Home defense ammo for the SD9VE
- Thread starter samert111
- Start date
bp231986
Member
Currently using Gold Dot 124gr +p
blueridgeman
Member
Make sure it feeds reliably
I have an SD9VE, along with a couple of Springfield striker fired pistols.
As I'm sure you're aware, the SD9VE is a budget pistol. Mine does not feed reliably with hollow points. FMJ rounds are fine. With JHP's, every once in a while, a round will fail to go into battery. Not what you want in a self defense gun!
Soooooo... I load it with powerball ammo. These are basically hollow points with polymer inserts in the hollow point. They feed like FMJ ammo and are *supposed* to expand like hollow points.
You need to invest some $$ at the range by running a couple boxes of your choice of self defense ammo to make sure it feeds reliably in your gun.
I have an SD9VE, along with a couple of Springfield striker fired pistols.
As I'm sure you're aware, the SD9VE is a budget pistol. Mine does not feed reliably with hollow points. FMJ rounds are fine. With JHP's, every once in a while, a round will fail to go into battery. Not what you want in a self defense gun!
Soooooo... I load it with powerball ammo. These are basically hollow points with polymer inserts in the hollow point. They feed like FMJ ammo and are *supposed* to expand like hollow points.
You need to invest some $$ at the range by running a couple boxes of your choice of self defense ammo to make sure it feeds reliably in your gun.
mesaman
Member
My money is spent on reloading the 9mm. My choice, "Berry's Bullets 9mm RN with either 4.0 grains of Bullseye or 4.5 of Winchester 231. Haven't had to pull down on anyone and hope not to. Targets and a few small predators is all I have shot, hundreds of rounds in a EAA Witness, Walther PPK, and a Browning Hi-Power. Prefer to shoot the Browning or the Witness and their characteristics are very similar. The Walther was my backup weapon during law enforcement years.
Capt Crunch
Member
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You should be having no issues whatsoever with hollowpoints, if you are then you may want to have the pistol serviced.
Dsklink
Member
Gold dot, gold dot, gold dot...
Model 15-4ever
Member
1. Pick a hollow point round that is availability in quantity and at a price that you can practice with and test for reliability. This is generally quite a bit more ammo than a couple of 20rd boxes.
2. Learn to shoot.
You can split hairs about projectiles all day long but for the most part the hollow point rounds perform pretty much the same for home defense - an unarmored frontal attacker. Look at the permanent wound cavities - not enough difference to make a difference. You don't have automobile glass propped up inside your home do you? Not shooting thru car doors?
If the choice were 40 rounds of the latest and greatest super-marketed hollow point round, or 500 rounds of ole classic federal 9BP 115 grain JHP… I recommend you select the latter.
2. Learn to shoot.
You can split hairs about projectiles all day long but for the most part the hollow point rounds perform pretty much the same for home defense - an unarmored frontal attacker. Look at the permanent wound cavities - not enough difference to make a difference. You don't have automobile glass propped up inside your home do you? Not shooting thru car doors?
If the choice were 40 rounds of the latest and greatest super-marketed hollow point round, or 500 rounds of ole classic federal 9BP 115 grain JHP… I recommend you select the latter.
brchambersjr
US Veteran
Who DOESN'T have auto glass in there house? Pfftt.
scat530
Member
Corbon DPX and Federal BPLE both 115gr.
raymo2u
Member
Remarks about over penetration about Critical dutys 9mm 135grn +p-it depends on barrel length. My carry guns are 3" and 4" so there would be a loss in velocity and penetration, making it a perfect carry load. My home defense guns with 4" and 5" barrels, make for higher velocity where drywall and other materials may get in the way of shots at night. Plus the low to no flash helps quite a bit, if youve fired at a pitchblack room you'll understand what i mean.
Its a great round and i recomend it for defense of any kind
Its a great round and i recomend it for defense of any kind
Austin Cole
Member
For my home defense I have an sd40ve.I use MagSafe #40d defender
Trenchcoat Vampire
Member
I chose to put ~ 100 of the GS 124g (GS9MMB, non +P) through my 9VE to make sure it "liked" them (not that it hasn't liked everything so far) and now have 2 specific mags full of them that I set aside for HD duty-only...no taking to the range or anything. I chose the GS9MMBs mainly because I can buy them nearby, I don't see a need for the over-pressured variety, and they aren't too expensive here. Most importantly, I'm relatively certain they are as good as many modern defensive 9mm rounds or close enough. I'd probably use the 147g GS if more places nearby carried them but too many stores seem to think they are "boutique" ammo or something and when they do, they are way overpriced. Always choose HD ammo you wouldn't have to get off the Internet to take days for you to get if you can help it is my way of thinking, and if you must...make sure its what you want and get a crapload all at once.
nelmar
Member
I still gloat about the fantastic price on the SD9VE, but more importantly, it is an impeccable piece that functions flawlessly. As for home defense ammo, I shot every kind of ammo, cheap and expensive ---all of them work without any problems. But, I finally settled for Walmart's hollow point 9mm. I'm not concerned about stopping power as I have 15 rounds to neutralize the threat. What more important is where the round will land; hence, a hollow point. Shoot your gun often and it will tell you which Brand/type of ammo it likes.
Shorter barrels often mean, with JHP ammo, less expansion, which means MORE penetration, not less.
Many of the rounds being suggested, such as the Federal BPLE, have a proven history of failing to expand when going through a heavy clothing barrier.
philevans
Member
i use 135 gr critical duty in carry and home defense.
concerned with overpenetration with lighter loads.
concerned with overpenetration with lighter loads.
in order of preference
1 Hornady critical duty 135 grain +P
2 Hornady tap FPD 147 grain +P ( my absolute favorite load in all calibers, particularly the .45 230 grain +P version this would be # 1 but local stores seem to have dumped it in favor of the Critical duty)
3 Winchester PDX 1 147 grain.
That is the order of my list based on what is available to me locally.
As the post above stated anything heavy for caliber and proven to expand.
Expansion is the whole point of HP ammo but sometimes does not penetrate deep enough to meet standards. This is where the heavy for caliber part comes into play as heavier rounds tend to penetrate better even after expansion.
1 Hornady critical duty 135 grain +P
2 Hornady tap FPD 147 grain +P ( my absolute favorite load in all calibers, particularly the .45 230 grain +P version this would be # 1 but local stores seem to have dumped it in favor of the Critical duty)
3 Winchester PDX 1 147 grain.
That is the order of my list based on what is available to me locally.
As the post above stated anything heavy for caliber and proven to expand.
Expansion is the whole point of HP ammo but sometimes does not penetrate deep enough to meet standards. This is where the heavy for caliber part comes into play as heavier rounds tend to penetrate better even after expansion.
