otis24
Member
9mm defense ammo, what bullet weight should one choose and why? 115gr, 124g-130 grain, or 147 grain?
Last edited:
9mm Self Defense ammo, what grain?
- Thread starter otis24
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
PPS1980
Member
Depends on the weapon, the bullet configuration, and the POI for the combo.
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
Roughly, the one that reliably makes the biggest, deepest hole, without over-penetrating.
I like Federal P9HST2 because it feeds reliably in all my 9s, and at 147gr, expands the biggest.
YMMV
I like Federal P9HST2 because it feeds reliably in all my 9s, and at 147gr, expands the biggest.
YMMV
Groo01
Member
Groo here
First the gun must like it.
the best HP is no good if it jams.
Don't assume the gun will eat anything.
Second , the load "should " have an IMPACT speed of at least 1000fps!
To insure deformation, from "YOUR " gun!!!!
And remember,,, the shorter the barrel,, the slower it will shoot...
First the gun must like it.
the best HP is no good if it jams.
Don't assume the gun will eat anything.
Second , the load "should " have an IMPACT speed of at least 1000fps!
To insure deformation, from "YOUR " gun!!!!
And remember,,, the shorter the barrel,, the slower it will shoot...
Depends on the gun. I shoot 147gr in a suppressed gun that is under 1000 ft/sec for maximum return from the suppressor. One of my other guns seems to prefer 124 gr but will eat anything.
Marshal Tom
Member
As stated above, it must first be reliable in your particular firearm. I go with heavy for caliber with the thought of having to penetrate heavy clothing in cold weather etc. 147gr. HST is what I generally recommend for carry.
sigp220.45
US Veteran
It doesn’t really matter. The most important thing is that it works in your gun.
If ball is the only thing that works, use ball.
Right now, you’ll be lucky to find any ammo at all. If you find some, stock up.
Don’t obsess over things like point of impact, penetration, expansion, muzzle flash, bullet weight, velocity, or any of the other things we tend to argue and bicker about. Any round can work, and any round can fail. If it functions in your gun you are 99.9% of the way there.
If you have a choice, I’d go 115, 124, 147. Or 147, 124, 115. Whatever works in your gun.
If ball is the only thing that works, use ball.
Right now, you’ll be lucky to find any ammo at all. If you find some, stock up.
Don’t obsess over things like point of impact, penetration, expansion, muzzle flash, bullet weight, velocity, or any of the other things we tend to argue and bicker about. Any round can work, and any round can fail. If it functions in your gun you are 99.9% of the way there.
If you have a choice, I’d go 115, 124, 147. Or 147, 124, 115. Whatever works in your gun.
Last edited:
Getting a good hit with ANY decent ammo is much more important than the exact details. A crummy hit with superbullets is much less effective than a really good center of mass hit with a so-so bullet. Find a bullet your gun likes and that you can shoot well, then go with that. If there was one BEST bullet then that's all that would be out there.
message_board_expert
Member
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2020
- Messages
- 36
- Reaction score
- 29
Problems aside, the 9mm improved 147 grainers are close to the ballistics of the venerated 158 grain FBI/Chicago load. That choice gives up a little bit in performance in exchange for greatly increased round capacity.
ContinentalOp
Member
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2009
- Messages
- 6,315
- Reaction score
- 12,811
In general, my preference is for medium-to-heavy weight bullets, regardless of caliber. In 9mm, that'd be in the 124-147gr range. Modern JHP bullets in this range seem to have the best balance of penetration and expansion. I also prefer to stay away from ultra-light or ultra-heavy bullets, or exotic ammo like Glasers. I use 147gr HST.
But as others have said, with the current ammo market you'll be lucky to find any 9mm, let alone good JHP loads, especially enough to check for reliability and how well you can shoot it, or how well it shoots for you. Try to get good JHP (Dr. Roberts' list is a good reference) if you can, but you may just have to settle for whatever you can get in a decent quantity. Shot placement and reliability are still the most important factors.
Just my opinion.
But as others have said, with the current ammo market you'll be lucky to find any 9mm, let alone good JHP loads, especially enough to check for reliability and how well you can shoot it, or how well it shoots for you. Try to get good JHP (Dr. Roberts' list is a good reference) if you can, but you may just have to settle for whatever you can get in a decent quantity. Shot placement and reliability are still the most important factors.
Just my opinion.
With the 9mm pistol that has a 4" or longer barrel, standard ammo has enough energy for the job at hand.
The little 3" barrels need to use a +P load to make sure the bullet has enough energy to make the bullets work correctly and expand if JHP.
As for bullet weights............
you need to test the weights and brands to make sure they will work in "your weapon", 100% of the time without any problems.
Good luck.
The little 3" barrels need to use a +P load to make sure the bullet has enough energy to make the bullets work correctly and expand if JHP.
As for bullet weights............
you need to test the weights and brands to make sure they will work in "your weapon", 100% of the time without any problems.
Good luck.
hkcavalier
US Veteran
I'm a 115gr and lighter hater, but I load my wife's Shield up with 100gr Pow'r Ball as it shoots POA. 147gr shoots quite high.
In everything else it's 124gr or more. The old 1970s/1980s high velocity theory that pervaded law enforcement and consequently the civilian world has been debunked, at least for handgun bullets slower than about 1600fps.
In everything else it's 124gr or more. The old 1970s/1980s high velocity theory that pervaded law enforcement and consequently the civilian world has been debunked, at least for handgun bullets slower than about 1600fps.
124 gr or heavier.....
.....as long as velocity is good from your gun. I have two favorites. Remington Golden Sabers and Federal HSTs.
(I like the BIG holes in the hollow points) I'll buy Speer Gold Dots but I don't think they are QUITE as consistent as the other two.
.....as long as velocity is good from your gun. I have two favorites. Remington Golden Sabers and Federal HSTs.
(I like the BIG holes in the hollow points) I'll buy Speer Gold Dots but I don't think they are QUITE as consistent as the other two.
Ruger Nut
US Veteran
I prefer the Winchester Ranger T-Series 147 gr. ammo in 9mm (The old Black Talon, now Gold Talons).
I carry what the local PD issues. Hornady Critical Duty, in whatever caliber I end up carrying that day . . .
Firearm in question will be a Kahr K9 which has, I think, a 3.6 inch barrel. I was curious as to the reasons some choose a lighter bullet and some choose a heavy bullet. I gather that heavy gets you more penetration (???). In South Dakota it is cold much of the time so there is always a strong possibility of needing to penetrate several layers of clothing. I don't have a lot of ammo stocked up. But enough to get by. The Kahr I purchased is used but like new. Used enough to surpass Kahr's recommended 200 round break in period. I believe my stock of self-defense ammo includes some 124 he as well as 147 he Hydra Shock HST. Was looking at ammo online last night and the Hydra Shock Deep looks like an interesting round.
ContinentalOp
Member
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2009
- Messages
- 6,315
- Reaction score
- 12,811
FWIW, I use 147gr HST in my Beretta PX4 Compact, which has a 3.27" barrel, and I don't have any concerns about its performance year-round. IIRC, the 147gr HST has been used by LE in some very cold locales, I believe Minneapolis being one of them, and from what I've read they've been happy with its performance.
If you have concerns about a slow, heavy bullet, 124gr Gold Dot +P has established a very solid track record being the standard issue round for NYPD, which can get quite cold.
But as was said before, you just may have to make do with what you have or can get.
Doug M.
Member
1) Reliability. Not negotiable. It must work in your pistol every time. If you can't go 500 rounds of carry ammo without a malfunction, there is something wrong.
2) Placement matters. You are responsible for that. You need to know the places that offer the best odds of stopping a violent offender. Remember that a pistol is a secondary weapon, carried not because it a good choice, but because it is reasonably convenient. If you have reason to expect a problem and can't arrange to be somewhere else (if you are not a cop, forewarned means being somewhere else), you need to have a long gun.
3) Google Dr. Gary Roberts and his ammo recommendations. There are various weights of 9mm in there, based on performance. I have a variety of rounds available to me, of different weights. The only common point they have is passing Gary's testing.
2) Placement matters. You are responsible for that. You need to know the places that offer the best odds of stopping a violent offender. Remember that a pistol is a secondary weapon, carried not because it a good choice, but because it is reasonably convenient. If you have reason to expect a problem and can't arrange to be somewhere else (if you are not a cop, forewarned means being somewhere else), you need to have a long gun.
3) Google Dr. Gary Roberts and his ammo recommendations. There are various weights of 9mm in there, based on performance. I have a variety of rounds available to me, of different weights. The only common point they have is passing Gary's testing.
