What is the Best 9mm ammo for HD

[diego-ted]

for use in our sigmas? I found a test that says Speer Gold Dot 124 +P are;however they only come in an alum case and I think I red where the sigmas perfer brass?

Diego

[Dragon88]

Those aren't aluminum they are nickel plated brass cases. The Gold Dot is a great load, but really any premium self defense ammunition will serve you well. Speer, Hornady Critical Defense, Federal Hydra Shok, Winchester PDX1, the list goes on.

[Veritas]

i use speer gold dot 124grain standard, doesnt say +p on the box at all

[leejack]

Ted, excellent question!

Any premium brand of defense ammo will do just fine; just make sure you run some of it through your sigma to check for function.

Most people have their favorite brand so you may get allot of different opinions on this.

I have Golden Sabres. Ran quite a bit through my sigma for testing; no problem at all. During the 90's, I shot many, many rounds of the sabres through different 9mm handguns; not one problem.

Many good brands to choose from,

Lee

[.357 mag]

I have always liked heavier bullets. Fo my Sigma I use 147 grain JHP from Winchester. The slower bullet will keep the bullet from over penatrating after the BG.

[Munsterf18]

I use the Speer Gold Dot 124 gr. +P. It shoots and functions well in my 3.5" barrel M&P 9c.

The Federal HST is the "newest greatest" it seems now and some of the LE agencies have gone to this, but the HP was not totally smooth in feeding in my pistol so I stuck with the Gold Dot.

Munster

[writerinmo]

I have 180gr Remington UMC JHP's in my .40, Winchester PDX1 bondeds in my 9mm.

The biggest criteria is making sure they feed and fire well in that particular weapon.

[diego-ted]

OK, than, which is the most cost effective?? "Least $$$"" LOL

thx Guys.

Ted

[MitchellB]

+1 for the heavy side. I use 147 gr. JHP also.

[leejack]

Ted, none of them are cheap.

I would suggest going to the store and look them over. Check out the prices and pick one. Then, run enough through your sigma to get comfortable and confident with them.

Let us know which you choose.

Lee

[chp]

+1 to the comments about most premium loads. Corbon DPX performs well, but is expensive.

[kscardsfan]

Gold dot, golden sabre, and federal hydra shock probably have the longest documented track record in live shootings. Most of the officers I know carry either gold dot or hydra shock. The officer I know whose been in 2 shootings used gold dot exclusively and told us to all use it if it was available. He seemed to think it had the best/smoothest functioning.

[safearm]

I carry Gold Dot 124 grain +P in all of my 9mm's. It has a proven track record, I can find it fairly easy, and the price is not too outrageous (although how much is your life worth?).

[browntown]

hydrashock or golden saber are in all my defense nines.

[Rick-F]

Originally Posted by diego-ted

OK, than, which is the most cost effective?? "Least $$$"" LOL

thx Guys.

Ted

That was a joke, right Ted? You are not really going to count pennies when it comes to HD ammo to defend your Home and Family.

[5906fan]

I haven't shot any of the factory Rem Golden Sabre but the handloads I roll loaded with the 124gr GS group tighter than anything else I've loaded out of my 5904.
my nephews 915 and Kel-Tec 2000 carbine too (they really come out of that carbine with a 'crack')

[writerinmo]

I try and stay with the same bullet weight as what my HD rounds are... might be something that isn't a biggie, just seems to make sense to me when I saw how different the accuracy was with my 180gr target rounds and some 155gr JHP's I had.

[Backon4]

I get the 180gr UMC JHP's for $33.00 per box of 100 at wally world. Hands down the best "bang" for your buck in self defense ammo. I also have black talons that I have had forever but don't carry any more.

[.357 mag]

For anyone didn't know- Full metal jacket ammo will great big holes in stuff. And it will hurt. So you don't need the ''best'' or the most ''high priced'' ammo it get the job done. That is why I shoot the 147 grain winchesters. They shoot just about the same as the 115 grain winchesters I shoot at the range. I can point shoot double taps at 10 yards under 3 inches. There cheap, 15 bucks per 50. Twice as much as my range ammo but cheap enough to buy a box every other month.

[amd6547]

I like the +P+ Ranger 127gn. I use it in my Browning HiPower and my Beretta 92FS.
I have read good things about the performance of this round in police use, but mainly, it has been the most accurate round I have tried.

[diego-ted]

Originally Posted by Rick-F

That was a joke, right Ted? You are not really going to count pennies when it comes to HD ammo to defend your Home and Family.

What I meant was, best for HD for the Best price because I figure you need to shoot the ammo semi-often to be proficent with it. So if the ammo is affordable I would be more apt to shoot it more often.

Hope this makes sence.

Diego

[hybridsquirrel]

speer 124 9mm +p duty ammo....looks like the gold dots but all it said on the box was "duty ammo"

[rte148]

Originally Posted by leejack

Most people have their favorite brand so you may get allot of different opinions on this.

I have Golden Sabres. Ran quite a bit through my sigma for testing; no problem at all. During the 90's, I shot many, many rounds of the sabres through different 9mm handguns; not one problem.
Lee

I wound up with Sabres (124, low flash) too after trying out various manufacturers and loads. Cor-Bon, MagTech, Winchester. It's my own personal preference for recoil, flash and trajectory.

I can't afford to use Sabres every time I go out, but I make it a point to do at least 2 full clips once a month just to remind myself the slight difference between that and what I normally plink with (115 WWB or Federal).

[blastfact]

My fav is my own loads. I have spent some time on my 124gr. TiteGroup XTP round. The Sigma loves them! The PF-9 requires I back off the load just a hair. I also keep some very nice XTP 147gr rounds.

I am not sold and these massive expansion bullets. Esp. concerning a smaller caliber. I want penetration! And I want mid. to heavy weight's. The XPT bullet offers expansion and penetration property's IMHO.

Also come winter months and depending how cold it gets here. I might just have FMJ's loaded up of my own load.

My M&P 45FS right now has REM. 230gr HD's in it right now. I have already worked up some basic FMJ loads and a few test XTP's. Hopefully soon I will have my XTP loads worked up for it. Even picked up a box of 250gr XTP's to play with.

[Rick-F]

I live in a condo-- with neighbors very close. In the home I keep the Sigma loaded with Glaser Blue Safety Slug 80gr +P ammo. It is pretty pricey, so I do not really practice with it much-- but I have fired enough of it to know it feeds well and goes BANG when I squeeze the trigger.

I have noticed it is different from what I practice with at the range-- at 7 yards I find it more accurate than 115 Gr MC.

I don't really shoot the Sigma for fun; just enough to feel confident that if I ever need to fire it for real, I will hit what I aim at.

[Charliee530]

I have owned Glock, Other S&W's, Desert Eagle, Colt, Beretta, Springfield, and for the almighty $ you pay for the "Sigma" you can't beat it!!!! I have put the Sigma through it, Mud, Snow, Rain, Sand, you name it and it still performs as new! I have nothing but RESPECT for the so called, $300.00 gun!

Now on another note and not trying to beat this question to death but.... Give me your recommendations on Hollow Points! I lean toward Golden Saber's! What you shooting for personal defense?

[samdweezel05]

My vote would be for the Hornady. I do load my own but the factory hornady stuff runs very well in anything I have ever tried it in. The XTP bullets, even in factory loaded ammo, have given me the performance I was looking for after some testing. The expansion and weight retention was great.

[Wirbech]

In my 9VE I have the Hornady Critical Defense and have not had a problem with them. They feed everytime and are very accurate. At 20 a box they are reasonable enough to buy a box or 2 to practice with. In my 40VE i have it loaded with the 165 gr PDX1's. To me they are better than the Hornady in the 40 cal. But that is just me. I say buy a couple different ones, try them out and use whatever you like the best and performs the best to you.

[Charliee530]

I am going to try the Hornady! Have heard nothing but great reviews on that round!! And I now want the 40 Cal version "Sigma"
Can never go wrong with a Smith!!!!