9mm carry loads

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Antihero

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What's everyone using for 9mm these days? I haven't had to pick a load for a new 9mm in awhile. Honey Badger round seems interesting, especially for winter time carry
 
Standby for about 1,000 different answers. My advice is to pick a hollow point from a name brand company, run a couple of boxes through your carry gun to make sure it functions and let it go at that. If you want to be doubly cautious, from a legal perspective, find out what your local law enforcement carries and carry those same rounds if they function in your gun. That way if you are ever in a self defense shooting and asked why you carry that round you can state that if the local LEO carries it then it must be adequate for self defense. From that legal defense standpoint I would never carry anything like "zombie rounds", "dead right there", etc.
 
There are plenty of good choices available. I bought a bunch of Speer Gold Dots on sale a few years back, enough that I'll probably never run out.
 
There are several good rounds out there. I'm using Federal 124 grain HST +P. I would also be ok with Ranger 127 grain +P, Speer Gold Dot, SIG Elite, or Remington Golden Sabre.
 
I went to the 150 gr HST Micro load for my LC9. My duty G-34 uses Ranger +P+ 127 gr SXT.

As was stated, you’ll get lots of ideas. Find a reputable JHP load from any of the major manufacturers, shoot enough to be sure it’s accurate and confirm the reliability in your gun(s), If it’s carried everyday or left in a car for long periods I would swap it out for fresh ammo every year or so and you’ll be well protected. :thumbup:

Stay safe!
 
I am hoping for a million different replies. I loved ProLoad 135+p, and so did my p85, but they aren't around anymore.
 
I try not to overthink this. I use what hollow point is available from a major American company (Remington, Federal, Winchester, Hornady, etc.) that will fire reliably in the pistol. Since my 9mm pistols for defense are a series of Glocks and a S&W shield, reliability is a non-issue. Therefore, I mostly concern myself with shot placement. I do this by firing no less than 100 rounds of cheap 9mm a week in realistic drills, after I fire 100 rounds of 22 LR in the same drills.
 
The Federal HST 124+p seems like a good option, not hugely expensive too which is great since I want to run a good amount thru my gun to make sure it likes it
 
I love watching ammo comparisons, like to the point of ridiculousness, but reached a point when researching my own 9mm ammo decision that I couldn't watch anymore. As noted by most of the previous posts, almost any mainstream production HP round is going to do what you want it to do. You just need to verify it will work in your particular gun. I found that the HST offerings, in any flavor, consistently ranked near or at the top of the comparisons I watched, so I split the difference and went with 124 gr.
 
My current 9mm carry is 147gr HST. Turns out to be the most accurate in my PPS and hopefully my incoming Q4. I like the ballistic tests I have seen as well.
 
I am following this thread closely. I have found that my brand of carry ammo isn't as accurate as I once thought. My hand loads are more accurate & consistent.

I will need to get a couple different flavors & go back to the range... dammit!
 
I am following this thread closely. I have found that my brand of carry ammo isn't as accurate as I once thought. My hand loads are more accurate & consistent.

I will need to get a couple different flavors & go back to the range... dammit!

I discovered that was especially true in my M&P40c. I had been carrying the Hornady Critical Defense 165gr, then I actually did some longer range accuracy testing and they were horrible in that particular pistol. Like 8" at 25yds horrible. I use handloads with Speer Gold Dots and Hornady XTPs in my 9mm and .40 S&W carry pistols. Yes, I know the "experts" advise against it, but I like to know that if I actually have to fire my weapon, that it will be as accurate as possible in that moment. 2" or better at 25yds is my criteria. Yes, most self-defense shootings are at shorter distances, but what if the one time I have to actually fire my pistol and it's in an open public place 75' away? The last public shooting we had in my area, the bad guy walked into a restaurant I frequent and killed the manager. The table I normally sit at was about 60' away.
 
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