What is a good factory defense round for a 9mm?

I trust the 124gr Remington Golden Saber in 9mm.

I used to carry Speer Gold Dots, and they are a premium round. But I have a few boxes of Federal 147 grain Hydra-Shock's left over from my PD days and I find the recoil is less with them, allowing for easier follow up shots. The Gold Dots may have better penetration, but I'd rather be able to fire faster and more accurately.

Hornady Critical Defense

Federal expanding full metal jacket (124gr.)

AMM-406 - Ammo 9mm Federal JHP 115 Grain +P+ 50 Round Box Recommended for Law Enforcement Classic Hi-Shok

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Centennial Every Day

Back when I had a 9mm I used either Cor-Bon's 115gr JHP +P or Federal 124gr Nyclad (which gives you an idea of how long ago that was). If I were using 9mm now I'd probably go with Speer 124gr GDHP +P, presuming it was reliable and shot well in my gun. I'd also get an ample supply of the equivalent Lawman training round.

+1 Same round I have loaded in my 5906 at my bedside.

+1 for Federal 9mm 115+P+ 9BPLE

Gold Dot 124 grain +P or Short Barrel + P

i use pow-r-ball 100 grain plus P.....I think its a good round but is it?

Federal HST, Remington GS or Winchester Ranger T

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N.R.A. BENEFACTOR Member

That's Ranger Bonded 147-gr from Winchester.

Winchester Ranger T-Series or Winchester PDX1, in whichever bullet weight you and your handgun shoot best.

Carrying Ranger Ts, 115gr +P+ in my Sigma, Speer Short Barrels in my PF9. The PF9 is 'snappy' enough as is, would like to time repeat shots comparing the Short Barrel ammo to standard pressure 147gr.

My son carries the 124gr Federal Hydra-Shok JHP round in his 9mm. (Part #P9HS1)
Some shooters I know like the 135gr Hydra-Shok better. (Part #PD9HS5H)

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

Win 127 gr +P+ Ranger T

Speer 115 gr +P+ Gold Dot

Whatever works in your pistol and you shoot best. Accuracy and penetration are more important than expansion.

For the following guns these are the loads that shoot the best in each and function well:
SIG P-226:Win. Ranger 127 +p+
B. Hi-Power #1: Speer GDHP 124 grain
B. Hi-Power #2: Rem. GS Bonded 124 grain

The Win 127 gr +P+ Ranger T load can't be beat IMHO.

I don't carry my 9mm often having a 40 and 45 but when I do it's 124 gr Speer Gold Dot or the Winchester Ranger which btw used to known as the Black Talon.

Winchester White Box 115gr HP Personal Protection rounds. Equivalent of the old, outdated Silver Tip. Inexpensive reliable in all my 9mm pistols and may lack the Penetration Requirement of the FBI Tests, sacred by thy offspring, but I would rather not deal with extreme penetration in CCW.
Geoff
Who is not now and never has been an LEO.

"+1 for Federal 9mm 115+P+ 9BPLE". If this ammo works reliably in your pistol, it is the one I prefer.

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Regards,
Russell

I like the Federal 9BPLE 115 GR +P+, and the Federal 124 GR HST +P.

Winchester Ranger T-Series 147gr. The one on the left is from my 2" M940. The one on the right is from my 5904 with a 4" bbl. Both were fired into plastic jugs full of water @ 25ft.

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I use Federal Hydra-Shok 124gr JHP.

Masad Ayoob highly recommends Federal 9BPLE 115gr JHP +P+.

Federal HST in any caliber.

Ballistic testing LE - Home

Bill

When I carry a 9x19, it is with one of the following, roughly in my order of preference:
WW RA9TA, 127gr. +P+
Speer 124gr. +P Gold Dot
Cor-Bon 115gr. +P
Speer 124gr. Gold Dot, std. pressure (only in my Kel-Tec PF9s)

I like the Federal 9BPLE 115gr. +P+ a lot, but just don't have any on-hand right now. The above Cor-Bon load duplicates 9BPLE ballistics, though.

Has anybody had problems with the Winchester 147gr JHP in the Sigma 9MM? I have read that they may have feed problems.

Excellent round and my first choice for 9mm. If it doesn't work well in a certain weapon, then whatever will, but I haven't had that problem yet. Performance is outstanding and the price is right for some great ammo. I use the RA9T non bonded version.

147 gr rounds, in a Kahr, Sigma and SWaMPy 9c tend to hit my head with the cases, I prefer the recoil of the 115 grain rounds.

Geoff
Who is working on his arm strength.

Speer gold dot 124 gr +p is what I carry in my M&P.

+1...............

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Misty

+1. I carry this in all my 9's.

I use the Rem UMC 9mm 115g. JHP, with the concurrent Rem UMC 115g. FMJ.

However ... I am changing paths, and have been purchasing the Winchester White Box USA9MM1/147gr. 'TCMC', an FMJ with a truncated cone, with a flat point. I have been purchasing the concurrent USA9JHP2/147gr. JHP. Just like when shooting my snubby .38 Special, using heavy bullets with more momentum. (And to concur, the late Mr. Camp on his site, stated that WWB USA9JHP 115gr. do have the SAME CHARACTERISTICS and test results, as Win. 9mm 115gr. Silvertips.)

Been carrying Federal 115gr +P+ 9BPLE in my off-duty 9mm's for years. They worked well in all my guns, has a good record, has been accurate in all the guns I've used it in, and is relatively inexpensive compared to the newer premium defense rounds.
Old technology, but they work for me, and I'm confident they'll work on the bad guy as long as I do my job.