I tested 5 different 9mm JHP at the range

[Manco]

People who do drive by shootings don't just hide in the car, they use the car as cover while they shoot. If you turn and run they're gonna shoot you in the butt.

Right, or somebody could be trying to run you over with their vehicle, in which case being able to penetrate windshields--no mean feat for handgun calibers--would be useful. Granted, this would be a more common situation for LEOs than the average person, but it could happen. There are other barriers such as the furniture in one's house that assailants might use for cover/concealment. Unfortunately, anything smaller (regarding bullet size and/or weight) than .40 S&W seems to deflect considerably when penetrating hard, angled barriers such as windshields, including 9mm.

 

[NG VI]

Hey Manco what kind of speed are you getting out of your hot loaded 147 bullets?

 

[wrs840]

BushyGuy,

Which Rem 115gr hollowpoint did you test? Rem Golden Saber 124gr BJHP is my SD choice in my 9's right now, just because my own informal testing convinced me I group best with it at 21 ft in my BHP and my wife's 5904.

That said, I'm a big Speer GD 155gr or 165gr fan for my .40, and SGD what's in my LCP right now, but I believe I'm leaning toward Hornady FTX for .380 use. I'm carrying FTX in my 442 already. I bought some FTX in 9mm but haven't tried them yet. The FTX technology for light bullets out of short barrels makes sense to me, and I know some LEOs that have become believers in it too.

Les

 

[shibby]

I use hornady critical defense for my .380 but havent found any for 9mm. If I did I would be all over it.

 

[Manco]

Hey Manco what kind of speed are you getting out of your hot loaded 147 bullets?

The only handgun caliber I'm currently using is .40 S&W, actually, and it's a standard load--180-grain, 1070 fps muzzle velocity--that sacrifices some expansion for penetration (expansion is about 55%). A 147-grain 9mm bullet with similar expansion characteristics will have about the same sectional density and will also penetrate 15" at similar velocities. The 147-grain 9mm Gold Dot behaves similarly in tests that I've seen (shot through four layers of denim). Unfortunately, you can't always tell what bullets will do based on their specifications, even within the same brand, because each cartridge load is an individual design.

 

[NG VI]

Drats I asked the wrong person!

MachIVShooter, what kind of speed do you get out of the hot 147s in your 5906 and Baby Eagle?

This is what I use in my PF-9, since it runs 100% reliably and the bullets perform well. All my handloaded defensive stuff for the S&W 5906, Baby Eagle, etc. is 124 or 147 gr. +P+, and I had problems with the firing pin wiping brass off the primers in the PF-9, which resulted in light strikes.

 

[Hangingrock]

So you are protecting yourself from water jugs? I thought the FBI established the protocol of “X” penetration equals effectiveness that includes a series of rigorous test procedures. So how do water jugs correlate?

 

[W.E.G.]

I prefer empty milk jugs, one box of birdshot, and short grass.

Put 5 jugs in a pile.
Mark a circle with a 15 yard radius around the jugs.
Start shooting at the jugs.
You must knock all the jugs outside the circle.
Then you must knock all jugs back inside the circle.
Whoever has the most jugs touching when they finish the box of birdshot wins.
If nobody has any jugs touching, then whoever has the closest jugs wins.
Subtract one jug for each participant you accidentally shoot.