Best Defensive 9mm load?

[Soldier0117]

What does everyone think is the best 9mm cartridge for defensive purposes? I always thought a cartridge with high pressure, high grain bullet, and a jacketed hollow point would be best. Could you tell me what rounds you like to use and if you could provide links to them that would be awesome. Also is jacketed ammo best? I heard that chambers w/o full support don't like raw lead. And also could you fill me in on what exactly supported and unsupported chambers are and their purposes or advantages, as my knowledge of this is still quite limited. Thanks

 

[DENALI]

Winchester loads a 127gr Ranger Talon to 1250fps or so, I believe the product code is RA9TA, and Speer loads the 124gr gold dot at about 1220fps. Those are my first and second choices followed by the Remington 147gr Gold Sabre.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

The ones with the best "street creds" seem to be 115- or 124-gr. JHPs at +P pressures/velocities. A load that is cheaper to practice with but pretty much duplicates the recoil is 9mm marked "NATO." BUT - if these high speed wonder bullets don't function properly or are inaccurate in your handgun, they are useless. Personally, I am happy with plain old Federal 9BPs (the "classic" 115-gr. JHP that has been around for years) in my own guns.

Regarding unsupported chambers, all pistol barrels have a small area just ahead of the feed ramp that leaves a portion of case head (the web ahead of the extractor groove) exposed over it. Some designs have more than others, as well as the chamber being slightly oversize to allow for all types of ammo to be fed (think Glock .40). Incompatibility with all lead bullets is more a function of the type of rifling used.

 

[R&J]

I also like light, fast, hollow points in an urban setting, where over-penetration is a real concern. We currently load these Double Taps in our G17 & G19, for SD/HD:

Double Tap 115 gr 9 mm +P Gold Dot JHP

1415fps / 511ft. lbs. from a G17.
Glock 19 velocity - 1395fps.


For those that like a heavier load, the Federal HST 124 and 147 gr +P JHP are favored.

A while back, a Glock Talk member did an expansion test of several 9 mm loads fired into soaking wet phone books. The Federal HST loads mentioned above were the clear winners.

I'd happily credit the author, but he did not sign his work.

Anyway, the attached pic shows the expansion of the HST 124 and 147 grain bullets. The expanded 147 grain bullet would easily cover a nickel. At far right is a 115 gr CCI Blazer cartridge for scale.

The gun used was a G17.

 

[jonboynumba1]

Speer Gold Dot 124gr. +P

the 9mm's don't really have any unsupported chamber issues in my book. If it's not fully supported it's dang close and a lot more so than any of the .40's or .45's I've had from them. That said amazingly I've owned 6 glocks and put countless thousands of rounds through them combined and have never blown up yet. Neither have any of my 1911's blown up...last I checked throated barrels seem to look unsupported to me nearly as much as my old G21 was. Shoot quallity factory ammo and forget about the internet guff...especially in 9mm Glocks...probably the most overbuilt Glocks out there.

Must be lucky!

 

[gbelleh]

I use 124 gr +p Speer Gold Dots or 124 gr +p Remington Golden Sabers for almost all my 9mm defensive needs.

 

[byf43]

Federal 115 gr. JHP. Either the 9BP in the standard loading, or, my personal preference is the 9BPLE as a +P+ load.

Ammoman had some of these, recently.



I guess you could say that I'm a dinosaur.

If I find something that works and that I like, I don't change it, or even look for a replacement.

 

[No4Mk1*]

Winchester 147 grain JHP "white box" ammo sold at Wal-Mart. Pretty close or equal to "premium" ammo at a low price so you can shoot it more to prove reliability. And I like the heavy bullet for penetration.

 

[Browning]

Top three 9mm loads for me.

1) The Federal 115 grain +P+ BPLE

2) The Cor-Bon 115 grain +P JHP

3) The CCI 124 grain +P Gold Dot

 

[mavracer]

I use 124+p golddots or 147 Ranger T series IMHO 147s are better than 124 standard pressure.also IMHO golddots=golden sabers=fed HST=ranger T

 

[Soldier0117]

Just to add something, would all off the suggested rounds do well in a Glock 17 or a Sig P226, because I'll be getting one or the other because from what I hear they are both excellent in everyway, I shot the G17 and loved it, but I heard that Sig rivals Glock, I did hold the Sig though and it felt nice too.

 

[RNB65]

I use Black Hills 124gr +P JHP.

Is it the best? Close enough.
-

 

[Soldier0117]

How about these rounds do you all like these?

Cor-Bon 9 MM LUGER +P 115 GR. JHP 1350 FPS/466 FTLBS
Federal 9mm Luger 124 gr. Hydra-Shok JHP
Federal 9mm Luger 115 gr. Standard JHP
Remington 9mm Luger (+P) 115 gr. JHP
Remington 9mm Luger (+P) 124 gr. Golden Saber BJHP

From what I see I like the Cor-Bon and the Golden Saber, out of thewse which would you choose. I really appreciate everyones help, but I would like to narrow things down to these just to make things easier. Thanks Again

 

[jframe38]

How about a Winchester Ranger T 9mm 124gr +p ?

10% Ballistic Gelatin Tests for:
Winchester Ranger T 9mm 124 gr +p w/Glock 19
Barrier: 4 layers of denim
Test results: 14" penetration, recovered wt: 123gr, expansion at widest pt: .690 cal.

 

[shamus]

Honestly, I have winchester white box 115 jhps that I would feel comfortable with. Then again, I'd have no problems using ball ammo.

Shot placement is key.

 

[Blarelli]

I carry the 124 gr. +P Golden Sabers. Easy to find, and very good performance.

 

[Scorpiusdeus]

1) Get the Sig and you won't have to concern yourself with an unsupported chamber. Sig Sauer surpasses Glock in every way other than weight.

2) You'll get about 10 different answers to your question. Buy a few boxes of each, shoot them from YOUR gun and then decided.

You'll want to judge your accuracy with a given load in your firearm. You'll want to make sure it feeds reliably in your firearm.

 

[bakert]

I've always carried 124 hollow points any of the better known brands in 9 MM and feel well protected.

 

[dewidmt]

I use Cor-Bon 115 +P at 1350 FPS in my Glock 19. My Hi-Power, Beretta 92 and Kahr PM9 get standard pressure Winchester 115 JHP (white-box).