9mm...how many grains?

[GulfTango]

So I have been a fan of the M&P for awhile now and cannot say enough good things about these firearms.

I recently purchased a Kimber and decided to trade my .45c for a 9mm full size with a guy I know who had only fired about 17 rounds through and his wife didn't like it. I was wondering what weight you all recommend for the 9mm for personal defense?

I have always been a fan of HST and HydraShock but have been getting a lot of conflicting advice from the guys at the local shop.

It will be my primary winter carry. My home defense is either my AR or CX4 Storm (also in 9mm, running 124 grain HST through that)

 

[OKFC05]

I have always been a fan of HST and HydraShock but have been getting a lot of conflicting advice from the guys at the local shop.

Don't you know you always need what that shop sells??
Seriously, there are lots of good choices in defense ammo now, and I choose a bullet weight that shoots to point of aim with the fixed sights usually found on 9mm service and defense guns. Mostly I shoot 124gr in 9mm, since that seems to put POI and POA in the same neighborhood on my guns.

 

[87supraman]

I normally stick with 124 grain also (for target and defense ammo), but use 147 grain if I can't find the 124s. Mainly use HST and have had no issues with it. It's a great round for full size and compacts. I also like the way the 135 +p critical duty shoots in a full size. But I only run that if I'm out of HSTs.

 

[colt_saa]

What a gun shop clerk or an Internet Guru tells you the best magic bullet is today is meaningless

Any of the current premium defense loads from the Major manufactures is just fine. The performance difference between the best of those and the worst of those will never be noticed by the perpetrator you had to shoot in the defense of yourself or your family.

When asked this question by civilian students or shooters, my advice is that they learn what the local LE agency is issued and carry that. If ever asked in court by a prosecutor why they are carrying Brand XXXX's Super Duper People Killer load, the answer is that you felt if it was good enough for your local LE agency to protect the Public, it was good enough for you to protect your family,

 

[MyDads38]

In 9mm, I like the heavier 147 gr. JHP's-just personal preference on my part. My SD9VE gets the Winchester W Defend round and my Shield 9 gets Hornady Custom 147 gr. XTP round. Both of these rounds shoot very accurately in their respective pistols and no reliability issues with either. My second choice would be a 124 gr. loading, again just personal preference. I prefer a heavier bullet/loading, no matter what caliber I choose; and they are all standard pressure rounds, I don't use any +P loads in my firearms-again, that's just me

 

[Screwball]

In 9mm, I like the heavier 147 gr. JHP's-just personal preference on my part./QUOTE]


Same here...

 

[Moonlite]

New to this but just wondering if I can get an extended magazine for my 9mm s&w chief special mod CS9?

 

[Arik]

Normally 124gr Gold Dots

 

[BIGDOC]

124gr. Hornady Critical Duty.

 

[getoff]

135 gr. critical duty, bonded here. works best for me and mine.

 

[Jim1392]

I use Speer LE Gold Dot 124 grain rounds in my Shield.

 

[Valmet]

Have used 124-gr Remington Golden Sabers in my Glock 19 for years. Also have some Federal HST 147-gr JHPs on my shelf. You'll do fine with any given weight when it comes to modern SD ammo.

 

[murphydog]

As noted above, any modern 115-124 gr expanding bullet load that you can afford and find, that functions 100% and prints to your sights. Nothing wrong with more recent 147 gr loads either. Try a few and stock up when you find one you like.

 

[Yankee Bill]

According to Massad Ayoob's statistical data from actual shootings, "in 124 gr. nothing is as well proven, or, as long proven, as +P Gold Dot's".

YB

 

[Ballistic147]

I prefer HST's or Gold Dots based on all the info I've read. My primary 9mm range ammo is 124 grain Blazer Brass FMJ and I've found that both the HST and Gold Dots in either 124 or 147 grain have the same POI in my Shield. Due to the shorter barrel of the Shield I would rather use 124 grain for a little higher velocity but that's just my opinion. More than likely anything from 115 to 147 will get the job done.

 

[Mister X]

My round of choice is the Corbon DPX. I think you have to look at each round individually rather than choosing based on a specific weight.

Anything from Dr. Gary Robert's(DocGKR) list is a good choice IMO.

Barnes XPB 115gr HP (35515) such as loaded by Cor-Bon (DPX09115)
Winchester Partition Gold 124gr JHP (RA91P)
Winchester Ranger-T 124 gr +P JHP (RA9124TP)
Winchester Ranger Bonded 124 gr +P JHP (RA9BA)
Winchester Ranger-T 127gr JHP +P+ (RA9TA)
Winchester Ranger-T 147gr JHP (RA9T)
Winchester Bonded 147gr JHP (RA9B/Q4364)
Speer Gold Dor 124gr JHP
Speer Gold Dot 124gr JHP +P (53617)
Speer Gold Dot 147gr JHP (53619)
Remington Golden Saber 124 gr +P JHP bonded (GSB9MMD)
Remington Golden Saber 147gr JHP (GS9MMC)
Federal Tactical 124gr JHP (LE9T1)
Federal Tactical 135gr JHP +P (LE9T5)
Federal HST 147gr JHP (P9HST2)
Federal HST 124gr JHP +P (P9HST3)

 

[MichiganScott]

As noted above, any modern 115-124 gr expanding bullet load that you can afford and find, that functions 100% and prints to your sights. Nothing wrong with more recent 147 gr loads either. Try a few and stock up when you find one you like.

I'm in total agreement. A few years ago when ammunition was easier to find, I bought a box of each bullet weight from 115gr to 147gr and both regular velocity and +P if available. I wanted to see which shot most accuraely and to point of aim with each of my 9mm handguns.

My original plan was to standardize. Unfortunately, almost every gun has it's own preference. At least now I am confident that I'm carrying the most appropriate ammunition in each gun.

 

[Gamecock]

I like 147s. Less recoil, more fun to shoot.

 

[Saudade]

There are a lot of factors that go into choosing the "best" round. As said earlier, you need to test to see what feeds reliably and you can shoot accurately under stress. Flash and noise are factors if you have to defend in the middle of the night.

Having said that, I chose Winchester PDX1 124gr +p. These are bonded JHP I run in my primary HD weapon (currently a Sig, sorry!!) I've run some of these through my FS 9 without issue.

 

[agksimon]

I use 135 grain Critical Duty in my carry guns, a Shield 9 and a Compact 9 and they shoot close to POA at 15 yards with just under softball sized groups.
My new 5" Pro is just for IDPA and never had any of the above through it. I've done extensive factory ammo testing of many brands and weights at 25 yards, benchresting and found the tightest groups (around 3" +/-) were with American Eagle 147 grain flat point FMJ. Even other brands of the same weight, like CCI Lawman, opened up to 4+". Lighter weights were far worse.
In this case, I have a Ruger 22/45 that will shoot 1.5" groups at 25 yards and shoot my friends 1911 Les Bear about the same. I would have to say it's the gun and not shooter error.
I tried a Storm Lake barrel and it didn't help a bit, so I sent it back. Talked to KKM and don't feel it would help either. Waiting for Apex, but could be a long wait.