9mm carry loads

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I also follow luckygunner testing and prefer the 147gn Winchester ranger T these days. I used to follow mas ayoob and carried gold dots because that's what local PD use, but I'm happy to use the best these days.
 
I don't get wrapped up in any certain load. Any quality hollow point will do. I don't mean dollar a round ammo. I'm not a fan of +P. Tests I've read and conducted show maybe 100fps more in a round that's already doing 1100-1200fps. Little gain and more muzzle flash and recoil. It's worse in shorter barrels.

I use Gold Dot std pressure as that's what I have on hand. Would feel OK with at least a dozen other loads.
 
....But Speer and HST are solid too, 124 or 147.
I don't doubt that at all. As far as I can tell, there's something around a metric ton of perfectly sound choices in 9mm ammo these days. Over the years, I've also carried Federals, Gold Dots, Winchester Rangers, and a handful of others. But the Golden Sabers perform well in my gun, and have a couple of non-performance advantages. They're made about 40 miles from here and (probably because of that fact) every LEA around here carries them.
 
For me, quality JHP’s (HST, Gold Dots typically) for daily carry, flat nose FMJ or better yet hard cast Underwood or Buffalo Bore (behind a couple JHP’s) for the boonies.

I prefer heavier bullets (135-147 grain generally).

bit lots of folks have used 115 FMJ, but nothing I’d recommend.
 
I don't doubt that at all. As far as I can tell, there's something around a metric ton of perfectly sound choices in 9mm ammo these days. Over the years, I've also carried Federals, Gold Dots, Winchester Rangers, and a handful of others. But the Golden Sabers perform well in my gun, and have a couple of non-performance advantages. They're made about 40 miles from here and (probably because of that fact) every LEA around here carries them.

The one thing I noticed is Golden Saber are more susceptible to setback compared to HST. As in I've carried HST for years and never had any measurable setback, while I have had a few instances with GS.

Easy enough to track and pull though
 
But the Golden Sabers perform well in my gun, and have a couple of non-performance advantages. They're made about 40 miles from here and (probably because of that fact) every LEA around here carries them.

LOL. The Speer Gold Dots are made about 50 miles from my house! In fact, yesterday I was wearing one of their promo ball caps hats around town that they give to law enforcement.

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I think the 124 grain HST's are the best, but there are a ton of good options. Gold Dots, Critical Duty/Defense, Golden Sabers, etc. Honestly I wouldn't have a problem carrying the basic JHPs from Winchester, Remington or Federal in 9mm, and I have at times. I think ammo selection is more critical in an LEO role. All I want is to get a bad guy to quit and leave and for that any 9mm JHP is probably just fine.
 
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
Why the Homey Badger round for winter time carry in particular?
 
I got a chance to fire a couple of jhp loads from the meager collection I could find in-store. Turns out my gun loves 150gr HST ammo, not sure I love it ballistically but it is way more accurate than anything else I've fired in this gun so far.

First shot was a flier, take that put and we are talking a .75 inch group
 

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In my pocket nine (short barrel) I have gone over to the Federal HST 124gr standard (as in non+P) jhp. For my full-size the Winchester Train&Defend 147gr standard pressure jhp.

The AmmoQuest 9mm series persuaded to move to those loads. Being non+P, but still penetrating and expanding, means more rapid aimed follow-up shots.

There are now so many good offerings available that so long as they feed and function in your specific gun it's hard to really go wrong.
 
It lacks a hollow point that could be jammed up by heavy clothing
True. The question is, is that a good thing? I'm having a hard time finding much test data on it. Hollow points tend to over penetrate when shot through thick clothing. Maybe the Honey Badger rounds are more consistent, maybe not. Love to see some actual data on it.
 
True. The question is, is that a good thing? I'm having a hard time finding much test data on it. Hollow points tend to over penetrate when shot through thick clothing. Maybe the Honey Badger rounds are more consistent, maybe not. Love to see some actual data on it.

I don't know really, I will get some for some testing soon though
 
Hornady's great stuff, but it's pricey.

I'm switching to the S&B 115 grain hollowpoints. It's very similar to the S&B 115 grain FMJs, and you can get it bulk for around 13$ a box.
 
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 have been carrying Hornady's 135grn (not +P) Critical Duty ammos in my Kahr carry pieces... accurate, reliable. I have questions about the gummy tip, however, even though I understand the logic of it. Given that, I've started to transition to the Gold Dots.
 
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.

Well put. Pick a weight you like and buy a decent made round from a well known maker.

WB
 
FEDERAL 124 grain HST jhp are my carry load in my 9m.m. The HST line works very well and my agency issues the .40 S&W 180 grain HST. I bought some of the .40 caliber too for my .40 calibers, though I prefer 9m.m.
My agency used to issue GOLDEN SABRE ammo when we also had 9m.m. GLOCK 17's. We never had any complaints over either ammo from the field.

Jim
 
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