115gr. JHP 9mm out of a 3" barrel pistol....worth the cost??

[saturno_v]

I usually use the Remington 115gr. JHP with my Kel Tec P-11 as defense ammo.
They are not significantly much more expensive than FMJ from the same brand.

I did never run any test on expansion/effectiveness.

Wht do you think?? They are worth the cost difference?? I read some mixed review for this ammo on Midwayusa, someone claim that the bullet did not expand that much even out of a carbine barrel....

Any thoughts/experience to share on the matter?? Should I not bother buying expanding ammo when is intended to be shot out of such a short barrel??

I'm not convinced that $50 a pop for 20 rounds of superwondermagicbullets would serve me much better either....the reason I did like the Remington JHP is because the cost differential from the FMJ is reasonable....

 

[Weedy]

You should go on youtube and watch some of the 9mm ammo tests by tnoutdoors9. I thought about using WWB hollow points, or the Federal Classic hollow points because I figured whats the difference? I know he is just one guy doing his own tests, but he does a great job (you just have to watch him) and his tests seem to show a lot of the older style hollowpoints clog up and act like FMJ. I like Golden Saber and most of his tests of it show it expanding well even after 4 layers of denim. ANYWAY, it helped me a lot in my decision. I also kind of think that no matter what ammo you're using, a few good hits to center mass will stop most attackers...but I still like Golden Sabers!

 

[kmbrman]

In my personal test of JHPs, I've found Gold Dot JHP 115 gr. expand well from the 3.46'' barrel of a Glock 26. when fired into gallon water jugs. The 147 JHP Hornady XTP also does well.

 

[XxBulletBendeRXx]

+ 1 on the you tube vids from tnoutdoors9. He does have great videos.. Anyhow i too would go with the golden sabers for cost savings.
But on another note its a good practice to use what your local Police use. That way you dont have to worry about the DA or some money hungry Civil suit to come after you for using ammo other than the local LEO's, heaven forbid you had to use it. Just my spent .02 cents..

 

[jon_in_wv]

Try the WWB JHPs. They burn much cleaner than the Remington, are generally more accurate, have less muzzle flash, and cost about the same. I have no qualms carrying it when my premium stuff runs out.

 

[LiveLife]

Should I not bother buying expanding ammo when is intended to be shot out of such a short barrel??

I'm not convinced that $50 a pop for 20 rounds of superwondermagicbullets would serve me much better either....the reason I did like the Remington JHP is because the cost differential from the FMJ is reasonable....

$50 for 20 rounds! Why?

How about $12/25 or $18-$19/50? I would recommend you consider Remington Golden Saber 124 gr Bonded JHP standard pressure or +P ammunition from SG Ammo:

$13.95/25 124 gr BJHP - http://www.sgammo.com/product/remington/25-rds-9mm-remington-golden-saber-124gr-bjhp-ammo
$11.95/25 124 gr +P BJHP - http://www.sgammo.com/product/remington/25-rds-9mm-p-remington-golden-saber-124gr-bjhp-ammo

$17.95/50 115 gr JHP - http://www.sgammo.com/product/feder...lassic-hi-shok-115-grain-jhp-hollow-point-9bp
$18.95/50 115 gr +P+ JHP - http://www.sgammo.com/product/federal/50-rds-9mm-p-federal-115-grain-hollow-point-ammo-9bple
$25.95/50 124 gr +P+ JHP - http://www.sgammo.com/product/federal/50-rds-9mm-p-124-grain-federal-hydra-shok-ammo-p9hs3g1

 

[mavracer]

Are they better than fmj? Yes. Even if they don't expand the larger meplat of the bullet will do a shade better at damage. Kind of like the difference between a SWC and a RN.
Are the premium JHPs better heck yes. For one thing that cheap Remington stuff is way under powered. Add that to the old tech bullet design and your chances of it expanding are slim. I've chronoed it and from my kahr PM9 it's barely going faster than my 147gr ranger Ts. Which BTW do expand consistantly at that velocity and they were only $25 for a 50 round box.

 

[Rich_S]

I use Winchester PDX 124gr +p. It sells for about 20.00 for a box of 20 at walmart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qztzTBKAavk&feature=related

 

[NG VI]

$50 for 20 rounds! Why?

Hyperbole. It's often used by people when they are deriding someone's recommendation to use something like Federal HST, Winchester Ranger-T, or Speer Gold Dot, you know, the big three bullets that have seen more R&D and testing than any other pistol and possibly rifle projectile in the history of firearms.

Also expressed by people who hear a recommendation to carry a current-design premium JHP and immediately think "Cor-Bon" or "Buffalo Bore".

I don't see why you wouldn't want to grab something like the HST, comes in 50 round boxes, can be found for under $20 a box at times, $20-25 at most, and it does offer significant consistency, reliability, and performance benefits over the 1980s-era bullet that Remington loads. That bullet is a poor performer out of even fullsize pistol barrels, let alone a 3" Kahr or Kel-Tec.

115s in general aren't as well suited for the short barreled pistols as the 147 grain bullets are. If it were my Kel-Tec, it would be loaded with standard pressure 147 HST, and I would shop around, buy ten or twenty boxes of it all at the same time from whoever had the best price, and not worry about running out. It's defense ammo. You run a couple of boxes through your pistol, and you've got a decade's worth of outstanding carry ammo left over. Keep practicing with typical range fodder otherwise.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

There is a chance the non-premium JHPs from the short barrel might not expand. But with FMJs, there is no chance they will expand.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Don't be cheap unless it's paper. I told this one guy, a long time ago, to not use fmj's on deer out of his new 9 when he went back home on "leave". I just knew he'd try to blast something from all his hunting stories etc. so I tried to help - I've taken largish game humanely with the 9mm. Anyway, when he got back, I asked him if he got a deer or not.. he said "no". I asked him if he used fmj's.. he reluctantly said "yes". Dummy. I hope he learned.
Anyway, in post 6, the fourth suggested link would be a viable and low cost consideration.