Best SD Load for 9MM?

[Old cop]

I'm an old revolver guy and need some guidance. I'm getting a Glock 17 Gen4 this week mostly for the range, LEOSA certification & home defense. What seems to do the job on the street and, if known, what are major law enforcement agencies who use 9MM issuing their troops?

Thanks in advance.

 

[JJEH]

Not sure what the best load is and I'm also not sure what the major LE agencies are that issue 9mm handguns.

But ammowise I use Buffalo Bore for protection. I use their items 24I, 24F as well as 24L.

For the range I use every 115-147gr. FMJ that I can get my hands on, minus steel case.

 

[moxie]

I prefer the Speer Gold Dot or the Federal HST, both in 124+P. Both have good street reps and gel tests.

There are many LE agencies using Gold Dots and HSTs, as well as lots of other brands.

The Gold Dots are available in 50 round LE boxes here:

100 Round Lot - 9mm +P Speer Gold Dot 124 Grain LE Hollow Point Ammo - 53617 - Limit 300 rounds | SGAmmo.com

The HST is here:

Federal HST LE 9mm Luger Ammo 124 Grain +P JHP

 

[bigwheelzip]

I like the Federal HST in standard pressure 147gr, but I only see it through mail-order.

50 Round Box - 9mm Luger Federal HST 147 Grain Hollow Point LE Ammo P9HST2 | SGAmmo.com

 

[Nevada Ed]

I have tried the 115 and 124 Gold Dots............
as well as the Federal in these weights plus the heavy 147gr HST.

It depends on what your pistol works with and what you feel will work best. You may have a little difference in POA and recoil may also be a little different.
It is just a matter of taste, since all quality bullets will do the job if placed right.

 

[usm1rifle]

I use the Hornady Critical Duty in 135gr in my G19 and G26.

You can buy it in 50 round boxes at Streicher's Police Equipment and I'm sure other PD suppliers.

 

[petepeterson]

I think you're good with any reputable manufacturer. In your shoes, I would pick 2 or 3, and see which one hits the closest to your POA.

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
The best load for SD in an auto is the one that feeds as close to 100%
as possible.
If it won't feed it won't do anything else.

 

[badge]

Old Cop,
Leaps and bounds in technology have improved the 9mm in recent years to make it a truly worthy self defense round. The Premium rounds are generally your best bet,...... Speer 124 Plus P's, Remington Golden Sabre 124 Plus P's or Federal's HST in the 124 Plus P configuration. Additionally, the old Federal BPLE 115 Plus P Plus is still a winner as well and can be had very reasonable. SG Ammo and Laxx ammo are good internet places to obtain the aforementioned ammunition friend.

 

[rwsmith]

I noticed that the FBI

They specified 147 gr. but that may be for penetrating car doors or some such. The 125 grain is about equal to what is in a .38 and driven to faster velocities than a .38+P should be adequate. I try not to use 115 gr, but if that's what's handy, I'll go with it.

I've been using Hornady XTPs because I can get them. They have a good rep so I'll take them. Top manufacturer's defense bullets are better than ever and I think about any of them will do a good job. If they don't, I never believed in just pulling the trigger once anyway.

 

[swsig]

You might start here:
Best Choices for Self Defense Ammo

Try some of the recommended 9mm rounds, and choose the one that you shoot the most accurately with your new Glock.

 

[Steve C]

There doesn't seem to be a lot of difference in the 9mm law enforcement ammo within the same pressure type when you look at the Marshall Sannow data 9 mm +P+ Stopping Power and the good news is it all does a relatively good job. Higher velocities rate better thus short barrels are a handicap vrs the longer barrel of a full size service pistol and the best are from the +P+ ammo. The heavy weight 147gr ammo is at the bottom of the scale of standard pressure but still runs at 79% while the best standard pressure is only at 83% so is that all that significant? Even ball ammo isn't as poor a stopper as one thinks. NYC used ball ammo for years so there's plenty of data to base its effectiveness.

The MS data is a little dated and doesn't include some of the newer ammo types but they update the data as more shootings using it occur. After there's at least enough to be able to develop some idea of its effectiveness its added to the list. After all the first and only use that fits the data criteria will either be a complete one stop failure or a complete one stop success. Lots of tests on YouTube by amateurs and you can read the LEO tests done by the manufacturers so go on line and look at the data gathered by ATK for the Federals and Speer ammo they sell.

Federal HST's look great in all the YouTube expansion tests with great penetrations and expansion. Some of the older ammo does just as well but isn't as pretty expanded.

With the robust Glock 17 full size service pistol I'd recommend the time tested top of the MS list Federal 115gr 9mm +P+ (9BPLE). It can be found relatively cheap on line as surplus LEO ammo, usually around $16 bucks a box. Even with the Glock I'd limit the +P+ ammo to carry with only enough "practice" to ensure reliability and accuracy. The+P Federal HST's and Speer Gold Dots are very good but the Speers show some problems with short barrel sub compact pistols with 124 and 147gr though out of a 4"+ barrel they do very well in the on line tests. I'd pick any load or weight in +P and stick with 115gr Gold Dots or Federal HST and Hydra Shocks in any weight bullet in standard pressure ammo. All the Hornady FTX, XTP, and Critical duty expand and penetrate well from 4" or longer barrels. The cheapest ammo I saw on YouTUbe that had a good showing with reliable expansion and penetration in a short barrel 9mm was the Winchester White Box 115 gr JHP's that should do as well or better in a longer barrel.

 

[DWalt]

I'd worry a lot more about proper bullet placement than what kind of ammunition/bullet you use.

 

[moxie]

FWIW, from page 11 of the M&P owners manual:

• "Plus-P-Plus" (+P+) ammunition must not be used in Smith & Wesson firearms. This marking on the ammunition designates that it exceeds established industry standards, but the designation does not represent defined pressure limits and therefore such ammunition may vary significantly as to the pressures generated and could be DANGEROUS.

 

[Pigirondan]

Old Cop,
Leaps and bounds in technology have improved the 9mm in recent years to make it a truly worthy self defense round. The Premium rounds are generally your best bet,...... Speer 124 Plus P's, Remington Golden Sabre 124 Plus P's or Federal's HST in the 124 Plus P configuration. Additionally, the old Federal BPLE 115 Plus P Plus is still a winner as well and can be had very reasonable. SG Ammo and Laxx ammo are good internet places to obtain the aforementioned ammunition friend.

+1 for the Golden Sabre.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Many times what the LEOs use isn't the best load but the best price load. I wouldn't choose my SD ammo by what they use.

That said, I use what is most accurate in my gun. Most name brand ammo makers are using a very good bullet and most will do what they are designed to do. All of it means nothing unless you make good hits so concentrate on finding something that is accurate in your handgun.

I carry a .38 Special and depending which gun I'm carrying I use Speer GDHP ammo or the FBI Load.

 

[JJEH]

Here's a nice article that might help you decide

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=176

 

[Motorsporting]

Here are some good tests.

Handgun Self-Defense Ammunition - Ballistic Testing Data

https://www.ar15.com/ammo/project/Self_Defense_Ammo_FAQ/

 

[fyimo]

I shoot Federal Premium 9mm +P Hydra Shok JHP 124 grain in my Sig P226 9mm pistol and Federal Premium 40 S&W Hydra Shok JHP 155 grain in my Sig P226 40 S&W Pistol

 

[MMT]

Any quality bonded JHP will work (HSTs are mechanically bonded, not chemically). According to most testing standard pressure 147s seem to get the most consistent penetration through intermediate barriers. I would go for Gold Dot, HST, or Tactical Bonded (its 135gr and impossible to find). Standard pressure 147 HSTs are hard to find, the 147 +P is fine, you just don't gain anything from it, but you can actually find it which is a plus.

 

[rwsmith]

And you have NO idea......

FWIW, from page 11 of the M&P owners manual:

• "Plus-P-Plus" (+P+) ammunition must not be used in Smith & Wesson firearms. This marking on the ammunition designates that it exceeds established industry standards, but the designation does not represent defined pressure limits and therefore such ammunition may vary significantly as to the pressures generated and could be DANGEROUS.

You have NO idea how much overpressure a round has and there is no limiting cap on the pressure.

 

[fdw]

Federal HST, Corbon DPX, Gold Dot, any of these will do plus others.

I'm a 115 grain man myself...

 

[Nevada Ed]

One little note;

Make sure that new pistol gets about 200 rounds through it to
break it in before you start any of your SD test.... maybe more?

Even rifles and shotguns need to be broke in before they settle down and start to group and cycle smoothly.
My Beretta 391 12 Ga. needed WD-40 the first two weeks for it to feed the next shell in some times, when it got dry.

Good shooting with the new pistol.

 

[alwslate]

I believe that the best load at present time is the Federal 124 gr +P
HST round according to the "experts" and gel test results. So I decided
to buy some, hmmm...easier said than done so others must think it's
good also. After a few months wait sgammo.com notified me that they
had some in stock again so I quickly ordered 200 rds. Velocity out of
the short barrel of my Glock 43 of 1135 fps was a bit higher than
expected. I can say that a two ltr. plastic soft drink bottle filled with
water will give you a shower if you hit one with the HST round from
10 ft away and a couple of the bullets dug from the ground of my
back yard remind me of the Winchester Black Talon ammo hated
by the media. I don't know if the're the very best but you could do a
lot worse.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I don't want to ruffle any ones feathers but..........

I tested the 115 and the 124gr 9mm Gold Dot loads and did have..................
a failure to feed/eject with one of them.

One reason to test just more than 20 rounds to see if they will work in your weapon.

I reloaded both weights with shorter and longer OAL than the factory bullet with store bought bullets, to see if there might be an improvement, using medium and slow powders.
(Alliant powder was not used due to case volume in the short OAL test......just ball type powders were used.)

NOT !!

Speer has the correct OAL for this bullet design.

I might retest the half of a box again but right now I am happy with another companies loading.

Stay safe.

 

[WR Moore]

A lot of major departments use Gold Dot in the 124+P flavor. Others like the Federal HST.

That said, given the improvements in modern ammunition, just about anything you find by the major ammo companies will work well. You just have to put it in the right place. Look around to see what you can find locally at a decent price.

On general principles I don't buy from boutique ammo makers. Given the design specs (10 inch max penetration), I don't believe Critical Defense by Hornaday has sufficient penetration.

 

[Protected One]

A friend of mine is a police chief and he gave me (4) 50 round boxes of 9mm LE ammo because his department switched to .40S&W. Half were Gold Dot 147gr, and the other half were Winchester Ranger T, also 147gr.

 

[jimmyj]

In my area ammo is "Catch As Catch Can" with what happens to be available.
My solution is practice head shots and crotch shots.

 

[photoman]

Federal HST

 

[Doug M.]

You might start here:
Best Choices for Self Defense Ammo

Try some of the recommended 9mm rounds, and choose the one that you shoot the most accurately with your new Glock.

*
That page is based on the work of Doc Roberts, by far the leading expert in the wound ballistics field today. (And the only exception to my rule about avoiding ARFCom to avoid the soul sucking stupidity there.) Buy a bit of each of the choices that are available to you easily, test them for shootability and accuracy in your platform, pick one or two you find workable, and then buy a case (1000 round minimum) of it. Put 500 rounds through the pistol w/out a malfunction, clean to taste, lube appropriately, holster up, and drive on.