The more I read the worse it gets. My model 65 was easy, I think, the universal recommendation was 158 grain for everyday use.

Not so much with the 6906. What's a good all around, punch holes in paper round? 115 gr, 124 gr, too close to make a difference??

I really don't want anything beating me up but having said that, I think a box or two of a good defensive round might be in order.

Maybe I am making this harder than it has to be but I will be visiting a very large LGS tomorrow and would like to stock up.

With the latest EO coming down, getting while the getting is good might be the thing to do.

Help.

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Back to back World War Champs.

I prefer 124 +P. Best of the bunch for self defense are the Fed. HST and Speer Gold Dot, IMO. You can get these online for less than $30 for a 50 rd. box. If you can match or beat that at an LGS then stock up!

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USAF, 69-92
Vietnam, 72-73

For punching holes in paper buy whatever is cheapest, which is usually 115gr. As already mentioned, Speer Gold Dots or Federal HST for any serious use in either 124gr or 147gr, the +P part is up to you decide if it's necessary or not.

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Forged From Freedom

A standard 4" 9mm will do just fine with "Standard" SD ammo.

Only when you have a 3.5" or shorter barrel length, do you get into lower fps, that can develop problems with a bullet designed to work at the higher fps. This is where a +P loading helps make up the difference.

Federal, Speer, Winchester and Remington all have SD ammo that will work in a 9mm weapon. You just need to pick the right type.

There are no forcing cone issues in semi autos. Use whatever 9 you want you won't feel a big difference between 115 and 124 in range ammo or really in most over the counter SD ammo

Thanks for the replies. I picked up some Winchester 9 mm NATO 124-Grain Ammunition, splitting the difference between 115 and 147. besides it was on sale 13.99 a box. I had an idea to really load up but got cold feet and will wait and see what the market, legal situation does in the coming weeks. 22LR, forget about it in Cabelas in DE. The guy told me the sell the days ration immediately upon opening.

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Back to back World War Champs.

Range ammo is range ammo. Any bullet weight will be just fine for punching paper and plinking.

As for SD ammo, there's a huge variety to choose from. At a bare minimum 200 rounds of your SD ammo should be fired through your pistol with zero malfunctions before relying on that ammo to save your life.

I did toss two boxed of Hornady Critical Defense to test out. Not sure where I am going with that, we can't carry in NJ and I live in an area where there's a good chance of hitting a neighbor in a home defense situation. Little houses on 50 x 100 lots. But when the Zombies come.......

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Back to back World War Champs.

Update, I just read that this 124 gr NATO stuff could be over loaded as much as 10 or 15% and potentially not good for older pistols.
My intended use would be in a Beretta 92FS, I would hope no problem but I worry about my 6906. Will the third gen S&W be up to the task?

This is why I am so confused, I have to stop reading stuff.

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Back to back World War Champs.

for paper punching it really doesn't matter for carry Western Defend in 147 grain .. I use their Train rounds here at home shooting out back .. that's in the 9mm .. in my 40c I carry the Western Defend in 180 grain ..

Range I go to has Western White Box in both the 124 grain and 147 .. so will use both for target practice ..

On YouTube there are ammo results that simulate the FBI protocol of shooting in to ballistic Gel .. the series is called Ammo Quest .. he does several different calibers in different size barrels .. very interesting to watch ..

You may find the round your carrying is not as good as you thought !!

Can you buy mail-order ammo in New Jersey? If so, there is name-brand ammo available for ten dollars a box, in case lots.

AmmoSpy.net | Ammunition Search Engine

I'm not a high volume shooter so mass quantities is not really something I need at this time. I am still concerned about firing this NATO over pressure stuff, so I have read, in my 6906. What's the general opinion.

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Back to back World War Champs.

Your gun will be fine. Both of them. 124 NATO is about the same as +P. Not recommended in little pocket guns and certain old guns.....like maybe an old Colt or Mauser or some odd import from the 60s. I wouldn't worry about either gun but I will say this constant heavy use of NATO or +P does wear the gun faster. BUUUT. ...you'd have to shoot it A LOT and ALL THE TIME. one box, even 100 boxes arnt going to do much of anything.

You may wish to consider using full metal jacket ammunition in your semiautomatic pistol for practice/plinking and utilizing jacketed hollow point ammunition for self-defense. I suggest that you only utilize name brand domestic manufacture ammo. Your practice ammo should be the same weight as your defense ammo. At distance, two different weights may impact differently. However, at contact distance to six feet where most police involved shootings take place this should not be a game changer.

Whatever cartridge you choose be certain to run three or four boxes through your semi to ensure reliable functioning. Others, whose opinions I respect, argue for more than that amount.

Don't get wrapped up in the light/fast bullets vs. heavy/slow-moving bullets debate. What IS important is bullet placement along with tactics, techniques & procedures. Don't make the mistake of most police officers and substitute gadgetry for familiarity, training and mindset.

Remember.......It's not the arrow, it's the Indian.

HTH.

Joe

The funny thing is I was looking for something a little less snappy and from what I thought I had read online was that the heavier the round the less recoil. I'm shaking my head as I write this. I think I over thought this whole thing and should have stuck with a 115gr FMJ. A lighter recoil seemed attractive at the time but I think it's not going to make much difference. I walked into Cabela's in Delaware for the first time in my life this afternoon and it was overwhelming. I could touch guns, ammo was out on the shelves, no id required but, the choices, so many choices, that's where I went wrong. Glad I didn't really load up in this NATO stuff.
So for future plinking reference, anyone care to make a brand recommendation. Buying .38SPL isn't this difficult, 158gr and I'm good to go.

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Back to back World War Champs.

Federal and its American Eagle division is consistently good. Their 124gr HST for Personal Defense is good.

My ammo education continues.

I've read here that the original 9mm was 124 gr and 115 came along later. It appears to my untrained eye that the bulk of what's offered for sale is 115 gr.
And based on advice you can't go wrong with 115 gr.

Now the rest of the question, FMJ or JHP?

I know the real good JHP stuff is expensive but I see some Remingtion and Winchester at more affordable levels, less that $20.00 for a box of 50.

I believe the FMJ is considered target ammo? but I have also read to practice with what you intend to defend yourself with so, ...

Forgetting about the cost issue, would it be best to just shoot JHP 115 gr?

I'm considering a stockpile and want to be smart about what I buy especially if I go big.

FMJ or JHP? or half and half?

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Back to back World War Champs.

If it were me I would buy in bulk and buy 124 gr. If you look around online you will be able find brass case 124 gr 9mm for about $.20 a round or $200 a case. That is about as good as you can get for plinking ammo. This is what you want to stockpile for everyday use at the range because good self defense ammo is expensive.

For example Blazer Brass 124 gr for $9.99 and free shipping over $99.99.

Blazer Brass Handgun Ammunition 9mm Luger 124 gr FMJ 1090 fps 50/box - Handgun Ammo - Ammunition | Natchez Shooters Supplies

For defense ammo look for retailers which sell 50 count boxes and pick something that you know your gun feeds well. I would stick to 124gr or heavier. If you are plinking with 124gr stick with that for defense ammo. Look at somewhere like SG Ammo 9mm Luger Ammo | SGAmmo.com

Your 6906 should eat everything so I would just pick one of the major hollowpoint premium brands. Hollowpoint ammo has come a long way and the difference is minimal. Its more of a preference than anything else on brand to another. One weight to another. The number one thing is to make sure it functions 100 % in your gun. I think 100-200 rounds of defensive ammo is a good test or reliability. I like to shoot the same weight for plinking that I shoot for defense ammo. Some people insist on +P but again its a preference more than a necessity. IMHO.

SG ammo has 100 round Federal HST 124 +P for $53.95 100 round lot - 9mm Luger +P Federal HST 124 grain HP hollow point LE ammo - P9HST3 - Limit 300 rounds | SGAmmo.com

Or another good choice is Speer Gold Dot 124s standard pressure. at $24 a box.

50 round box - 9mm Speer Gold Dot 124 grain Standard Pressure LE Hollow Point Ammo 53618 | SGAmmo.com

I would say that 200-300 rounds of hollowpoints is more than enough. You will shoot 100+ or so to test function but then after than you will not shoot it as much. You will just shoot your plinking ammo.

Good luck

IF you can trade around some rounds with other '9mm' owners, try different brands and see what shoots best for you. Knowing what works best for you makes stocking up much easier.

Up till now I've shot the ammo du jour, every time I bought a box I got something different from my old now closed LGS, Speer Lawman, Blazer, Federal, etc. always 115 gr until yesterday when I picked up some 124 gr NATO, probably won't repeat. I only have a 6906 and 92FS and so far everything worked as advertised.
NJ is already a tough place to be an enthusiast and I am very worried that it's going to get way worse and I would like to avoid any future restriction by getting while the getting's good.
There's talk of a proposal in NY to only allow enough ammo to reload your existing guns twice in a 90 day period.
Bullets and Beans the new US currency.

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Back to back World War Champs.

I was told once upon a time that hollow point ammunition was illegal to possess in New Jersey ... did they change that? Did you buy your hollow point ammo there or in Delaware? If you bought it in New Jersey it must be legal now.

I have heard people from Virginia have been arrested while driving through New Jersey with legal, unloaded firearms but possessing the hollow point ammo they removed from the gun before crossing the border.

Edited to include (from Wiki):

Hollow-point ammunition is available for unrestricted purchase from most retailers wherever firearms are sold, and may be transported by purchasers without special licensing. However, hollow-point bullets may not be carried outside of a place of target practice, dwelling, premises or land possessed by a person, even if one has a valid permit to carry a handgun, except when being transported directly to and from these places. LEOSA (HR 218) qualified and retired or separated LEOs carrying anywhere in the USA are exempt from state laws and may legally carry hollow points ammo or any ammo that is not prohibited under the Gun Control Act of 1968 or the National Firearm Act. Additionally the NJ Superior Court in State v Brian Aitken have ruled that there is no exception for moving between residences with hollow-point bullets.

You are WAAAAY over thinking this. There isn't much noticeable recoil in duty guns. You'd notice it between say a little Kahr PM9 and a Beretta 92 but not really between you 92 and 6906. Also you're not going to wear out anything unless your next 10-15k rounds will be NATO.

Yes practice with what you carry but I carry Gold Dots. That's expensive to practice with. The simple fact is practice with what's close. If you carry 124gr practice with that. Even then if you have 115 gr you won't see much difference at 10 yards unless your gun just really doesn't like that particular load.

I buy what's on sale therefore I have a variety of loads. Mostly 124 but 115 and some 147 as well.