M&P 9mm ammo

[Ram48]

Ok I searched the forum and was not able to find any information, I'd bet its here but my limited computer ability was not successful finding it.
(a link would help)

I am about to buy a 9mm S&W most likely a 9c. Is there any ammo I should stay away from?
I looked at the bulk / discount ammo sites and there seems to be a lot of off brand ammo at appealing prices.
Any in put from actual users would be great.
The second question is what is the favorite self defense round for the M&P9
Thanks
Ray

 

[Badkarma 1]

The top load seems to be the Speer Gold Dot 124gr.+P load, followed by the Winchester 147gr. Ranger-T and Federal 147gr. HST. The new Win 124gr.+P shows a lot of promise too.
If stay away from the steel case stuff and the +P+ stuff! And for practice I've heard that the Speer Lawman 124gr. ball mimics the Gold Dot load in recoil and report, as does the Win. 124 NATO round. For the 147s Federal American Eagle copies the HST. Dale

 

[B.Reid]

I have heard that they don't like the 115 grain bullets, is this true?

 

[Lost Lake]

I will echo Badkarma's response.
I use the Gold Dot 124 for carry, and I got a good deal online for a 1000 of the Lawman 124.

My 9c doesn't care what is in it, (see my admission to running a magazine of .380 ammo through it by mistake ) it just runs on and on....

115 rounds may recoil a bit more than the heavier rounds. You can use a little faster burning powder with a lighter round which is a bit snappier. I've never noticed a real difference though. Not like a .40 or anything.

 

[a_keith13]

I am new to gun ownership and have had my M&P 9 for about 2 months. Blazer brass 115 grain and Remington 115 grain FMJ loads have been working fine on the range. I had one misfire with the winchester white box 115 grain. I have probably put 600 rounds through my gun with the one misfire being the only issue.

I am looking into the self defense rounds also. I have heard good things about the Speer Gold Dot 124 +p, and the guy at the local gun shop told me to check out the Hornady Critical Defense (or Zombie rounds, same thing just different color right?).

 

[Lost Lake]

I wouldn't carry Zombie Killer rounds in my self defense gun.

I can just imagine trying to explain that to a jury. Even if I said they are the same bullets but they are 'cute' and 'fun' (which they are) I can expect a prosecutor would ask if I thought carrying a deadly weapon is 'fun' and shooting someone is 'cute'.

I'll stick with standard police issued ammo or something very close for carrying...

 

[fiasconva]

My M&P eats anything I shoot in it. Most of my practice loads are the 115 grn, which are the easiest to find. However, the 124 grn self-defense loads are much more accurate in my M&P. Every gun is different but that's the way it goes in my M&P.