Recommended non-plus P 9mm bullet weight for SD
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Erich
Member
Depends on the gun and how it shoots them. I use Speer Gold Dot 147-grainers in some guns and Federal Classic 115-gr JHPs in others. I chrono the rounds out of the specific guns in question and then make a determination of what to carry based on how the rounds perform (accuracy, velocity, reliability) in that gun.
I tend to carry the heavy standard-pressure bullets (which I tend to think of as stubby .38 Spl +Ps for semiautos
) in shorter-barreled guns (like my 3" RAMI - I use these heavy bullets in back-up mags supporting the +P 124-grainers I ordinarily carry) and the 115-grainers in more delicate 4"-barreled guns (like my a Luger or my Star BM, tho I think the Star's barrel might be a titch shorter than 4" actually).
I've never found a gun that did not shoot the Federal Classic 115-gr JHP (the "9BP") loading reliably and accurately. My Star shoots them at a decent velocity (barely under 1200 fps), as well. This round is old tech (from the '80s), but decent old tech that gained a fair amount of respect "back in the day."
The modern 147-grain bullets (such as the Winchester SXTs or the Speer Gold Dots) should expand decently at the modest velocities these rounds generate - I recall that was not always said to be the case.
Anyway, either of these standard-pressure loadings would be fine for defensive purposes. If I were going to pick one standard-pressure loading to just recommend across the board, though, it would be the Federal 9BP 115-gr JHP. Accurate, reliable, decent and not too hard to find (Google is your friend).
Good luck with your shooting.
I tend to carry the heavy standard-pressure bullets (which I tend to think of as stubby .38 Spl +Ps for semiautos
) in shorter-barreled guns (like my 3" RAMI - I use these heavy bullets in back-up mags supporting the +P 124-grainers I ordinarily carry) and the 115-grainers in more delicate 4"-barreled guns (like my a Luger or my Star BM, tho I think the Star's barrel might be a titch shorter than 4" actually).I've never found a gun that did not shoot the Federal Classic 115-gr JHP (the "9BP") loading reliably and accurately. My Star shoots them at a decent velocity (barely under 1200 fps), as well. This round is old tech (from the '80s), but decent old tech that gained a fair amount of respect "back in the day."
The modern 147-grain bullets (such as the Winchester SXTs or the Speer Gold Dots) should expand decently at the modest velocities these rounds generate - I recall that was not always said to be the case.
Anyway, either of these standard-pressure loadings would be fine for defensive purposes. If I were going to pick one standard-pressure loading to just recommend across the board, though, it would be the Federal 9BP 115-gr JHP. Accurate, reliable, decent and not too hard to find (Google is your friend).
Good luck with your shooting.
Last edited:
Jim Watson
Member
Ditto the Federal 9BP.
No doubt there are more modern and perhaps more effective rounds, but I know this one feeds in every gun I have tried it in. I will just soldier on with it instead of going to the trouble and expense of testing other brands and styles.
No doubt there are more modern and perhaps more effective rounds, but I know this one feeds in every gun I have tried it in. I will just soldier on with it instead of going to the trouble and expense of testing other brands and styles.
arkdweller22
Member
I've been able to evaluate the Hornady Critical Defense 115Gr. load.
I shot them through a CZ-75, Glock 19 and Rohrbaugh R9S. Reliable through and through; no feed failures, extraction failures, etc.
Very accurate through all three pistols and clean burning. I am very happy with it.
In fact it has become my carry load in the Rohrbaugh. The Glock and CZ are fed +P for carry...
I clocked the velocity within spec:
~1150 FPS through the CZ,
~1130 through the Glock
~1050 through the Rohrbaugh
Readings were taken 4600' above sea level, temp 55F, humidity 35%
If you must use standard pressure loads in your 9mm, that's the way to go (for me at least).
The key is: Can you get them without having to wait 'til 2010! Thankfully I bought several boxes when they were available.
Regards,
Arkdweller
I shot them through a CZ-75, Glock 19 and Rohrbaugh R9S. Reliable through and through; no feed failures, extraction failures, etc.
Very accurate through all three pistols and clean burning. I am very happy with it.
In fact it has become my carry load in the Rohrbaugh. The Glock and CZ are fed +P for carry...
I clocked the velocity within spec:
~1150 FPS through the CZ,
~1130 through the Glock
~1050 through the Rohrbaugh
Readings were taken 4600' above sea level, temp 55F, humidity 35%
If you must use standard pressure loads in your 9mm, that's the way to go (for me at least).
The key is: Can you get them without having to wait 'til 2010! Thankfully I bought several boxes when they were available.
Regards,
Arkdweller
Groo01
Member
Groo here
For a non-+p I would try the Winchester win-clean 105 gr non lead flatpoint.
AKA the New Jerrsey soft point....
For a non-+p I would try the Winchester win-clean 105 gr non lead flatpoint.
AKA the New Jerrsey soft point....
My 40-year-old T-series Browning High Power is loaded with the standard pressure version of Speer's 124gr Gold Dots (23618). Stephen Camp alerted me to this round, which is used by the New York Transit Police (the NYPD uses the +p version).
Cordially, Jack
Cordially, Jack
Lucky Scott
Member
Federal Premium 125 grain nyclad HP!
Spotteddog
Member
I'm currently running what Jay Dubya's using.
Because the 147's Erich discussed have become so spotty for availability.
In fact depending on where, when and who you can find it through you may be forced into running any or all of the above at some time?
Because the 147's Erich discussed have become so spotty for availability.
In fact depending on where, when and who you can find it through you may be forced into running any or all of the above at some time?
safearm
US Veteran
Speer Gold Dot 124 grain. You can get it non +P, +P, and +P Short barrel. The ballistics for the +P from a 4 inch barrel and the +P SB are exactly the same. I've carried the non +P and +P interchangeably; I frankly can't tell the difference between the two.
Erich
Member
Safearm wrote:
I use the +P SB in my RAMI, and it chronos significantly faster from the RAMI's 3" tube than does the standard +P. (I think the difference was 1185 fps vs. like 1115 or something like that.) FWIW - my thought is that Speer got it right on this one.
Which all leads back to my admonition in the first reply that one should really chrono various loads in the gun in question to determine what it performs best with. Not just velocity, but feeding reliability and accuracy, of course.
I use the +P SB in my RAMI, and it chronos significantly faster from the RAMI's 3" tube than does the standard +P. (I think the difference was 1185 fps vs. like 1115 or something like that.) FWIW - my thought is that Speer got it right on this one.
Which all leads back to my admonition in the first reply that one should really chrono various loads in the gun in question to determine what it performs best with. Not just velocity, but feeding reliability and accuracy, of course.
safearm
US Veteran
After re-reading my statement, I realized I should have said that the ballistics for the +P load from a 4 inch barrel are exactly the same as the +P SB from a 3 inch barrel.
Speer has the velocity and energy charts posted on the ATK/LE website.
Erich is absolutely right; the cartridge is only PART of the equation. A multitude of other factors go with ammo selection to determine which load is right for you.
Erich
Member
I'm really impressed with what Speer has done with that round, Safearm. Because of the way their other rounds work, I sort of trust them to do it right with the 124-gr standard-pressure round as well. Good recommendation.
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