of is irrelevant.

Disregarding performance...simply "hot", I'm thinking Inceptor Ammunition's 65gr +P ARX moving at 1695fps (415 ft/lbs)

It isn't a traditional HP, the bullet is fluted....which causes it to "...constrict, pressurize, and eject tissue outward according to a phenomenon known as the Venturi Effect."
Sort of like a Glaser round on steroids, as it isn't pre-fragmented

I saw that too. it's so weird I'm not going to mess with it. I have just never tried to make a bullet that light go fast in a 9mm.
I'm interested in 124 to 147gr.

 

[N555]

I've used the factory Federal 9BPLE 115 JHP and Winchester 115 +P+. Usually 1300 FPS or more in 5" barrels. The 9BPLE actually did 1400+ FPS in one of my 5" barreled guns. The Winchester 115 grain "Active Duty" round averaged 1319 FPS in a 5" barrel. Some Ruger branded ARX type 65 grain ammo averaged just over 1700 FPS in a 5" barrel, and just over 2000 FPS in a 16" gun. I think considering bullet weight, the "hottest" was not even labeled +P+. It was the older CorBon 115 +P. The CorBon averaged 1440- FPS in a 5" gun, and 1665 FPS in a 16" barrel.

Do they still make they 115gr corbon?

 

[fxvr5]

Do they still make they 115gr corbon?

Ask Corbon.

 

[Lo-Profile]

I like this, it's in my EDC

 

[Steve762us]

Atomic has a pretty scarey rep-for doing "atomic" disassembly of a bunch of Garands, years ago.

 

[fxvr5]

You could also look for 9 Major ammunition. Most of it is +P and +P+. The ballistics for a given bullet weight are very high to reach minimum Major power factor, and usually exceed that produced by Underwood And Buffalo Bore. Here's an article on 9 Major:

What’s 9 Major? - American Handgunner

You might have heard of something called “9 Major.” It’s a wildcat load of the 9mm Luger intended only for competition pistols specially built to handle extremely high pressure.

americanhandgunner.com

 

[Anchorite]

I really like the 9mm Winchester Ranger -T 127gr +P+ It’s what I would load in my 9mms for serious social use.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I'd want to see the FBI gel test on anything I bet my life on.

A "hot" round that overpentrates wastes energy. One that doesn't expand consistently wastes "tha heat" in a different manner. Too light, too heavy, too...

Defensive ammo is a Goldilocks problem.

I used to think over penetration wasted energy, too, but it isn't all about energy.

And there are quite a number of people who aren't as thick as the FBI penetration standard.

But yeah...this is a Goldilocks problem.

 

[N555]

You could also look for 9 Major ammunition. Most of it is +P and +P+. The ballistics for a given bullet weight are very high to reach minimum Major power factor, and usually exceed that produced by Underwood And Buffalo Bore. Here's an article on 9 Major:

What’s 9 Major? - American Handgunner

You might have heard of something called “9 Major.” It’s a wildcat load of the 9mm Luger intended only for competition pistols specially built to handle extremely high pressure.

americanhandgunner.com

I wish I could get a box of that jjr 124gr 9mm major. I just don't need a whole case. 185 power factor 9mm sounds like an exceptionally bad idea.
Looks like they're loaded with sig v-crown which I already know fragment at 1,500fps.

 

[N555]

I really like the 9mm Winchester Ranger -T 127gr +P+ It’s what I would load in my 9mms for serious social use.

That stuff is so rare anymore it belongs in a museum.

 

[N555]

Atomic has a pretty scarey rep-for doing "atomic" disassembly of a bunch of Garands, years ago.

I would like to know more.

 

[Joshua M. Smith]

The +P or +P+ designation really only refers to velocity, and does not speak to bullet performance.

What do you want the bullet to do after it contacts the target?

You can have penetration or you can have expansion. Rarely can you have both.

Then you have to have function/cycling. Which you may not reliably achieve if your gun isn't sprung for the load that looks good on paper.

It's a pressure designation.

 

[Steve762us]

I would like to know more.

Check CMP Garand forums.

 

[Whiskeyhotel2020]

I'd want to see the FBI gel test on anything I bet my life on.

A "hot" round that overpentrates wastes energy. One that doesn't expand consistently wastes "tha heat" in a different manner. Too light, too heavy, too...

Defensive ammo is a Goldilocks problem.

It is indeed one that unfortunately gets answered at the time it is used and in the aftermath of a very bad day. I try to stick with ammo that has a good rep and figure I'll give them as many as it takes to get them to know they're done. After that I'll decide if it's time to switch carry ammo.

The way I see it is you can test and test but it's never definitive. It needs out the really bad performers and gives you a pretty good idea how the good ones will do. However, life has a way of turning things on the heads. Only thing to worry about is being the one standing at the end of the ordeal.

 

[fxvr5]

I wish I could get a box of that jjr 124gr 9mm major. I just don't need a whole case. 185 power factor 9mm sounds like an exceptionally bad idea.
Looks like they're loaded with sig v-crown which I already know fragment at 1,500fps.

If you're talking about the bullet below, it looks like a Zero bullet.

9mm Major 124 JHP

500 Round box of 9 Major 124 JHP intended for USPSA Open Division.

jjrammo.com

I wish I could get a box of that jjr 124gr 9mm major. I just don't need a whole case. 185 power factor 9mm sounds like an exceptionally bad idea.

Then why do you want some?

 

[N555]

If you're talking about the bullet below, it looks like a Zero bullet.

View attachment 1186217

9mm Major 124 JHP

500 Round box of 9 Major 124 JHP intended for USPSA Open Division.

jjrammo.com

Then why do you want some?

Reference ammo.

 

[Riomouse911]

That stuff is so rare anymore it belongs in a museum.

I still have a few boxes of that Leprechaun’s gold buried back on the 9mm shelf.



(Even have one box of .40 S&W Black Talon and some Cor-Bon ammo, too.)


SXT 127 +P+ was duty ammo for my office for a long time, it was discontinued because some deputies bought their own guns and the manufacturers of those guns refused to warranty guns using it.

I think it is very good stuff.

Stay safe.

 

[ECVMatt]

I'm not sure if you can still find it, but back in the day this stuff was out of control crazy!

I think it was made for submachine guns. I shot tons of it out of my Glock with no ill effects but it was powerful enough to break plate racks at the range.

Good old Egyptian 9mm.

 

[Riomouse911]

I'm not sure if you can still find it, but back in the day this stuff was out of control crazy!

I think it was made for submachine guns. I shot tons of it out of my Glock with no ill effects but it was powerful enough to break plate racks at the range.

Good old Egyptian 9mm.

View attachment 1186440

Israeli black-tip 9mm, Egyptian 9mm, Turkish 8x57.. those Eastern Mediterranean armies sure liked their ammo hot!

Stay safe.