9mm Ammo Options

[Guest stoker_w]

Hey all,

I'm a pretty new gun owner. Me and my wife own 2 9mm handguns and I'm interested in trying out some of the many options that there are for ammunition.

Are only certain handguns capable of firing +P loads? Or I guess, is it bad for some guns to fire that? I'm also wondering about the JHP bullets. Is a higher weight recommended? I know 124 gr is kind of standard, but I saw at the ol' walmart some some winchester JHP that was pretty cheap and 147 gr. Is that ammo any good? I basically want some to have around the house, you know... In case of "emergency" or what have you.

Do I need to be careful about what 9mm Luger rounds I fire with our guns?

Thanks for any input...

[Smith]

Here is what I refer to. It is why I use 124g +P HST in my XD. http://frag.110mb.com/

[Rightwinger]

The model of your pistol(s) has some to do with it. Most modern, good quality pistols should have no problem shooting +P in limited quantities. You wouldn't want to put thousands of rounds down the pipe in +P due to wear and tear on the operating parts.

For home defense, handguns are great due to their accessibility but you still have to remember that bullet can go through several walls with misses and most gun fights are mostly misses (and occur within yards of both parties).

Frangible ammo helps lower the danger of through and throughs. Corbon's Safety Slugs are probably one of the better home defense cartidges.

http://www.dakotaammo.net/products/glaser/glaser.htm

High impact and fragmentation with less chance of penetration past the first impact.

[Guest Star1021Scott]

Well depending on how many mags you have and if you use it mainly for home protection, its worth it, to me at least, to grab some Hydra-Shoks can't go wrong for home defense, but are a bit prices. $20 bucks for 20 rounds.

Edited February 12, 2008 by Star1021Scott

[Cannon Fodder]

Here is what I refer to. It is why I use 124g +P HST in my XD. http://frag.110mb.com/

I wish they would have included DPX in that test.

[Guest price g]

Well depending on how many mags you have and if you use it mainly for home protection, its worth it, to me at least, to grab some Hydra-Shoks can't go wrong for home defense, but are a bit prices. $20 bucks for 20 rounds.

What he said and wwb 115 for practice

[Guest Rccola]

Well depending on how many mags you have and if you use it mainly for home protection, its worth it, to me at least, to grab some Hydra-Shoks can't go wrong for home defense, but are a bit prices. $20 bucks for 20 rounds.

You can find Hydra-shocks pretty cheap here http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AMM407-3577-287.html

[Guest stoker_w]

Thanks for the info. I have a Glock 26, which I was mostly wondering if it would be bad for it to fire some +P loads just to try them out. It sounds like it isn't going to be bad, and I'll definitely pick up some of the recommended stuff.

Thanks a lot.

[Guest 270win]

I like winchester white box that i can buy at wal mart for 15-16 bucks for a box of 100 for practice. For carry, I use speer gold dot 124 grain +P ammo. It is the standard issue for NYPD who carry 9mm's. I am pretty sure NYPD also issues a Speer 135 +P in 38 Special for the guys' backup guns.

If it is good enough for NYPD, it is good enough for me. They seem to have pretty good results with the ammo. I like 9mm a lot better than others b/c it is much cheaper to shoot than a 40 or 45. Yeah they make a bigger hole, but I like to shoot a lot and practice makes perfect.

[strickj]

what razor said.Hydra-Shoks are old news and I would never use any frangible ammo like Corbon Safety Slugs.anything that will not penetrate walls will not stop a BG.http://www.theboxotruth.com/ has them on there.I also use the 124g +p gold dots in a law enforcement load.they are a little more powerfull then regular.they are also bonded,that means they will not break apart or clog up when going through stuff like clothes.you can find them here:

http://ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/product_info.php?pName=50rds-9mm-speer-le-gold-dot-124gr-p-hp-ammo&cName=9mm-hollow-point-ammo&<osCsid>

sorry,just dont see the need in saftey slugs,and hydra shoks.just my opinion

[Guest BG38357]

Gold Dots.

[The Rabbi]

I have 5 different 9mm PD loads on the shelf now, including TAP 124gr, Federal Expanding FMJ, and the exotic Lapua CEPP Extra. All of them will work great. I personally prefer heavier bullets, 124gr etc, to the 115gr hps. But that's me.

Experiment and find one that works best for you. But there is no magic bullet that will turn a marginal hit into a one stop shot.

[Guest darkstar]

If memory serves I read something to the effect that the 147 gr 9mm load was not a particuarly good load for defensive purposes. Something to the effect that it was an underpowered round. I can't for the life of me remember where I read it (just that they had some fairly lengthy data comparing it -147 gr load vs others and their conclusion that it was not a good load). Again, not sure where I saw that, and I can't vouch that it's accurate....you may want to research it yourself.

Also will echo what Rabbi said...try a bunch!

[Smith]

If memory serves I read something to the effect that the 147 gr 9mm load was not a particuarly good load for defensive purposes. Something to the effect that it was an underpowered round. I can't for the life of me remember where I read it (just that they had some fairly lengthy data comparing it -147 gr load vs others and their conclusion that it was not a good load). Again, not sure where I saw that, and I can't vouch that it's accurate....you may want to research it yourself.

Also will echo what Rabbi said...try a bunch!

What gives the 9 it's effectiveness is velocity. That's why 115g tend to be the best. NATO locked into the 124g (in ball) because it was a compromise between speed and size, also why it is inferior to .45 in ball ammo in combat situations. 115g - too small a hole and 147 - too slow.

Size is not as important in modern defensive, expanding loads. The faster a 9mm goes the better expansion you will get. This is what puts it on par with any caliber, yes even the .45, in effectiveness - speed and expansion.

I go with a 124g +p Ranger or HST for that very reason. HST,Ranger=great expansion. +p=velocity, 124g=size

Now if your talking ball ammo....give that one to the .45 guys.

[The Rabbi]

That's sort of an over-simplification.

Every bullet has an optimal velocity. Too fast and it will fragment and fail to penetrate sufficiently. Too slow and it will fail to expand.

The 9mm was designed as a 124gr bullet. The 115s gained a poor reputation as a result of the LA shootout, when the bullets failed to penetrate sufficiently.

But I agree that in ball ammo the .45acp is king.

[Guest Rccola]

Hmm... What's wrong with Hydra shocks? Or are there just better alternative to them? honestly I pray that i never have to shoot someone but if I do I want to inflict the most damage possible(with a 9mm)

Edited February 15, 2008 by Rccola
I forgot the 's

[Smith]

They have proven to be inferior to some of the new stuff. They were state of the art 20 years ago, just haven't been able to keep up with technology.

The main knock on them is in denim test. They tend to clog and never expand. If you shot a naked human they work great!

[Guest Todd@CIS]

http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=237

^^^ Good info...keep in mind that shot placement is king.

[strickj]

They have proven to be inferior to some of the new stuff. They were state of the art 20 years ago, just haven't been able to keep up with technology.

The main knock on them is in denim test. They tend to clog and never expand. If you shot a naked human they work great!quote]

thats so funny!

IMO they should have faded out along side the mullet:lol:

[Guest happyg]

First off, a Glock 26 can handle a steady diet of just about anything. You are fine going with +p or even +p+. It is just going to accelerate wear. Get a box of several different types and see what floats your boat and what shoots best in your gun. Then, order or purchase a couple of hundred rounds for a reliability test. I usually run around a hundred of my chosen load. Done. In no particular order out of a short barrel 9 mm I like the following: Corbon DPX, Federal HST 124 gr.+p, 124 gr. Golden Saber+p, and Gold Dot 124 gr. +p, and Winchester Rangers.

[Marswolf]

Most modern guns can handle whatever you put through them, but a steady diet of higher power rounds isn't good for any gun. You can pretty much look at the chamber and see if a handgun has the extra strength to handle a zillion rounds of +P+.

Nothing wrong with Hydra-Shoks. Yes, they have a problem - sometimes - expanding in denim and wood. I consider expansion to be an option. Just don't shoot anyone in their pants or urban cowboys - or someone wearing wood. I don't think denim is fashionable these days for thugs.

Actually, I use either Rangers or FMJs, depending on the setting. Pretty much anything not advertised as a "safe" or super-killer round will be fine.

[analog_kidd]

I bought a box of Winchester White Box Hollow Points for SD carry. They were fairly inexpensive. Did I get what I paid for, or is this an acceptable round?

[Marswolf]

You have to remember that HP rounds, of any caliber, have a couple of functions. They expand to increase the size of the wound channel and that expansion also dissipates energy to prevent over penetration. In urban settings, you don't want the round to go through the BG and hit people behind him.

Personally, I'd probably use the white box stuff for more moderately priced practice and buy something better for actual protective carry. After all, your life depends on the quality of the ammunition.

Normally, unless someone else is buying the ammo, I use FMJ for practice that has the same recoil feel as the HP stuff I carry.

[strickj]

I bought a box of Winchester White Box Hollow Points for SD carry. They were fairly inexpensive. Did I get what I paid for, or is this an acceptable round?

you got what you paid for. In my carry I use: http://ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/product_info.php?pName=50rds-9mm-speer-le-gold-dot-124gr-p-hp-ammo&cName=9mm-hollow-point-ammo

They work flawless in my xd service,and are proven to work without over penetration,and are bonded so they will not clog up or fracture.

[Guest slow ride]

It 's sad, but the good stuff for carry is expensive. I agree that WWB hps are a good practice rd. If that's all you got don't hesitate to carry it, just think there are some better options out there.

I carry Winchester Rangers, or Gold Dots in my G22, and Wife and I both carry Hydroshocks in our 9mms (G19,XD service).

Gold dots, Hydroshocks, Hornady TAP, Corbon,etc....... all are great defensive options.