Availability of premium bullets

[rwsmith]

I'm having trouble finding premium bullets for SD loads in 9mm 124 gr. Seems like everything is out of stock. Gold Dots are preferable. What do ya'll use and where do you find it?

Thanks!

[smokindog]

Midsouth has Hornady XTP,... or is that not what you're looking for?

9mm .355 Diameter 124 Grain Hollow Point XTP 100 Count by HORNADY AMMUNITION AND BULLETS

Originally Posted by rwsmith

I'm having trouble finding premium bullets for SD loads in 9mm 124 gr. Seems like everything is out of stock. Gold Dots are preferable. What do ya'll use and where do you find it?

Thanks!

[gaijin]

I have resorted to using GunBroker for 124 gr. Gold Dots.
Found some there (1K), but paid above retail.
XTP's are the only other option I'm aware of in SD (JHP) bullets.

[novalty]

Powder Valley has 124gr XTP's in stock for $16.47/100. Half the cost of the 124gr GDHP, that I saw on GunBroker.

[scooter123]

As much as I like the XTP bullets for target shooting and in certain huntinig applications I don't think it's an optimum choice for Self Defense. What I have found to work is to get in line at Midway using the Notify Me feature and check my email DAILY. Because when Gold Dots do come in they sell out very quickly.

[MichiganScott]

I buy my self defense bullets already loaded and handload my practice ammo. That's a whole different can of worms that has been discussed ad nauseum.

[moxie]

Try here:

https://www.10ring.com/vmchk/reloadi...-hollow-points

[John R]

Look for some Federal HST's.

[Krell1]

I've purchased from the Montana Bullet Co. They have pretty good prices on a variety of their "gold" bullets. I've only purchased .38 hollow points and I'm completely satisfied with their products.

[fredj338]

The xtp is a good cup/core bullet. If I loaded my own sd ammo, which I don't, I would use them as they are readily available.

[rwsmith]

Originally Posted by fredj338

The xtp is a good cup/core bullet. If I loaded my own ad ammo, which I
don't, I would use them as they are readily available.

I hear that the bonded bullets vs. the cup/core are the more predictable. And I do have some XTPs and I do use those. But the Gold Dots and other top lines have such a unanimous 'yea's in just about everybody's testing to the point of being able to say, "That's the best". I figure while I've got time, I can load myself some premium rounds, because looking for them while you are being robbed is a little too late.

[5906fan]

another yea for Montana bullet. they have serrations down the tip ala hornady or nosler.
9mm 124 JHP mushroomed perfect in a target made of 2 layers canvas surrounding wet stacked cardboard. at 50' from a nephew's kel-tec 2000 carbine. handrolled loads using power pistol under the slugs - to +P data.
came out the muzzle with a 'crack' so you know it was hot.

[Rule3]

Gold Dots are always hard to find especially short barrel but just for you, here are some regular ones. Don't buy all of them!

https://www.wideners.com/itemdetail....1080|1112|1447

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by rwsmith

I hear that the bonded bullets vs. the cup/core are the more predictable. And I do have some XTPs and I do use those. But the Gold Dots and other top lines have such a unanimous 'yea's in just about everybody's testing to the point of being able to say, "That's the best". I figure while I've got time, I can load myself some premium rounds, because looking for them while you are being robbed is a little too late.

A box of 50 factory premium rds would last you at least 5yrs, assuming you swap carry ammo out annually. Keep in mind the XTP was the first bullet to meet the vaunted FBI std. It's a good cup/core bullet, very predictable. Why I buy factory though for carry, there are really good bullets, like the HST, that are not readily available.

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by 5906fan

another yea for Montana bullet. they have serrations down the tip ala hornady or nosler.
9mm 124 JHP mushroomed perfect in a target made of 2 layers canvas surrounding wet stacked cardboard. at 50' from a nephew's kel-tec 2000 carbine. handrolled loads using power pistol under the slugs - to +P data.
came out the muzzle with a 'crack' so you know it was hot.

The MG ar NOT made for expansion, very unpredictable. SOmetimes they work great, sometimes they don't. Better than FMJ, but just go to something designed for terminal perf like the XTP.

[sellersm]

I'm not 100% certain, but I think the Nosler JHP bullets offer good expansion.

[HCH]

Try RMR (Rockymountianreloading).

[jag22]

Never really understood that concept. Seems like where you hit them is much more important than what you hit them with. Why would you want something that performs different than what you are used to practicing with. Doesn't make sense to me.

[AveragEd]

I liken self-defense ammunition to hunting ammunition - it's very doubtful I will expend more than a half-dozen rounds per year, with most of them used for sighting-in purposes, unless I get REAL lucky afield so I don't bother resetting my progressive loader for something other than my standard target load. I bought two 20-round boxes of Hornady 240-grain XTP loads for my normal hunting .44 Magnum revolver, a 5" 629-3 Classic DX, five years ago and still have one unopened box and a partial on hand.

Self-defense, I would hope, requires even fewer rounds expended per year unless you live in a war zone or participate in shooting competitions that require such ammunition. And don't forget that given the litigation-happy environment in which we all live, you will never have to explain to a jury why you used "homemade" ammunition to defend yourself if you use commonly available factory fodder.

The recipe I use for year-round practice and paper-punching with my .44s, a 240-grain cast semi-wadcutter over 10.0 grains of SR4756, shoots to the same 50-foot and 25-yard points of impact as those Hornady factory loads, so I don't even have to adjust my gun's sights when I change ammo. Given all that, changing my loader's powder measure and bullet seating die in order to load perhaps 50 rounds of ammo every decade seems like a waste of time.

Ed

[sellersm]

Originally Posted by jag22

Never really understood that concept. Seems like where you hit them is much more important than what you hit them with. Why would you want something that performs different than what you are used to practicing with. Doesn't make sense to me.

Hornady thinks like you do! Their HAP (Hornady action pistol) bullets are just like their XTP bullets, so you can load the HAP just as you would the XTP and it will behave almost identical. Practice with HAP, carry/hunt with the XTP and notice no difference...

[Nevada Ed]

I tested the 115 and 124gr GD in a 3" and 3.5" 9mm pistol
with seven (7) powders to see if I could match the fps data that was posted in one of the sites that did a "MAJOR Test" on all the ammo he could find or was sent in to him from viewers.

I did get a few powders to get close to the fps posted but only two powders matched the fps that the factory ammo put out.

The 124gr averaged 1140fps in the 3.5" and I felt better with the smaller 115gr at 1208 fps but............
I also have a factory box of 9mm 124gr GD but don't feel comfortable with it.

I have the factory Federal HST +p for my 9mm SD use.................


However I do have a box of 135gr GD for the 38 snub nose!!

[Rule3]

Originally Posted by Nevada Ed

I tested the 115 and 124gr GD in a 3" and 3.5" 9mm pistol
with seven (7) powders to see if I could match the fps data that was posted in one of the sites that did a "MAJOR Test" on all the ammo he could find or was sent in to him from viewers.

I did get a few powders to get close to the fps posted but only two powders matched the fps that the factory ammo put out.

The 124gr averaged 1140fps in the 3.5" and I felt better with the smaller 115gr at 1208 fps but............
I also have a factory box of 9mm 124gr GD but don't feel comfortable with it.

I have the factory Federal HST +p for my 9mm SD use.................


However I do have a box of 135gr GD for the 38 snub nose!!

I carry the same in my 9mm.

You been watching Ammo Quest also??

I like the guy no BS, just the facts!

Don't have to meet his Wife, the Dog, watch him adjust the camera, turn on music and say "Hi there YouTubers"!

[rwsmith]

Originally Posted by jag22

Never really understood that concept. Seems like where you hit them is much more important than what you hit them with. Why would you want something that performs different than what you are used to practicing with. Doesn't make sense to me.

Terminal performance counts for a lot in SD and the premium bullets show the best performance in just about everybody's testing. You can aim for the center of mass and it's MORE LIKELY to make a fast stop. But if you miss the important guts it stands to reason to do the most damage.

If not a premium bullet, I'd take an SWCHP. A backwards loaded HBWC is touted by many and is pretty much the same configuration as a Gold Dot, but the GD is jacketed and more consistently reliable.

PS I practice with a similar load, but I can't afford to shoot GDs every week.

PPS Some of my semi autos don't like lead.

PPPS Sorry about the thread drift. This seems to have taken a turn toward the CC/SD forum.

[Rule3]

Technically a Gold Dot is really a super duper PLATED bullet.

Speer Ammo - Construction

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by jag22

Never really understood that concept. Seems like where you hit them is much more important than what you hit them with. Why would you want something that performs different than what you are used to practicing with. Doesn't make sense to me.

Your practice ammo only needs to have a sim recoil impulse. What the bullet does to the paper isn't really relevant. Most of us practice with cheap FMJ or LSWC & carry a good JHP, which Berry's, Ranier, Extreme, MG, etc are not. If I couldn't have a JHP, a goo LFP w/ a large meplat would be better than RNFMJ.

[rwsmith]

Originally Posted by Rule3

Technically a Gold Dot is really a super duper PLATED bullet.

Speer Ammo - Construction

I mentioned 'bonded' vs. 'cup/core'. The bonded is an electroplating process like plated bullets only higher quality.

[5906fan]

Originally Posted by fredj338

The MG ar NOT made for expansion, very unpredictable. SOmetimes they work great, sometimes they don't. Better than FMJ, but just go to something designed for terminal perf like the XTP.

fooled me then, expanded every shot although I admit wet cardboard is irrelevant to actual tissue.
some years back I popped a bunch of feral dogs (predator permit) and couple does (doe day) using handload Rem Golden Saber did well - 9mm and .45acp out of Marlin Camp guns.

[Rule3]

Originally Posted by rwsmith

I mentioned 'bonded' vs. 'cup/core'. The bonded is an electroplating process like plated bullets only higher quality.

Yes, yes you did. ??

I posted where you can get them.

[smokindog]

So THAT'S what SD stands for, Super Duper. THANKS

Originally Posted by Rule3

Technically a Gold Dot is really a super duper PLATED bullet.

Speer Ammo - Construction

[LostintheOzone]

XTP is a good bullet. I load it for my 357 rifle because of the velocity requirements. If it can handle 1500 fps it should be fine in your pistol. It has excellent expansion properties and doesn't fragment.