Ammo recommendations for 9mm compact?

[spirit4earth]

My new 9c will arrive next week, and I'm wondering what some good range rounds are. What brand does the M&P 9 favor?

Suggestions for carry ammo will be appreciated, too.

Thanks!

 

[safearm]

When I had a M&P9c, I carried Gold Dot 124 grain +P. I still carry that round in my Walther PPS.

 

[bgs210]

My 9fs will eat and spit out any FMJ round range fodder...


Daily carry --- Hornady XTP 147 grain.

 

[xopher88x]

For range ammo? Pretty much whatever's cheapest. However, at this point I am avoiding the Remington UMC "Mega Pack" yellow box of 250 rounds. In my 9c they just dribble out of the ejection port and they won't cycle my 9mm 1911. That ammo is WAY under powered in my opinion. YMMV of course. For carry, since I shoot mostly 115gr at the range, I like to carry a 115gr as well.

 

[insomniac]

range; i use American Eagle for 9mm and 45 auto. i keep my ammo stocks up and order online when i get down to 1,000 rounds in any caliber. this keeps me from being at the mercy of the "whatever is available" scenario.

CCI/Speer makes a +P 124 grain Gold Dot specifically for short barrels, and that's what i stock up on and use for carry. product code is 23611. i will fire a couple of mags of carry ammo occasionally to keep fresh stock and ensure proper function in my carry weapon.

 

[T-BoneFL]

For range FMJ, I've shot Winchester White Box ($23 per hundred), Federal Champion ($20 per hundred), and Remington UMC.

For carrying, I use Federal Hydra-Shok JHP 124 Grain (20 Round Box 1120 FPS Self Defense Ammunition @ $20).

-T

 

[vstromrider]

speer gold dot short barrel for carry, what ever walmart has in stock for the range

 

[MichiganScott]

Wal-Mart WW whitebox for practice and Black Hills 115gr. JHP +P for social purposes.

 

[Sinkhole30]

I carry 115gr. Hornady Critical Defense. I practice with 115gr. Speer Lawman TMJ

Sent from my BlackBerry 9800 using Tapatalk

 

[Research Nerd]

I prefer American Eagle for my 40 compact. Hornady Critical Defense for home defense.

 

[Houdini1953]

Generally speaking any 115 grain will do. I think the 9mm was designed with this weight for optimum performance, but you could also try other weights as well as other manufacturers as well, actually what I am concerned with is is it clean ammunition (doesn't leave reside all over your hands) and does it feed into the chamber well to not cause any feed problems, so far I have found none that do so, but I make sure the feed ramps are clean and shiny on all my pistols!

 

[Dean1818]

Nothing like corbon dpx

 

[chuck s]

Find some data -- not opinions.

Here's some data based on testing by D. Gary Roberts, a noted expert on ammunition penetration and expansion. There's no ranking here. They all provide acceptable penetration and expansion. Penetration minimum standard is 12" in 10% ballistic gelatin.

Note the almost complete lack of 115gr bullets. There is some evidence that heavier bullets penetrate more reliably in animal tissue which is not as consistent as ballistic gelatin. When in doubt I select the heaviest available. Winchester Ranger-T 147gr (RA9T) is my first choice based on availability and in my M&P9 at this moment.

Also note the lack of gimmick ammunition in this list.

The following loads all demonstrate outstanding terminal performance and can be considered acceptable for duty/self-defense use:

9 mm:
Barnes XPB 115 gr JHP (copper bullet)
Federal Tactical 124 gr JHP (LE9T1)
Federal HST 124 gr +P JHP (P9HST3)
Remington Golden Saber 124 gr +P JHP bonded (GSB9MMD)
Speer Gold Dot 124 gr +P JHP
Winchester Partition Gold 124 gr JHP (RA91P)
Winchester Ranger-T 124 gr +P JHP (RA9124TP)
Winchester Ranger-T 127 gr +P+ JHP (RA9TA)
Federal Tactical 135 gr +P JHP (LE9T5)
Federal HST 147 gr JHP (P9HST2)
Remington Golden Saber 147 gr JHP (GS9MMC)
Speer Gold Dot 147 gr JHP
Winchester Ranger-T 147 gr JHP (RA9T)
Winchester 147 gr bonded JHP (RA9B/Q4364)

Range and practice ammunition should match the ballistics of your carry round which may make 124gr a more universal choice as 9mm NATO ammo is easy to find. It's 124gr.

-- Chuck

 

[OldFencer]

range; i use American Eagle for 9mm and 45 auto. i keep my ammo stocks up and order online when i get down to 1,000 rounds in any caliber. this keeps me from being at the mercy of the "whatever is available" scenario.

insomniac, do you have a preferred online vendor you order from? Thanks

 

[spirit4earth]

insomniac, do you have a preferred online vendor you order from? Thanks

+1 to the preferred vendor question!

 

[Jay5oh]

Range: Winchester White box
Carry: Winchester Ranger bonded 147gr (RA9B)

 

[clcdawg]

I always carry 124 gr +p gold dots and usually whatever is cheapest at Walmart for the range.

 

[xICEMANx]

Cheapo federal for the range and right now I'm carrying federal Hydroshock's, but the Golden Saber can be found cheaper and has really good test results.

 

[locapitano]

My post is not all to original but I'll add it anyways...

Range, it'll spit out anything you put through it... If the range allows it I use the Tulla Ammo which is steal casing and way dirtier but at 9$ a box its the cheapest.

Carry, On my .380 I use the Speer Gold Dot, 9MM I use the Federal Hydra Shock and on my .40 I use the Hornady Critical Defence!

 

[insomniac]

insomniac, do you have a preferred online vendor you order from? Thanks

in no particular order;

luckygunner
natchez shooting supply
ableammo
cheaperthandirt
targetsportsusa