Considering switching to 9mm +P for home defense in 5906 or 659. Need some input.

Stu1205

Stu1205

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After talking with a Hornady rep, and viewing the ballistic results from the Hornady Critical Duty 135gr 9mm +P,
I am considering replacing my 4506 or 4006 as my primary home defense gun.
While the 4506 can hold 8+1 45acp, and the 4006 holds 11+1 40S&W, either 9mm will hold 15+1.
In light of many home invasion robberies I have read about with multiple assailants,
I am now opting towards larger magazine capacity.
Another factor in this equation is that the recoil and muzzle flip will be lessened and subsequent shot sight acquisition will be quicker.
What are your thought on this, and which gun would you recommend if I go this route? The 5906 or the 659? I have both.

Oh, by the way, I also have a 12 gauge loaded and nearby.

Thanks in advance for any input and suggestions.

Stu
 
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I've shot the Hornady ammunition, and have the 135gr 9mm +P in a Shield right now.

Without going into details, seeing a 135gr stopped by an arm bone, I have few illusions that it is the equal of a heavier bullet into getting through barriers of whatever kind to the boiler room.

I tend to make what I am carrying, what I am shooting in competition, and what I have available in the house as alike as practical, and practice, practice, practice. Try a little IDPA to see how you do in a hurry with a little simulated pressure.
Once I am sure the equipment is reliable, I worry more about how I am going to do than any theoretical technical difference in equipment.
 
A 659 or a 5906 with the 135 +P with the 14-15 round edge should be very comforting in a bad situation. Hope having that and not needing it is in your future. Make sure they function well for sure. Both are reliable but it is nice to know with practice.
Jim
 
I'd go with the 5906, as it fits my hands better than the older 659, but so long as they are reliable, either will do fine. Modern, top tier 9mm+P JHP works about as well as anything else in a handgun to stop bad guys, and the lighter recoil, better ability to one-hand the gun and generally faster followup shots with the all steel 9mm are all pluses in my book.

I do prefer either the Speer 124+P or HST 147gr rounds in my 9's, but given good placement, I doubt either will substantially better the 135gr Critical Duty, while nothing in a handgun is going to be some sort of Death Ray.
 
I have a 5906. I'm 69 years old. When I was younger it served well. Now it's just to heavy. A fantastic firearm. But to heavy now. I have loaned it to several people to get their CHL and no one ever had a minutes problem. Had a large frame instructor beg to buy it the last time I used it. It was an award my son got from UTA PD when he was officer of the year. He never fired it. Gave it to me.
 
9mm is my current round of choice for carry/ HD and while I have no experience with the Hornady round, I can whole heatedly recommend the 124+P Gold Dot and 147gr. HST.
I suggest your fire at least a box of your chosen ammo thru which ever pistol you choose to confirm reliability and POA/ POI.
Also have a plan, competition is good for inducing stress and making you think during a fight. But some of the courses and round counts can be ridiculous!
Of the two pistols, pick the one that works best for you.
Dale
 
Take a look at some of the current gel tests that have been posted. The Federal HST 124 Gr actually did better then many of the +Ps. It turned in almost perfect expansion with 15" of penetration. The Critical Duty +P showed quite a bit of over penetration. The HST is a soft shooting round in my Shield and functions without an issue.
 
4011 said:
I have a 5906. I'm 69 years old. When I was younger it served well. Now it's just to heavy. A fantastic firearm. But to heavy now. I have loaned it to several people to get their CHL and no one ever had a minutes problem. Had a large frame instructor beg to buy it the last time I used it. It was an award my son got from UTA PD when he was officer of the year. He never fired it. Gave it to me.
Click to expand...

Conrats on raising a son with proper respect for his dad.
 
Stu1205 said:
After talking with a Hornady rep, and viewing the ballistic results from the Hornady Critical Duty 135gr 9mm +P,
I am considering replacing my 4506 or 4006 as my primary home defense gun.
While the 4506 can hold 8+1 45acp, and the 4006 holds 11+1 40S&W, either 9mm will hold 15+1.
In light of many home invasion robberies I have read about with multiple assailants,
I am now opting towards larger magazine capacity.
Another factor in this equation is that the recoil and muzzle flip will be lessened and subsequent shot sight acquisition will be quicker.
What are your thought on this, and which gun would you recommend if I go this route? The 5906 or the 659? I have both.

Oh, by the way, I also have a 12 gauge loaded and nearby.

Thanks in advance for any input and suggestions.

Stu
Click to expand...

Considering that you have the 12 gauge as well I wouldn't make the change, if you're accustomed to the .45. Having said that, I would go with the 5906, though personally I use the same round in a Browning High Power.
 
The 12 gauge is the ultimate home defense and you do not have to be as accurate with it. Get a 10mm or 357 sig or tsw356 if you want a hi powered 9 mm cartridge. 9s are great for reasonable defense but I would not trust it in the application you are talking about.
 
James&theGiant1911 said:
The 12 gauge is the ultimate home defense and you do not have to be as accurate with it.
Click to expand...

That sort of thinking will cause you to miss completely. I suggest you pace off the longest distance in your house or apartment and go to the range. Use your favorite shotgun and SD load and see just how small the pattern is even with a cylinder bore choke. While you're at it see just how far off from the sights the pattern is if you have not previously sighted it in like a rifle.
 
45/40/9 a good load in any will work, more bullets can be comforting. . Always have a spare mag and realize that a handgun is to allow you to fight till you can get a long gun. As BK1 stated competition is good because it increases your stress level. Since we have a private range, my wife may start blindfolded on a sunny day, get hit with light from flash light, she knows there will be a malfunction or two ( empty case, snap cap X 2 ), someone yelling in her ear to hurry, HURRY! FASTER!!, countdown timer. Be Safe,
 
James&theGiant1911 said:
The 12 gauge is the ultimate home defense and you do not have to be as accurate with it. Get a 10mm or 357 sig or tsw356 if you want a hi powered 9 mm cartridge. 9s are great for reasonable defense but I would not trust it in the application you are talking about.
Click to expand...

As MichiganScott mentioned, This is a widely held misconception. Take your shotgun to the range and you will quickly find that you need to bring it to your shoulder and aim it. The pattern is very small at SD distances.
 
The FBI has already done the research for you. Their big ammo trials for new 9mm ammo, which resulted in a contract award for service, training, reduced lead training and frangible ammo for their handguns resulted in awards to Winchester and Federal for their new carry ammo. The service load is the latest generation 147 bonded hollow point.

Here are the details:

FBI RFP-OSCU-DSU1301.

The contracts have been awarded to three manufacturers, and not all manufacturers got all four types of ammunition.

Federal got all four types, Olin-Winchester got all but frangible, and Hornady got only frangible.

Here are the contract award numbers and the companies. The product numbers for each type of ammo are in parentheses.

Federal Cartridge Contract Number J-FBI-13-126

Service (54227),

Training (53685),

Reduced Lead Training (53690),

Frangible (ZBC9P1FBI)

Olin-Winchester Contract Number J-FBI-13-127

Service (Q4392),

Training (Q4395),

Reduced Lead Training (Q4396)

Hornady Manufacturing Contract Number J-FBI-13-128

Frangible (90229)

Winchester Q4392 is a 147 grain Bonded Hollow Point, sold to other LE as the RA9B; Q4395 is a 147 grain Encapsulated, sold to other LE as RA9147FMJ; and Q4396 is a 124 grain FMJ Encapsulated with lead free primer.
 
I have an XDm .45, but for my main HD weapon, I rely on a Glock 17 and spare mag. Loaded with Federal HST standard pressure, either 124gr, or 147gr will serve you well.

I say, switch to the 659 and sleep well. Keep the 4506 or 4006 nearby as backup. Be sure to test whatever ammo you choose very well to insure it functions without a hitch in that particular gun.
 
Ballistic performance on bipeds is pretty much the same in the major service calibers, assuming you have ammo that meet the standard (google "Gary Roberts terminal ballistics" and you should get the latest results). I am not personally familiar with whether or not your preferred choice passes the standard - your issue to research and solve.

BUT: if you are inclined to 9mm +P ammo, of the two choices, I would go with the 5906. The reason for this decision is that the 4 digit models were the result of the hard use and testing done by the Illinois State Police. They shot the snot out of their pistols and used smoking hot ammo. As a result, you should have more success with +P in the pistols that resulted from that work.
 
Since I don't plan to engage in a firefight in my living room with multiple bad guys firing back at me instead of running as fast as they can out the nearest open door when I confront them with my HD weapon, I opt for bigger holes, less potential penetration of dry walls and vinyl siding on my house and my nearby neighbors' homes, and a gun that I regularly practice with until handling it is second nature.

I guess I just don't understand +P ammo in an HD scenario. That's on me.

YMMV.
 
Seeing as how the two guns are almost identical, I'd say go with the 5906, for the simple fact that the sights are easier to pick up.

As much as I like my Smiths, my bedside gun is my G19 and I can't foresee the day where something will kick it off that throne.
 
My 9mm round of choice is the federal HST 124gr +P. I know it works since I've had to use it while on duty.
 
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