9mm old school rounds:Federal 9mm +p+?

[American1776]

I just found and ordered a couple of boxes of the Federal 9mm +p+ 115 gr. JHP (9BPL). I plan on keeping it in my S&W model 539.

This round has a great endorsement and reputation.

1) Does anyone have experience with this particular 9mm load?

2) I assume the steel framed model 539 should not have a problem with this round?

Thanks

 

[jeeps]

Good round and feeds good,so is remington 115gr. Hp. Been working long time!

 

[WR Moore]

I've had several boxes, but the velocities were all over the place. I found that it's the same bullet used in the 9BP/C9BP driven at higher velocity. Simply put, there's better stuff out there now, but it does work.

If you like the high velocity/115 gr bullet, the Cor-Bon +P load delivers the stated velocity every time. Speer Gold Dot 124 gr +P has excellent expansion and retained weight. I was particularly happy with the Cor-Bon, when it got hard to find, I went to the Speer. The Remington plain jane JHP will feed in anything that will feed ball. I prefer the +P version, expansion is in the mid 50 caliber range.

The 539 will have no problems with any of the above.

 

[ContinentalOp]

Wouldn't be my first choice, but it does have a good track record. From what I've seen it seems to be priced lower than the current generation of SD ammo. I wouldn't feel underarmed with it, and have thought about giving it a try.

I probably wouldn't run a steady diet of +P+ through the gun, but function testing and periodic practice shouldn't be an issue. Someone with more info on your specific gun may have a more knowledgeable opinion.

FWIW, 20something years ago I used CorBon 115gr JHP +P in my Beretta 92FS when they used the Sierra JHP bullet; I don't know if it's the same bullet now as I haven't followed their product line for several years. I also had some Federal 124gr Nyclad HP. I was fine with either load. My current choice is Federal 147gr HST.

 

[stansdds]

20+ years ago the Federal 9BPL and Corbon +P+ 115gr JHP loads were at the top of the heap in 9mm. These days, I prefer either the Federal 147gr HST or Winchester 147gr Ranger T loads. Even at standard pressure loadings, which is easier on the weapon and the user, they penetrate well and expand well.

 

[ranvette]

It ran close to 1300 fps out of my glock 19.Average was 1280. but that was the only box i tried.And as said has plenty of notches under its belt in the field.Really i guess old school or not a top performer in real life.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Considering there is no standard for +P+ ammo I would not use it in my handgun. I see no reason to beat up a perfectly good gun for a few extra fps. Most times the additional velocity hurts accuracy. You have to hit the target or what good?

Are you sure the additional velocity won't limit penetration? I don't care for light bullets either. I hope it works well for you, I just wouldn't use it myself.

 

[Rock185]

I've used a fair amount of the Federal 9BPLE, over a good many years, in a variety of guns, to include S&Ws. I still have some and will probably order more. In my guns it produces velocities similar to CorBon's venerable 115 +P JHP. It has never given any trouble in my pistols,revolvers or carbines, but I understand some owners of 9MM firearms are leery of it's use. I've never used thousands of rounds of it in any one firearm, so can't report on whether or not there would be any significant, or even detectable, ill effects. While there is certainly more modern ammunition available, utilizing the latest in bullet technology, I don't feel inadequately armed when carrying the 9BPLE......ymmv

 

[ranvette]

It does penetrate only 11 inches or so and frag on the way in.And i am sure +P+ is hard on some guns.But the fact remains in real life shoots.It has worked very well.By the data someone hit with 2 HSTs should go down faster.But who knows if thats really the case.We dont tend to run around shooting people so we will never know

 

[ContinentalOp]

Are you sure the additional velocity won't limit penetration?

It does penetrate less than the current generation of SD ammo, but real world results suggest, at least with this round, that it's not as much of a handicap as one would think.

 

[American1776]

It does penetrate less than the current generation of SD ammo, but real world results suggest, at least with this round, that it's not as much of a handicap as one would think.

I agree. Too many people get obsessed with the FBI gel penetration requirements at the expense of acknowledging real life street performance. If I remember correctly, the legendary 125 gr. .357 magnum JHP (the so called lightening bolt, or magic bullet) only penetrated some 10 inchesbin gel, with fragging and violent expansion.

Seems like the 9bple round operates on a similar plane.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I agree. Too many people get obsessed with the FBI gel penetration requirements at the expense of acknowledging real life street performance. If I remember correctly, the legendary 125 gr. .357 magnum JHP (the so called lightening bolt, or magic bullet) only penetrated some 10 inchesbin gel, with fragging and violent expansion.

Seems like the 9bple round operates on a similar plane.

I still prefer deeper penetrating rounds that fit within the FBI's parameters, but I give more weight to real world results. Of course, with modern rounds, one can get the best of both worlds. For example, the 147gr HST both meets the FBI standards and has a good track record in actual shootings, which is why I use it in my Beretta.

But as long as the round is reliable in your gun and you can get good hits with it, 9BPLE should be fine for defensive use. I wouldn't hesitate to use it if it's what I had on hand.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Well if 1280fps is a +P+ load...........

My 5" gets that with BE-86 and slower powders with a 115 ball
with not even a full loading.
One powder got 1350fps........................

so those spec's must be out of a 4" barrel ??

The standard 115gr Gold Dot did 1140fps out of my C9 pistol and
that passed the FBI test.
I am sure 1280fps is plenty.

 

[robertrwalsh]

The only pistol I have ever fired these thru was a Glock 19. Worked well.

 

[murphydog]

It is not the latest technology out there, but as others noted above it has an outstanding real-world effectiveness record. Would probably use it in limited amounts in your 539 and check the recoil spring is good, or perhaps install a heavier one with a steady diet.

 

[WR Moore]

It does penetrate only 11 inches or so and frag on the way in.And i am sure +P+ is hard on some guns.But the fact remains in real life shoots.It has worked very well.

It doesn't/didn't do all that well on large economy size folks-think NFL linemen. The lack of penetration was the issue. Now if you get to specify the size of assailant/time/place of incident, things might be different. But in that case, I think I'd send SWAT and watch it on TV.

 

[ispcapt]

I investigated a number of shootings where the Fed 115 +P+ BPLE was used. We issued that round for several years. No jello tests results, actually shooting results. It performed very well. The jello junkies cry can't rely on shooting results because they're "anecdotal" yet they claim jello is the only real test of performance. I spent my career in LE. Never was attacked by jello. You see enough actual shootings where a rd has repeated performance (either good or bad) and you get a pretty good view of what works. Even if the jello junkies say it won't.

 

[American1776]

I investigated a number of shootings where the Fed 115 +P+ BPLE was used. We issued that round for several years. No jello tests results, actually shooting results. It performed very well. The jello junkies cry can't rely on shooting results because they're "anecdotal" yet they claim jello is the only real test of performance. I spent my career in LE. Never was attacked by jello. You see enough actual shootings where a rd has repeated performance (either good or bad) and you get a pretty good view of what works. Even if the jello junkies say it won't.

Thanks for your input. I assume you were with the Illinois State Police when they used the 39 and 39-2.

Since the alloy framed 39 could handle a steady diet of the +p+, I deduce that the steel framed 539 should handle them as well.

 

[ranvette]

I think some departments still use it.I also think i read a while back the secret service used it.But that would have been years ago.Same type of thing with 127 +P+ T load.That has not been the best in clothed jello.But in real shootings has done real well.

 

[ispcapt]

Thanks for your input. I assume you were with the Illinois State Police when they used the 39 and 39-2.
Since the alloy framed 39 could handle a steady diet of the +p+, I deduce that the steel framed 539 should handle them as well.

We didn't use the Fed BPLE in our 39/39-2. It wasn't until we went to the 439 that we started issuing the BPLE. Same alloy frame tho. We also used it in when we went to 459/469, both alloy frames. I don't recall exactly when we left the BPLE and went to the W-W 115 +P+. That might have been before we issued the 5904/6904, again, alloy frames.
I wouldn't have much worry about a 539. No doubt hotter ammo will cause more wear and tear than softer shooting ammo but I'm guessing it will take a lot of rds to wear one out.
I have told this story on this forum before. When we issued the 5904 (alloy frame) and the W-W 115 +P+ some people and depts were saying the 5904 would never stand up to the use of the W-W +P+. No one we talked to tho could tell us how many rds to expect thru the 5904. Just a lot of nay sayers. So one of our full time range officers at the academy decided to document rd of +P+ thru his issued 5904 and shoot it until it broke. Somewhere around 50,000 rds he replaced the barrel as the rifling was wearing out and it was losing accuracy. He replaced the springs but I don't recall rd count on spring replacement. When he retired he had documented 80,000 rds thru the same 5904 with only a barrel and springs replaced. He bought that 5904 when he retired and continued shooting it. I haven't talked to him in a number of years so I don't know if he's still shooting it or if he wore out before the 5904 wore out.
That's not to say any other 5904 would go 80,000 rds. His was not a hand selected gun. It was the rack issued, next one in the pile, issued to him gun. Could be had he gotten a gun just before or after that one he might not have gotten 20,000 rds thru it. Or maybe his was the lemon and the others could go more rds.
If a gun could go 80,000 rds, or 1600 boxes, then a guy has gotten his money's use out of that gun. If a guy could get Federal BPLE for $25/box he would have spent $40,000 in ammo. If my gun quit after that many rds I'd stick it in a shadow box with a plaque that read I'd just spent $40,000 and 80,000 rds to tear it up.