EDC Ammo?

[Kizer]

What are you carrying for ammo? Looking for ideas and trying to find the "best bullet" for my 9mm. I carry two mags, one in my gun is Federal 147 Hydra-Shok and my backup mag is FMJ 115 home reload.

 

[Mister X]

Corbon DPX 115 Gr. 9mm +P

 

[Valmet]

In reality, any new mfg SD ammo will do just fine for most scenarios and it largely comes down to personal preference. I've carried 9mm (Glock 19) for the past few years and regularly carry Remington Golden Saber 124-gr +P however I occasionally carry Cor-Bon 125-gr +P or Winchester Ranger 127-gr +P+. I certainly wouldn't shy away from other names like Federal HST or Speer Gold Dot but I'm a creature of habit. If I ever have to use my weapon in self-defense, it really isn't going to matter much to my target the type of HP I was carrying.

 

[Class III]

If I'm carrying a 9mm (Rarely) it's loaded with Federal HST 124 Gr.

A few years ago I "Walked" a HST slug up to a yodel dog out of a BHP from about 75 yards. One word. DEVISTATING.

Class III

 

[Doc Hollywood]

I carry drt 85 grain terminal shock ammo i saw it carried by some contractors in Afghanistan used in g17's I shot some of it into the swimming pool and then some gel it is devastating and relatively inexpensive.

 

[V0OBWxZS16]

Service Caliber Handgun Duty and Self-Defense Ammo by Dr. Gary Roberts

The following loads all demonstrate outstanding terminal performance and can be considered acceptable for duty/self-defense use:
Barnes XPB 115 gr JHP (copper bullet)
Federal Tactical 124 gr JHP (LE9T1)
Federal HST 124 gr +P JHP (P9HST3)
Remington Golden Saber bonded 124 gr +P JHP (GSB9MMD)
Speer Gold Dot 124 gr +P JHP
Winchester Ranger-T 124 gr +P JHP (RA9124TP)
Winchester 124 gr +P bonded JHP (RA9BA)
Winchester Ranger-T 127 gr +P+ JHP (RA9TA)
Federal Tactical 135 gr +P JHP (LE9T5)
Hornady Critical Duty 135 gr +P PT
Federal HST 147 gr JHP (P9HST2)
Remington Golden Saber 147 gr JHP (GS9MMC)
Speer Gold Dot 147 gr JHP
Winchester Ranger-T 147 gr JHP (RA9T)
Winchester 147 gr bonded JHP (RA9B/Q4364)

I carry drt 85 grain terminal shock ammo i saw it carried by some contractors in Afghanistan used in g17's I shot some of it into the swimming pool and then some gel it is devastating and relatively inexpensive.

The DRT tests I found show it to fall apart and significantly under-penetrate.

 

[Arik]

Speer Gold Dots 124gr +P

DRT is not that good. They fail more often than they work. No idea why contractors were using it unless the company was given them to test or at a big discount

I'd go with what Dr. Roberts suggests. He has decades of experience

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...pJGAAg&usg=AFQjCNFfXWSEdgE_w-GrMgL14CXppXQtEQ

 

[murphydog]

The list above has good choices. It has to function 100% in your gun and show acceptable accuracy for you. (Plus you have to find it for sale, but that seems less of a problem than a year ago.)

Some would argue against carrying handloads in your defense gun (a whole other topic), but with the many effective expanding bullet loads available personally I would carry those instead of FMJ.

 

[MichiganScott]

Question for the OP - what's the theory behind carrying a back-up magazine of 115gr FMJ when the gun is loaded with good JHP self defense bullets?

 

[martybee]

Question for the OP - what's the theory behind carrying a back-up magazine of 115gr FMJ when the gun is loaded with good JHP self defense bullets?

Yes! Why carry a spare mag loaded with range ammo?

mb

 

[bigwheelzip]

Good ballistic gel video reviews on Ammo Quest. Last I looked, Federal 147 HST was top, followed by 124 HST.

 

[KSDeputy]

Federal 165 gr. HydraShok .45acp. Federal 90 gr HydraShok .380, and Federal HydraShok 129 gr. .38spl + P. I like Federal personal defense ammo.

 

[IAM Rand]

I carry the CorBon 125 gr DPX or the Federal Vital Shok 140

 

[Kizer]

Yes! Why carry a spare mag loaded with range ammo?

mb

Because I haven't bought anything else yet. Lol. Going to change out here soon

 

[Kizer]

I'm a fan of Federal and PMC

 

[Jim1392]

I carry Speer Gold Dot 124 grain HP's in my Shield. With a spare magazine loaded with the same in my weak side pocket.

 

[Doc Hollywood]

Umm.... Not that good eh? You are correct in that they Dont OVER penetrate, they only sink 10 -12 inches. I have not only seen pretty salty dudes singing its praises but also tested it myself and seen wounds caused by it. I am a registered nurse from Oakland CA, and an ex army combat medic with 3 tours in Afghanistan so I have seen plenty of bullet wounds. Like I said When I'm carrying a 9mm its DRT 85 grain ammunition or maybe 80 grain double tap.

 

[Steve C]

I carry police surplus ammo as it is some of the most tested ammo in both lab and real street use. Have a wide variety but currently my Glock 19 is loaded with Federal BPLE 115gr +P+ HP. The new HST test better than the older Hydra Shocks but the Hydra Shock is still decent ammo.

A lot depends upon the barrel length of your defense pistol. The short 3" barrels of the micro 9's loose a lot of velocity over the 4" and longer service size handguns and that affects bullet performance. For a short barrel pistol do a search on Youtube for ShootingTheBull410 and watch some of his 9mm tests.

 

[KLYDE]

Federal HST 124 gr standard has received some great testing reviews. I reckon it compares favorably to any of the others. Use it in both my SP101 and my Springfield EMP.

 

[CoMF]

Back when I still carried a G19, my choice was Winchester RA9T. When I sold the Glock and got a M36, it was Remington Express LSWCHP. Nowadays, it's Speer GDSB.

Speer GD 124 gr. +P and the aforementioned Ranger-T are my personal all-time favorites in 9mm.