What ammo can I count on

[Nevada Ed]

Almost ANY SD ammo will work in the 5 & 6" barrel in a 9mm.
The 4" is also a good barrel length to get high fps from your ammo.

One only needs to get picky about ammo when you get down to 3.5 and 3" barrels with a 9mm pistol.
FPS will fall of quite a bit and you will need to find ammo that will work under this handicap and still achieve good results.

You can't go strictly by the fps of the ammo, since the companies design their bullets to work for the "Makeup" and design of "Their " bullets, with the correct speed to perform correctly.

One reason you will see one 115gr JHP at 1040 fps and another at 1166 fps but they both mushroom and meet all requirements needed in a SD test.

Have fun.

 

[H.J.]

I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer when it comes to ammo and hope I can prevail on you for another question. I just received the Federal 9mm Luger 115 JHP and compared it to my Remington 9mm Luger 115 JHP.

The Federal HP bullet is a tad longer than the Remington. Can you tell me why? I've fired the Remington's before but the Federal is new to me. Should I expect any difference between the two?

 

[JJEH]

When it comes to plinking and breaking in a firearm buy whatever you can get. Buy ammo with different type of bullets and different weights. This way you can see what your gun likes and what not (check with the manufacturer before you use steel case ammo).

But when it comes to self defense- and outdoor ammo I trust Buffalo Bore.

 

[IAM Rand]

Worry less about the ammo and more about placement. You will drive yourself crazy comparing weights, velocity, manufactures, etc. Any major ammo maker is good. Practice, practice, practice. Remember, just like real estate it is location, location, location.

 

[hoc9sw]

I just received the Federal 9mm Luger 115 JHP and compared it to my Remington 9mm Luger 115 JHP.

The Federal HP bullet is a tad longer than the Remington. Can you tell me why? I've fired the Remington's before but the Federal is new to me. Should I expect any difference between the two?

When you start selecting JHP for self defense, you'll want to test with what is available. I find that my weapons are very ammo-sensitive when you get to JHP. It will depend on the dynamics of the gun, and can have a lot to do with the feed ramp. I have SD ammo that works great in one gun, not so much in others.

Now, to that original question. Yes, they can and will be different. That is why they behave differently. I find the Remington UMC JHP 115 to feed great AFTER you polish the feed ramp, just as an example.

You have to find a combination that works for you, then keep watching for that ammo.

 

[H.J.]

Thanks guys, great help!

 

[gmiller0737]

I load all of My Range Ammo,CCW ammo is Federal in Most but Somw Winchester & Remington,.380 I haven't purchased Dies yet so Range Ammo is Winchester White Box mostly have also used PMC with no issues,I won't use any steel case ammo.

 

[W.E.G.]

Ammo availability can be hit-or-miss if you are only buying one box at a time at the discount store.

I am thankful that my situation allows me to employ a better strategy for ammo supply than having to stop at the store every time on the way to the range.

I like Federal HST for 9mm defensive ammo.
Google the videos, and decide for yourself.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Two words: "FREEDOM MUNITIONS"

Buy some 115GR or 124GR hp (probably will be X-treme bullets) reloads for practice & some of their NEW ammo with the excellent Hornady XTP bullets for carry and/or home defense...

At least until you learn more about ammunition?

Cheers!

 

[UrbanResQ]

I use CorBon DPX 115 +p. Runs fine through my 9mm shield and compact. Speer Gold Dots work well also. For practice... Anything I can find these little guns will eat anything.

 

[chief38]

Hard to beat Speer Gold Dots or HST's.

 

[MajorD]

What ever you choose ( in times of Limited availability this can be a viscious cycle) always run a few mags ( at least- more is of course better) to make sure your gun works with the specific defensive ammo you choose. Do NOT bet that because it runs fine in a friends identical model does nothing to prove it will run in yours.
Odd example but When getting loaded up to roll into Iraq ( I have trouble imagining it was nearly 12 years ago now for me) they issued everyone British made nato spec 5.56. About a week and several hundred miles later they had all the troops issued M4 carbines exchange it for US made ammo. Something with reports of the ammo not running in the carbine length barrel and gas system. I shudder to think what could of happened if we had gotten into a protracted fight at the time!