Is older 115gr 9mm OK for CCW?

[Dogguy]

The 9mm has always had a reputation for over penetration. Justly warranted.

Except after the Miami shootout when the FBI decided the 115 gr Silvertip HP didn't penetrate enough for them.

Over penetration...under penetration? Which is it? Maybe it's just over expectation in the search for the magic bullet.

 

[flop-shank]

I don't think that the 9mm has any more overpenetration issues than any other caliber. Overpenetration is a bullet design issue, not a caliber issue. Most any cartridge in FMJ form is a severe overpenetrator.

 

[tpd223]

The 9BP was what I carried back in the day, but it has been surpassed by more modern ammo.

I'd look at the 115gr Gold Dot, decent ammo in the same weight and ballistic range with a better bullet.

For any gun that has trouble feeding anything but ball ammo I have found that the Cor Bon PowerBall works rather well.

 

[Faulkner]

So, with all of these bullets going downrange and seemingly never hitting anyone, it would appear to me that overpenetration is just not much of an issue, is it?

 

[kci-mia]

I hope older 115gr JHP ammo will still work.
I keep 1k rounds of UMC 115gr JHP (which is same as the old Remington 115gr Hydra-Shok JHP) ammo in my locker for "just in case".
This was the duty ammo of the LAPD back in the later 80's and early 90's.
It worked pretty well back then and I expect it will work pretty well now.

 

[tpd223]

So, with all of these bullets going downrange and seemingly never hitting anyone, it would appear to me that overpenetration is just not much of an issue, is it?

It can be a very serious issue, since folks have been wounded or killed by bullets that passed through bad guys first.

 

[tpd223]

I hope older 115gr JHP ammo will still work.
I keep 1k rounds of UMC 115gr JHP (which is same as the old Remington 115gr Hydra-Shok JHP) ammo in my locker for "just in case".
This was the duty ammo of the LAPD back in the later 80's and early 90's.
It worked pretty well back then and I expect it will work pretty well now.

Respectfully, Hydrashock was and is made by Federal. LAPD never carried Federal ammo.

They did carry the 115gr Remington load, but it did not do so well in real life. This bullet tends to fail to expand in the non +P loading, and breaks up on windshields which causes underpenetration in glass barrier scenarios.

I'd file this load under "probably better than 9mm ball ammo", but it wouldn't be my first choice.

 

[4inch357]

Go to firearmstactical.com and do a whole of reading.