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Best 9mm ammo for Defense?

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 4:42 pm
by davenewman12
I have heard Cor-Bon 9mm 115 grain +P is good and Gold Dot 124 +p is good. Does anyone have a preference on what they carry or have experience with these? These will go in my EDC G19.

Re: Best 9mm ammo for Defense?

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 5:14 pm
by nightmare69
Speer gold dot or Hornady critical duty.

Re: Best 9mm ammo for Defense?

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 6:36 pm
by Mx217
My preference is Winchester Ranger T's, 124 gr. +P in my G19. But since those are hard to come by right now I wouldn't mind picking up some gold dots next time I need to refresh my carry ammo.

Re: Best 9mm ammo for Defense?

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 7:29 pm
by LeonCarr
Agency issued Winchester Ranger 127 Grain +P+ JHP. Accurate, hits hard, still available online if you look a little bit.

I have carried/been issued both the Cor-Bon and the Speer Gold Dot in the past, and both are stellar performers.

All of them will work if you put them in the vitals when it counts. Placement is everything.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

Re: Best 9mm ammo for Defense?

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 7:43 pm
by Dan20703
My favorite is Federal HST 124 grain +P

http://mousegunaddict.blogspot.com/2012 ... m-hst.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Best 9mm ammo for Defense?

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 7:44 pm
by RJGold
That's a little like asking what's the best flavor ice cream...

I use Federal Classic Hi-Shok Jacketed Hollow Point 115 Grain.

Any hollow point from a reputable (mainstream) manufacturer will do the trick. The most important thing is to shoot your self defense ammo and make sure your pistol likes it and you're satisfied with the grouping, recoil, feed, firing, ejects.

I also "rotate" my self defense ammo by firing some everytime I go to the range (instead of only firing training ammo) and replacing it as I go.

By the way, Rocky Road is the best flavor ice cream...

Good luck.

Re: Best 9mm ammo for Defense?

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 8:05 pm
by ammoboy2
Another criteria I would add is it impacts at your sight point of aim, besides the other items such as grouping, recoil, feeding,...

Re: Best 9mm ammo for Defense?

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 8:22 pm
by iom
I've used gold dots 124g for quite some time and been very happy with them.

Re: Best 9mm ammo for Defense?

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 8:28 pm
by RJGold
ammoboy2 wrote:Another criteria I would add is it impacts at your sight point of aim, besides the other items such as grouping, recoil, feeding,...
Good point...

Re: Best 9mm ammo for Defense?

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 9:10 pm
by Topbuilder
My EDC is Fiocchi Extrema XTP. Same penetration as gold dot, not quite the expansion, 1/2 the price. ;-)
If you can find them. I was lucky to have bought several boxes before the madness.

Re: Best 9mm ammo for Defense?

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 9:21 pm
by RoyGBiv
Federal HST 124
Other possible (lesser, IMO, YMMV) choices listed here:
http://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php? ... fense-Ammo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Best 9mm ammo for Defense?

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 11:50 pm
by davenewman12
The Federal have done the best in 90% of the test I have researched. I am getting my own ballistics gel and will do my own. I just picked up some Federal HTS1 and Hornaday +p and come Gold dots. Thanks for the feedback and links.

Re: Best 9mm ammo for Defense?

Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 7:04 am
by OldCannon
nightmare69 wrote:Speer gold dot or Hornady critical duty.
These are reliable and used by a lot of law enforcement. Any hollowpoint ammo that's rated for defensive use will work. Heck, any hollowpoint ammo will work, just don't use ball/target ammo.

If you use Google-fu, you will find a LOT of reviews of defensive ammo. Short version: No single one is the obviously best above all the others on the market.

Re: Best 9mm ammo for Defense?

Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 9:59 am
by WinoVeritas
The best I've found and easiest on my wallet is Winchester White Box Personal Protection series - 147gr. JHP - 50 rds. under $30 for 9 and slightly over $30 for .40S&W 180gr JHP. Works in all my pistols - feeds well, shoots well, and will hurt the BG same as the expensive stuff with all the fancy names and specs.

Re: Best 9mm ammo for Defense?

Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:34 am
by MechAg94
WinoVeritas wrote:The best I've found and easiest on my wallet is Winchester White Box Personal Protection series - 147gr. JHP - 50 rds. under $30 for 9 and slightly over $30 for .40S&W 180gr JHP. Works in all my pistols - feeds well, shoots well, and will hurt the BG same as the expensive stuff with all the fancy names and specs.
I end up getting those also sometimes partly because they often come in 50 round boxes. At gun shows, you can also find Federal and Speer Gold dot in 50 round boxes.

My preferred is generally Federal, Speer, and Hornady.