Best 9MM Round for Self Defense?

Old cop said:
I’ll be picking up my new Gen 4 Glock 17 soon and began to research the best round for self defense. The more research I did the more confusion that resulted. I’m an old revolver guy so this is pretty new to me.
Click to expand...

If expansion is your goal, the Winchester T-series is an amazing performer.

Otherwise and IF you can find it, NATO spec FMJ 124 at 1,250 fps creates a rather impressive temporary expansion cavity going ALL the way through a gelatin block.

Like most, I used to be a big on HP design, but in recent years I've come to favor a TC-FMJ design driven as fast as possible for EDC carry.
 
I like the Hornady Hollow point rounds. They work in all my 9mms and are relatively inexpensive on sale including at Academy Sporting Goods big box stores.
Geoff
Who carries the low recoil rounds for SD, because my wife can handle the recoil, just in case.
 
147gr Federal HST. $20 per 50 online

124 works also but doesn't expand as wide

Photo is 147+p on left and 124+p on right. I only went with +p because standard pressure was not available when I purchased these
 

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Doesn't anyone do searches for previous threads? Yes, I'm a curmudgeon.

The OP request doesn't supply detailed information that might point to specialized needs. The folks who comment upon reliability and accuracy in the firearm in question are correct. That said, the ammo also has to be affordable and available.

The major consideration is that where the bullet is placed is far more important than bullet type, shape, velocity, weight, caliber or CDI* factor.

The products of any of the major manufacturers (Black Hills, Cor-Bon, CCI, Federal, Hornaday, Remington or Speer) are suitable for the purpose and something from any of them should be readily available. I will note that frequently, ammo packaged for law enforcement use comes in 50 round boxes and often at nearly the same price as the 20-25 round boxes with catchy names and sexy packaging.

*CDI= chicks dig it.
 
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Old cop said:
I began to research the best round for self defense. The more research I did the more confusion that resulted.
Click to expand...


Old cop your question has been asked hundreds of times and written about for as long as I can remember ; both here and in the "gun rags" of the 80s and 90s....... 9mm vs .45; 9mm vs. .38 .......bottom line IMHO is that there is no magic bullet ...... that said ..........

the best round for self defense".... comes from a rifle or shotgun.

Handguns and their ammo are a compromise...... I like 9mm as it's an 1)easy round to control...... 2) allows fast double/triple taps..... 3)the guns hold lots of bullets for their size.

One shot instantaneous stops are not the norm....... once you decide you need to use deadly force......be prepared to continue the application until the threat stops! ( "stopping" includes the threat running away....... then you need to use your cell phone)

So IMHO any round from a reputable manufacturer ; my preference is a hollow point, and being the first to get a solid hit on a threat and bullet placement trumps ......the shape makeup of the bullet used.


WR posted while I was typing ...... but I agree with his points.
 
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Wait don't that gun hold 17 rounds ? I'm not a big time automatic shooter and really not a great shot by any stretch but doesn't it hold 17 rounds. I'm truly not being sarcastic at all I just always thought the whole idea of an automatic first of all was they are so much more accurate than a revolver and if you just wasn't much of a shot then you had added round count to sort of even it all out .So I guess my suggestion for a great self defense round would be a 357 magnum or 45 colt long short or in between or any 44 caliber whether it be 44 Russian ,44 special or 44 magnum ( in appropriate loads of course) and do yourself a favor and go back to being a revolver guy with the exception of long guns by long I mean barrels longer than 8 or so inches .Why 8 or SO ? Well some hunting hand guns have longer barrels and I have learned my lessen as far as assuming anything .So if you are going to use a hand gun( notice hand not hands plural ) gun for defending yourself please please pretty pretty please use a gun that 1. / you can hit your intended target with/2./will not penetrate through your intended target and kill or cripple me or some of my loved ones or any other innocent people.I would argue that 1 if let's say 3 shots don't get the job done you maybe should have a heavier caliber or maybe you are in a situation that would call for a long gun ( read firearm that you generaly need more than 1 hand to operate proficiently ) so I say all this to say the 9 mm was and is a fine military as in high capacity handgun and submachinegun round and I can see its application in ( some) domestic police situations but overall I believe there are better way way better calibers for ( yes domestic police) and self defense purposes such as the say 41 magnum or the 357 mag both in a hard hitting round for rural applications and the 32/38/44/45/ect ect for more urban settings so what I am asking is this.Why if you elect to carry o use a handgun that has17 rounds and nearly instant reload capability why does what ammo you use matter othe than for accuracy and possible over penetration situations but keep in mind am an old man .
 
My advice for anyone looking for the "best" round for their pistol is to buy several boxes of name brand ammo, preferably the type of ammo that you plan on carrying and set up multiple targets at say, 15 yards and shoot each ammo brand at different targets and choose which bullet type, weight, brand gives you the best groups. Use a black sharpie and circle your groups or mark your brand/type bullet on each target to keep track.

There ya go, now you have the "best" ammo for your gun.
 
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Old cop said:
I’ll be picking up my new Gen 4 Glock 17 soon and began to research the best round for self defense. The more research I did the more confusion that resulted. I’m an old revolver guy so this is pretty new to me.
Click to expand...

I thought you were limited (by health) to pocket carrying a Bodyguard 380?
 
If you have a weapon that will put a bullet in a BG..................

and he has to plug the hole with a finger and get to a hospital
before bleeding to death.......

you have a good start at surviving.

Two holes, up your odds.

Hope this helps.
 
S&WsRsweet said:
Wait don't that gun hold 17 rounds ? I'm not a big time automatic shooter and really not a great shot by any stretch but doesn't it hold 17 rounds. I'm truly not being sarcastic at all I just always thought the whole idea of an automatic first of all was they are so much more accurate than a revolver and if you just wasn't much of a shot then you had added round count to sort of even it all out .So I guess my suggestion for a great self defense round would be a 357 magnum or 45 colt long short or in between or any 44 caliber whether it be 44 Russian ,44 special or 44 magnum ( in appropriate loads of course) and do yourself a favor and go back to being a revolver guy with the exception of long guns by long I mean barrels longer than 8 or so inches .Why 8 or SO ? Well some hunting hand guns have longer barrels and I have learned my lessen as far as assuming anything .So if you are going to use a hand gun( notice hand not hands plural ) gun for defending yourself please please pretty pretty please use a gun that 1. / you can hit your intended target with/2./will not penetrate through your intended target and kill or cripple me or some of my loved ones or any other innocent people.I would argue that 1 if let's say 3 shots don't get the job done you maybe should have a heavier caliber or maybe you are in a situation that would call for a long gun ( read firearm that you generaly need more than 1 hand to operate proficiently ) so I say all this to say the 9 mm was and is a fine military as in high capacity handgun and submachinegun round and I can see its application in ( some) domestic police situations but overall I believe there are better way way better calibers for ( yes domestic police) and self defense purposes such as the say 41 magnum or the 357 mag both in a hard hitting round for rural applications and the 32/38/44/45/ect ect for more urban settings so what I am asking is this.Why if you elect to carry o use a handgun that has17 rounds and nearly instant reload capability why does what ammo you use matter othe than for accuracy and possible over penetration situations but keep in mind am an old man .
Click to expand...

You just said use a gun that won't penetrate beyond the intended target but then recommended numerous calibers known for over penetrating
 
Protected One said:
I thought you were limited (by health) to pocket carrying a Bodyguard 380?
Click to expand...

It may be his house or bedside gun. Let the furniture carry it :).

Any expanding round that functions 100% with reasonable accuracy in your Glock (they seem to eat everything so that is not much of a restriction), that you can afford to practice with and has a record of effectiveness.

A good option if you are on a retired guy budget is Federal 9BP 115 gr JHP, inexpensive old technology and cheap enough to use as training ammo but has a good LE record.
 
Mister X said:
Anything from Dr.Gary Roberts(DocGKR) recommended ammo list is a good choice.

Barnes XPB 115 gr JHP (copper bullet)
Federal Tactical 124 gr JHP (LE9T1)
Federal HST 124 gr +P JHP (P9HST3)
Remington Golden Saber bonded 124 gr +P JHP (GSB9MMD)
Speer Gold Dot 124 gr +P JHP
Winchester Ranger-T 124 gr +P JHP (RA9124TP)
Winchester 124 gr +P bonded JHP (RA9BA)
Winchester Ranger-T 127 gr +P+ JHP (RA9TA)
Federal Tactical 135 gr +P JHP (LE9T5)
Hornady Critical Duty 135 gr +P PT
Federal HST 147 gr JHP (P9HST2)
Remington Golden Saber 147 gr JHP (GS9MMC)
Speer Gold Dot 147 gr JHP
Speer G2 147 gr PT
Winchester Ranger-T 147 gr JHP (RA9T)
Winchester 147 gr bonded JHP (RA9B/Q4364)
Click to expand...


Try the ammo on this list and find the one or two that work in your pistol
and that you are the most accurate with. Buy that ammo in LE boxes of 50 rds.
and in bulk from someone like SG Ammo or Target Sports USA Ammo, or several others.

Problem solved. :) :)
 
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I have two 9mm semi-autos, a Shield and a SIG P320 compact. In selecting my self-defense ammo, I started with Dr. Gary Roberts' list and tested several of those rounds for reliability and accuracy. One round that stood out for accuracy and reliability with both guns was the Remington Golden Saber 147g. The Federal HST 147g round and the Speer Gold Dot 124g +P round also did well for me. These rounds also did well in the Lucky Gunner tests, which you can see here: https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/

Good Shooting!
 
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124 grain NATO "ball" at 1,250 fps!

I know, there's a world full of HP and expanding designs out there, but the thing is, a FMJ is better at defeating barriers, and driven fast enough - REAL 9mm velocity, will create a rather large expansion track through an entire block of ballistic gel!
 
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