Is Federal 9BPLE 9mm 115gr +P+ JHP a viable defensive load anymore?

[Surculus]

But it has a lot of trash-talking detractors online, and they have a point to make that bonded ammunition offers better weight retention. And I've seen the ballistics testing that showed the 9BPLE's jacket shedding pieces along the wound track.

I fail to see how this is relevant in PD ammo? I'm not a Kzan, hunting humans for the larder: bonded HP ammo and its jacket- & wt-retention abilities are important when you want to preserve your dentition; as far as rendering BGs horizontal, as long as 50% or more of the bobo surpasses the FBI minimum [10" of BG], I'm satisfied.

After that criteria is met, then the cheaper the better. Practicing w/ the load to actually be used is better than using a cheaper alternative that doesn't have quite the same characteristics as the duty load.

 

[Zerodefect]

I recommend that for finicky 9mm 1911's all the time. You have to shoot a ton through those before they're trustworthy. And running that ammo makes sense. It's not perfect, but some people have a budget.

Glocks? Not so much. So HST it is, just less of it.

This is why I like having .45's and .40's around. They can get it done with just FMJ. Still a lame situation, but workable.

 

[Thermactor]

I just got an in-stock notification on the magic RA9TA from ccwammo. I came so, so so close to hitting submit on the checkout button for three boxes... ugh, I just ... I couldn't do it. I couldn't justify $0.91/rd for this stuff after shipping. I will wait until SG has it in stock again. They have better shipping prices and may stock the RA9TA at a better price.
I've got plenty of 9BPLE and a case of 40 cal bonded PDX1 to hold me over until then.

If you guys want to spend $0.91/rd on RA9TA, they have.. something like 5 boxes in stock for the next three minutes.
http://www.ccwammo.com/Winchester-Ranger-T-9mm-P-127gr-box-of-50-RA9TA_p_13.html

 

[JB_3]

I would stick with 147 grain HST.

 

[C0untZer0]

I bought 10 boxes of Winchester Ranger "T" Series RA9T as soon as it became available.

I think the performance is great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UP7p3fxgzE

 

[HammsBeer]

I'd say Federal 9BPLE (and the Remington L9MM1B) are effective for most SD situations. Is it the ideal bullet, no. Does it's narrower nose feed well in older guns, yes. I have some old P6 pistols that run 100% on FMJ and the old school bulk hollow points, but choke every couple of rounds with modern JHP.

So if you rely on an older 9mm pistol and have a tight budget for ammo, then it's a good choice.

 

[Thermactor]

Good point, its important to have a good, proven all-around cartridge that will feed in everything 9mm, especially if you are buying these up cheaply and storing them with dessicant for long-term storage for uncertain future needs.

 

[otasan56]

I'd trust my life to the 9BPLE load. It's MV out of my G17 is likely over 1400 FPS.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Is Federal 9BPLE 9mm 115gr +P+ JHP a viable defensive load anymore?

Yes in dee-dee.

So is the Winchester +p+ 127 grain T series 9mm.

As long as it is reliable in your carry gun, you can shoot it strait, yea.. carry it with confidence.

Deaf

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

I've shot enough of it out of my 9mms that I trust it. Dirty, clean, hot, cold, lubed, dry it works. I'm not going to replace it with the new whiz bang thing, that may offer better performance- and may stovepipe. Getting lead down the tube is priority number one. This is also why there is wolf ammo in my HD AR, I know it works in my gun.

 

[strambo]

I've shot enough of it out of my 9mms that I trust it. Dirty, clean, hot, cold, lubed, dry it works. I'm not going to replace it with the new whiz bang thing, that may offer better performance- and may stovepipe. Getting lead down the tube is priority number one. This is also why there is wolf ammo in my HD AR, I know it works in my gun.

Ironically, you are a lot more likely to have reliability issues with Wolf than with quality ammo in your AR. As it gets dirtier, the more likely issues will become a factor. If it runs with low power, steel cased Wolf, it will run better with better ammo.

I don't understand the resistance to buying a few boxes of better stuff to bet your life on? There is a wide margin between Wolf, decent, and the highest end, latest and most expensive.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Let's see, from a Brown Bess musket, you have nominal 3/4" diameter lead ball weighing around 640 grains at somewhere between 1000 and 1200 feet/sec.

I'll take that over any Federal HST handgun load . . . or, at least I would if I could get those ballistics out of an accurate & practical handgun.

I'm not suggesting we carry flintlocks - that would be silly - but viewed purely from the standpoint of terminal ballistics, don't sneer at the old stuff.

Including Federal 9BPLE.

Modernizing that ..

12 gauge Brenneke 'Black Magic'
http://www.brennekeusa.com/cms/blackmagic.html

Calibre: 12 GA 3”
Weight: 1 3/8oz, 600 grs, 39g
Muzzle Velocity: 1502
Energy: 3014 FP
barrel: smooth and rifled
chokes: all

Makes the Brown Bess look puny.

And you can get a cheap Mossberg 500 18 inch gun for it.

Nope, still can't pack it around like a good handgun but it can be kept nearby.

Deaf

 

[JShirley]

That is absolutely and undeniably true, however it's kind of a non-argument. A musket ball would work as well as it ever has, but not many people would choose one over Federal HST.

That is ridiculous. A .75 soft lead ball is several times as effective as any 9x19mm projectile, you just can't shoot it out of a Glock 19. Muskets did not go out of use because they were ineffective, they went out of use because of poor accuracy, limited range, and slow reload time.
BPLE has a great track record, and is reliable and affordable. It's what I use now, and what I used two days ago to stop a very large, aggressive Rottweiler in my front yard. I hit him twice, probably not great shots because he was moving and I was shaken from seeing my young son in danger. In any case, he went down, and the most he did was move his head a little, trying to fight when animal control put a muzzle on him 35 minutes later.

 

[KevininPa]

I'm sure that it will make a hole. Just do your part.

 

[L-2]

https://le.vistaoutdoor.com/ammunition/federal/handgun/details.aspx?id=526

I was a bit surprised the 9BPLE ammo hadn't been replaced by something newer or discontinued by now, yet it's still currently listed on the referenced website. (Thread is 4.5 years old now.)

 

[barnetmill]

The federal +P+ is what I am currently carrying. I want penetration since a lot of SD shootings occur in or about structures and vehicles.

 

[C0untZer0]

Ammo will build up and retain a following despite better ammunition being developed. You see this with the .38 Special 158-gr. LSWCHP +P, Hydra-Shok, and this round - the 115gr 9BPLE +P+ JHP.

It doesn't make financial sense for an ammo company to stop making the ammo if people are still buying it, but the fact that an ammo maker is still manufacturing a particular ammunition doesn't in and of itself prove that an ammunition is the most effective.

Federal HST and 147gr Winchester Ranger "T" Series - RA9T outperforms the 9BPLE in the FBI tests, the IWBA 4 layer denim protocol and HST and Winchester Ranger "T" Series have built solid reputations for performance in actual use with multiple law enforcement agencies.

 

[cheygriz]

9BPLE has tremendous "street cred" with L.E.

 

[Goosey]

Modernizing that ..

12 gauge Brenneke 'Black Magic'
http://www.brennekeusa.com/cms/blackmagic.html

Calibre: 12 GA 3”
Weight: 1 3/8oz, 600 grs, 39g
Muzzle Velocity: 1502
Energy: 3014 FP
barrel: smooth and rifled
chokes: all

Makes the Brown Bess look puny.

Depending on the load, maybe not as puny as you might think.

 

[481]

Depending on the load, maybe not as puny as you might think.

View attachment 859223

A .75-caliber ball @ 1,800 fps?

That'll leave a mark.

 

[Catshooter]

Pure lead ball, too, so it won't be staying a mere .75 either.



Cat

 

[golden]

Thermactor,

What it comes down to is this. I used to be issued +P+ 9m.m. ammo. Sometimes it was WINCHESTER who had the contract, other times it was FEDERAL with +P+ Hydra Shok. Now in my off duty carry, I use FEDERAL 124 grain HST standard pressure. When you load +P or +P+, you are putting more stress on the gun and yourself. Back in the 1990's, +P+ was really the best you could get. My agency found it close in effectiveness, to the .357 magnum ammo they were still issuing to officers who did not private purchase a 9m.m.
We solved the dilemma by switching to the .40 S&W and using a really hot load that wore our guns out in less than a decade.
You cannot go to +P or +P+ pressure without getting LOUDER, BRIGHTER FLASH and GREATER MUZZLE BLAST and MORE RECOIL. It is just not possible.
Now I prefer to buy the HST in 50 round boxes and use ball ammo or even REMINGTON 100 round boxes for practice.
Try regular pressure ammo and then +P+ and see if you cannot get onto target quicker and shoot more accurately.
If the results are the same, then choose your poison.
The fact is that no matter what new ammo is developed, the 9BPLE is still as effective today as it was when it was the darling of law enforcement officers.

Jim