Best 9mm JHP for primary carry?

[03Lightningrocks]

Since we are on the topic of +P ammo and such can someone tell me if it really makes much of a difference from a gun such as a PM9, which has a short barrel? I wonder if the velocity difference between +P and the regular stuff is going to matter when the barrel is so short. I can't picture a 9mm round stopping short of adequate penetration in either round. I can see how the 380 might make the difference since it is a questionable caliber to begin with. Am I wrong thinking like this?

[Skiprr]

Here's an interesting site when it comes to barrel-length considerations: http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/index.html.

In their real-world testing, for example, a Para LDA Carry 9 (3" barrel) showed these example results: Cor Bon 90 gr. JHP +P: 1,389 fps; Cor Bon 115 gr. JHP +P: 1,281 fps; Federal 115 gr. JHP: 1,075 fps. So it's going to vary considerably by bullet weight and ammo manufacturer. For the same loads, BTW, the muzzle velocities out of of 4.875"-barrel 92FS were 1,522 fps, 1,384 fps, and 1,171, respectively.

Personally, I always carry +P when I use 230 gr., .45 ACP, just because that round is inherently heavy and low-pressure to start with. For 9mm, I don't worry about it as much, especially out of a longer barrel.

[kal0]

When using 9mm I use the Speer Gold Dot 147gr..
There's this guy on youtube (tnoutdoors9) that is always doing ballistic testing on some of the most common calibers (9mm .40 and 45ACP, etc)...
This are some of the videos.... Just another data point that might help, on your decision... Thanks.

Speer Gold Dot 9mm +P 124 gr JHP SIM-TEST w/denim
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Speer Gold Dot 9mm 147 gr Test with Denim
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Winchester 9mm +P+ 127 gr SXT (RA9TA) Test w/Denim
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Federal Tactical HST 9mm 147 gr Test with Denim
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Federal Tactical HST 9mm +P 124 gr JHP Test with Denim
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[tbrown]

been searching without success so far for the promised Critical Defense .22Mag for my dogwalk gun, an NAA Pug ...

Speer now makes a 22WMR Gold Dot designed for short barrels.

[cheezit]

you may also look at ranger t
iirc 115+p+ and 127gr

[drjoker]

I carry speer gold dot, too. It is the least expensive regular priced self-defense ammo.

[v-rog]

I have 100 rounds on order (Speer Gold Dot 124 +P JHP). I plan to shoot 30-50 rounds and put the rest in the mags. I'd like to get a good feel for it before I make it my primary load.

I carry speer gold dot, too. It is the least expensive regular priced self-defense ammo.

[NcongruNt]

I did a lot of research on this specific subject when I got my Hi-Power. The round I decided upon was Speer Gold Dot 124 Grain +P. The information I found on the round showed that the penetration and expansion were very good on the round, and that there was no issue with jacket/core separation as there were with other common 9mm carry rounds. Also, the round is commonly available due to its adoption as a standard 9mm round for a huge number of law enforcement departments. You can get 50-round boxes at many police supply stores (such as GT Distributors in Austin) MUCH cheaper per-round than you can for most other ammo from normal commercial suppliers.

I had the opportunity to have a Texas Ranger visit me at home a couple years ago on official business. He is a shooting instructor and expert in several crime scene analysis disciplines. Once we finished with the business he came to conduct, we got to talking about what we carry (he carries a Sig 229 DAK in the summer, a 1911 in the winter) and ammo choices. He told me that the Gold Dot 124gr +P rounds were *the* round to go with if you're going to be carrying 9mm.

[terryg]

I've been carrying Winchester Ranger SXT after a recommendation from a knowledgeble friend and doing research online. It performs well but cost a bit less than most top label brands which allowed me to test fire more rounds.

[JALLEN]

Does the manufacturer have a recommendation?

When I bought my P7M8, I had some 147 grain ammo used in my Sig 226 Navy, and found it caused feeding problems with the P7M8.

When I started trying to figure this out, I discovered the P7M8 was designed to run 124 grain. With that it is completely happy. I don't recall seeing that design suggestion in the manual but the guys at HKPro.com knew all about it.

I doubt it makes much difference whether you use regular, +P or whatever, as long as you shoot accurately and hit what you aim at.

I myself use Gold Dot 124 JHP in both pistols.

[v-rog]

I have not seen a recommended load for the M & P. I've been experimenting and so far I shot 4 or 5 brands (124, 147 +P JPH rounds) through it. I just receied Hornady TAP 147 +P, and Speer Gold Dot 124+P and I will shoot them within the next week. I do like the feel of the Winchester 147gr bullets but I will see when I shoot again.

[Blindref757]

Check these out...

http://greent.com/40Page/general/fbitest.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.firearmstactical.com/pdf/fbi-hwfe.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.firearmstactical.com/pdf/fbi-hwfe.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.brassfetcher.com/Brassfetche ... y_Slug.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Great Picture!
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u91/ ... mtests.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u91/ ... tests2.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[koolaid]

There is a great list maintained on ar15.com. It contains a lot of information and then lists acceptable ammo by caliber.

Best Choices for Self Defense Ammo

Hope that helps.

[The Annoyed Man]

I think trying to compare the difference between the different brands of high quality SD ammo is like trying to split hairs. Shot placement is going to be a much more important factor than the technical differences between Gold Dot, Federal HST, etc. Pick one you can get a good deal on, make sure it works well in your gun and carry it.

I personally went with Federal HST because I got a good deal on a case of it from AmmunitionToGo.

Brian

This.

I carry 230 grain standard pressure Gold Dots and HSTs in my .45s, but those compensate for relatively low velocities (particularly out of my 3" Kimber) with big, fat, heavy bullets. Penetration is not going to be an issue.

But my Kahr PM9 is such a featherweight that I didn't really want to load heavy bullets into it with their attendant higher perceived recoil energy, so I went with the Corbon DPX 115 grain +P load based on Crossfire's husband Marty's recommendation. He knows about as much about ammo as anybody I've ever met. This load is supposed to generate 1250 fps and 399 ft lbs of energy out of a 4" barrel. I'm guesstimating a loss of about 100 fps out of a 3" barrel, and I think that's a bit pessimistic because the PM9 has polygonal rifling which usually nets slightly higher velocities. Also, the DPX bullet is supposed to expand very well and penetrate fairly deeply; and being solid copper, it has a high weight retention.

Of course, all of this is pure speculation on my part. I'll never know for certain how any ammo I carry is going to perform until I actually have to use it, and it is my sincerest prayer that I never do. All one can do is check around, do some reading, talk to others, and then make a calculated guess.

[The Annoyed Man]

I have not seen a recommended load for the M & P.

You won't see one specifically recommended either. There is no "recommended" load for my M&P 45 either. I go with what I know has a good reputation. And in .45 ACP, you're going to see loads primarily in the 180, 200, and 230 grain range, with MOST of them weighing in at 230. Read around on the web and look for ammo comparison tests done by police departments and such. There used to be a website—I haven't been able to find it for a long time now—of ammo comparison results that was put together by the San Marcos, Texas PD. (At least I think it was San Marcos.....) Each bullet design tested was tested in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP. I don't remember about the 9mm results, but in both .40 and .45, they liked both the Federal HST and the Speer Gold Dots, with the Gold Dots taking a very slight edge when shooting through car doors and windshields.