What 9mm Defensive Ammunition do You Carry?

[JERRY]

Department issue is 124 grains something or other I think it might be federal. Doesn't really matter to me put it where it's gotta go.

 

[fastbolt]

I used to have 'favorites' when it came to JHP ammunition for my pistols and revolvers. Nowadays, having seen at least my fair share of scientific organic gel testing, and considering actual OIS incidents when I was still working as a firearms trainer, I'm ... less picky.

Give me something made by one of the major American makers, in a hollowpoint of some configuration, preferably in the 'premium' line of most makers, and I'm fine with it. I've never been the biggest proponent of bonded handgun bullets, but as the technology has evolved and improved, and expansion hasn't suffered, I don't mind some of the newer stuff so much anymore.

The major defensive JHP's used by LE are all designed with features needed to meet the same performance specs, so it's not surprising they perform similarly, overall.

I like either standard pressure 147gr or 124gr +P in .9mm (if a gun is rated for it), although I still appreciate the Winchester 127gr +P+ (previously RA9SXTP, and then it became RA9TA). It was my go-to load for many years, stemming from the short time when it was an issued load for me. It's become too expensive and difficult to get, though. The Winchester LE Distributor from whom I used to buy it at individual officer pricing is now too far for me to care to drive just for ammo. Plenty of other good quality premium JHP's to be found from other major American makers.

 

[DustyGmt]

There's a reason behind the growing popularity of the assorted polymer nose cavity plugs being developed for LE use. As it trickles down to commercial use, it's not a bad thing.

I did a similar test with Critical duty except I used a 25# roll of pasta dough from a pasta factory, each layer of the roll is about ¼" thick and I used ⅛" mild steel, windshield glass, ½" ply wood, dry wall, etc.... it was super scientific but one thing was apparent to me, even though it didn't have the largest expanded diameter and sometimes the CD bullets (135gr +P and standard pressure) deformed a lil and might have had a couple petals that didn't flower out, it was by far the most consistent in the different mediums in terms of passing through a hard barrier and into: (dough, water jugs, ballistic gel). It was a fun test to mess around with and having a ton of dough rolls to play with I even tested some rifle rounds and had a newfound respect for standard M193 5.56.


But, while Hornady CDuty was by far the most consistent and my favorite, the critical defense, XTP's, GD's, Golden Saber, PDX1's, HST, Winchester white Box JHP and hydra shoks were very reliable and while some weren't as pretty as others, they all performed well, but none of them performed well through barriers like the Critical Duty did.


From right to left: 135gr+P Critical Duty, 124gr+P HST, 147gt Hydra-Shok, 147gr Winchester PDXI and Winchester White Box 147gr JHP.

 

[Ethan Verity]

Federal 147gr HST standard pressure.

 

[Gun-Reck]

147 gr. Federal HST or Winchester Ranger T-series, Std. pressure, from a 3" micro, the only 9 mm owned.