Good home defense ammo in 9mm for older (70s) gun.

The size of the 9mm pistol and the .40 pistol is the same. The barrel of the .40 is therefore somewhat thinner.

And a Beretta from the 1970s is a modern weapon, not an antique. IIRC, the first Federal 9BPLE 115 GR +P+ was issued to the Illinois State police in the mid to late 1970s.

I recommend 124 gr Gold Dots. They are available everywhere, are very accurate, feed reliably, and have a great reputation for expansion.

Just a word of warning... I have several Star BMs and had quite a hard time finding JHPs that would feed in them. If you want to be able to use in both pistols, I had my best luck with Remington HTP ammo for the Star.

Wyman

Another vote for HST here. Every weight and pressure they're sold in has a good track record.
My close #2 is Gold Dots. Same reason as the HST, just a little older, but I've found that the one thing 147gr HST wouldn't feed well in, 124gr Gold Dots didn't give it any problem.
From there my choices would be PDX1 or 9BPLE, but those are +P.
And there are other good options, I just don't have experience with them all.

If you ever had feeding problems with anything, I can recommend trying the 124gr Gold-Dots and then 9BPLE. They seem to have a shape close to FMJ (admittedly nipped off from the tip) that often feeds well. I used to recommend Cor-Bon Pow'R'Ball for that, but I haven't seen those lately.

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For the 9mm I buy defensive ammo to use for defense and less expensive ball ammo for practice. All you really need is 4 to 5 boxes of defense ammo, enough to fill at least two magazines. I shoot up enough of new defensive ammo to make sure it feeds reliably and hits where aimed. After that the defensive ammo only gets shot up when something new and better comes along or it gets old enough to rotate out. I never felt the difference in the ballistics of ball vrs JHP's or 115gr vrs 147 gr to be significant enough in point of aim/impact on paper to warrant using defensive ammo for practice specially at the range a defensive shooting will likely occur.

There are lots of good defensive brands and loading's available. What the police use is some of the most tested ammo available. You can get either civilian packaging in 20/25 round boxes in standard pressure or 50 round boxes law enforcement surplus in standard pressure, +P or +P+ usually at on line ammo supply stores at a lower per round cost. Lots of information and tests on YouTube to give you an idea of how well they work. Do a search for tnoutdoors9, ShootingTheBull410, Paul Harrell; Lucky Gunner Ammo

I carry nothing but Winchester White Box 147gr. JHPs.

They're accurate, reliable, reasonably priced, and test well for both penetration and expansion.

I won't touch anything under 124gr.

Mizz Maddie, A JHP factory round that I have used for years is the Federal 115 grain "9BP". It is standard pressure, and feeds reliably in all of the many types of semi-auto pistols I've used it in over the years. It does not utilize the very latest bullet technology, but is a JHP, has proven very accurate in my guns, and is reasonably priced from some of the online ammunition sources. Federal also has some higher velocity loads, the XM9001 and 9BPLE, that use the same bullet. I've experienced excellent reliability and accuracy with these rounds, but you indicate you're leery of +P and +P+, so the standard pressure Federal 9BP might be worthy of your consideration...

https://www.targetsportsusa.com/fed...ain-jacketed-hollow-point-xm9001-p-57630.aspx

What he said!

Order two cases. It’s so cheap you can practice with it.

It’s not designer ammo. It may not be the best. But, it’s the same family as the Federal 9BP and 9BPLE. A little hotter that the first, but not +P+. And, that makes it “good”. For me, good is enough.

Good track record. Fantastic feeding in most guns.

Full size european designed pistols for 9x19 parabellum round were designed to handle the 9mm nato loadings in most cases that is about a +P loading. I suspect you can fire what ever you want in your pistol. If the pistol has been extensively fired for 1,000's of rounds, than maybe do the replacement recoil springs and the locking block that someone has recommended. In my glock I use +P+ for carry and what ever for training purposes.

I have carried Federal Hydrashok in my 92fs and 92fs compact for years.

They cycle good and that is the most important thing next to availability. I have used the Federal HST as they are
becoming available too.

Mizz Maddie,

I have owned several of the BERETTA 92S and they are a great bargain of a pistol. That said, I avoid using +P or +P+ in them. As far as I can find, the 92S was NOT +P RATED. That is really not a problem in my opinion.
I use REMINGTON 115 grain jhp (jacketed hollow point) in 100 round boxes. They are cheap enough at approximately $30.00 a box in 100 round boxes at WALMART.
You can also use the REMINGTON 115 grain ammo for self defense. It is not as good as the premium loads listed below, but from the 4.9 inch barrel of a BERETTA 92S, the bullet will expand and the REMINGTON bullet is a 100 % reliable feeder in every gun I have tried it, except for a SIG P6, which is notorious for this.

For carry ammo, I use FEDERAL HST 124 grain jhp. This is a proven load (in police use) and you can buy 50 round boxes, also for about $30.00 a box, if you shop the internet. Both REMINGTON Golden Sabre and SPEER Gold Dot are also good choices, but usually more expensive unless you can find 50 round boxes.

I found the old style, narrow sights, one sided safety and the "heel" magazine release buttons of the 92S to be little odd, but found the gun will shoot well and very reliably.

Jim

I am adding my vote for 124 Gold Dots.

First a 1970s production firearm from a quality manufacturer is not what I consider an "old gun". I have a 1963 production S&W that routinely sees carry. Within the last 10 years I have carried a 1921 production S&W.
Second European ammo is hotter, in general, than American ammo. I do believe your Beretta was designed with NATO ammo in mind, which is about the same as American +P.
Put in new springs and shoot whatever functions 100% and has consignment accuracy.

KevininPa said:

Stephen Camp was a big fan of Federal 9BP for older guns. Shoots well out of my FEG High Power and Astra A70.

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I still miss that fellow.

Federal Syntech Defense 138gr about $12 to $13 per box of 20.

Plenty have already gave you ammo advice so I won't add anything to that. I will say that 92 you have will hold up fine with any modern factory ammo.

Mizz Maddie said:

My bedside handgun is a Beretta 92S made in 1979 and it's a great shooter. I'd like to find some dedicated home defense rounds that I can keep on hand but also practice with at the range, maybe something in sjhp. I'm leery about using +P or +P+ with this gun though it would probably be fine. I also have a Star BM for which I'd like to use the same ammo. Thanks for any input you may have!

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Being an older design, I'd say choose a fairly traditional bullet profile. I think the old Federal 115 grain JHP (9BP) would feed fine... If you can find them. I'd try Remington Golden Sabers first though, they're well designed and have a good reputation for feeding like FMJ. My dad's surplus P35 will only feed FMJ and Golden Sabers reliably.

Mustangowner said:

Being an older design, I'd say choose a fairly traditional bullet profile. I think the old Federal 115 grain JHP (9BP) would feed fine... If you can find them. I'd try Remington Golden Sabers first though, they're well designed and have a good reputation for feeding like FMJ. My dad's surplus P35 will only feed FMJ and Golden Sabers reliably.

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Alternative to Winchester is RTP9MM1.