[VinnyBoomba]

Hey all,

I've got a G19 that I've kept for a little while mostly just for home defense. It's been one of those things that I've had just in case, but thought the likelihood of me needing to use it would be slim to none. Lately there's been two midnight break-ins in my neighborhood, and two drug deals gone wrong with killings within 2 miles of my home. This is all in the past 6 months. For quite a few years before that there wasnt a hasnt murder in my area. Obviously a rough crowd has moved in and now I'm taking carrying and readiness a lot more seriously. Historically I've kept just some full metal Winchester rounds loaded. Never really bothered with hollow points or anything like that.

My question is which would the masses recommend for a 9mm round if I'm introduced to a meth head in the middle of the night? I've heard good things about Federal Premium Guard Dog rounds from all ranges, but never from anyone who's had to use them on a baddie. I'm also curious to hear anyones thoughts on 9mm shot shells like the ones CCI has available. I'd figure that if I'm to need to use it it'll be in a hallway or room, which is why the shot shell interests me, but the last thing I want is to feel hopeless from 20 yards away. Bring on the comments please.

[elliotb33]

YouTube - 9mm +P+ Federal 9BPLE 115 gr Gel Test

YouTube - 9mm +P+ Federal 9BPLE 115 gr Gel Test

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/AMM-406

It's what I have in my Gen 4 G19

Also Underwood looks good, they also have a 124 gr +P+

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=plcp&v=gQ7ri9wa728

[Doc8404]

Remington Golden Saber +P 124gr

[James Dean]

Speer 124gr Gold dot JHP.

[countrygun]

There are basically thre schools of hollow points, the 115 grain the 124 grain and the 147 grain

Much debate goes on about which is "best" the lighter ones are faster, the heavy ones have more mass. The middle ones compromise.

some say the light ones expand faster and don't overpenetrate, others say they might not penetrate heavy clothing.

Some say the heavies penetrate better and others say "too much"


(Between you, me and the gatepost, I don't think anyone has a definative answer about "best" because there are too many variables in actual gunfights to draw a firm conclusion)

In just my humble opinion I would go with whatever my gun shot best and I was confident with.

Testing every brand an weight and design of hollowpoint could well cost as much as the gun itself. Fortunately Fmj and tmj ammo of all weights is available and is generally less expensive. You can test the three "weight divisions" and see if your gun has a preference that is significant enough to make a difference.

By strange serendipity my carry 9s all like the heavy bullets to a noticable degree and all tend to favor the Winchester SXT Ranger 147 gn. Although I will be testing sone Remington Golden Saber 147s in my new acquisition this week.

[Adamz04]

I would pass on the guard dog if your messing with meth heads. Shot shells are not for bad guys they are for critters like snakes and mice.
There are many good self defense choices for ammo today. Most of the really good ones you may have to buy online. Take a look at some of these sites and ammo.

Underwoodammo.com
Ammunitiontogo.com
Kylesgunshop.com
Cheaperthandirt.com
Sgammo.com

I really prefer federal HST and Speer gold dot, but here are some other good ones as well.

Federal hst
Speer gold dot
Remington bonded golden saber
Corbon dpx
Winchester ranger
Corbon jhp

[Providence]

I use Speer Gold Dots 124 gr. +P.

[janice6]

Buy what the cops use. They have their lives to protect too. Better statistics from them.

[VinnyBoomba]

Talked to a friend of mine whos a cop in the area. He says about half of them use .40's, but a few of the old timers prefer the 9mm. He said that he's pretty certain they all use the same Federal Hydra-Shock 124gr +P+

Thoughts?

Edit: Sorry he ment the HSTs no the Hydra-Shock

[janice6]

Sound fine. I use .357 Magnum Hornady 125gr, FTX, or .40 Hydra-Shok.

There's lots of "good" self defense ammo out there.

[barth]

Take your pick;
Winchester Ranger T-Series 127 gr +P+
Speer GDHP 124 gr +P
Federal HST 124 gr +P

[jrpro130]

Check out the Hornady critical duty, Speer gold dot 124+p, federal hst, and Winchester ranger. Right now the gold dot is cheapest for me. I don't like golden saber because of the jacket seperation. Just my opinion though.

If the CDuty were cheaper I would test them enough to trust them. So for now I just stashed a box I'll test out when I get extra cash. I run Speer gold dot 124+p. lots of departments around here use them. I have ran about 250+ rds thru my glocks and kahr so I trust them.

It can be a never ending debate, you can't go wrong with any of them. It's just preference IMO. I've never heard or seen anyone not stop the threat because of ammo. It's usually shot placement...hell you could use fmj.


Should be wrenching instead of using TapaTalk

[avenues165]

Originally Posted by Adamz04

I would pass on the guard dog if your messing with meth heads. Shot shells are not for bad guys they are for critters like snakes and mice.
There are many good self defense choices for ammo today. Most of the really good ones you may have to buy online. Take a look at some of these sites and ammo.

Underwoodammo.com
Ammunitiontogo.com
Kylesgunshop.com
Cheaperthandirt.com
Sgammo.com

I really prefer federal HST and Speer gold dot, but here are some other good ones as well.

Federal hst
Speer gold dot
Remington bonded golden saber
Corbon dpx
Winchester ranger
Corbon jhp

This is a good answer, among many others. Don't even think of shotshells out of a 9mm, that will just tick off your attacker. These are not meant to be used on anything other than small vermin.

TNOutdoors9 tests all kinds of loads and posts the testing on youtube. One of his tests was posted earlier in this thread by elliotb33. Watch his 9mm tests to get started on your research.

[Decguns]

Go over to ATK's LE web site. They have results from about a dozen law enforcement tests of their Federal & Speer ammo versus whatever the cops wanted to pit against them. They also have videos of their ammo going through the FBI test protocol. Really interesting stuff.

I noticed the Federal 124gr and 147gr HST 9MM ammo performed exactly the same in gel. Roughly the same expansion and the same penetration. Data for the 115gr HST load was sparse. In barrier testing, most loads had issues with glass, but held together for everything else. The Winchester ammo didn't fair so well in barrier testing. But, it's all there for you to decide: Speer, Federal, Winchester & Remington... 9MM, 40, 45, 357, 5.56...

Like so many here, my favorite home defense load is the Federal 115gr +P+ HST #9BPLE... but I also keep some 124gr +P+ Hydra-Shok #P9HS3G in reserve.

[packinaglock]

Originally Posted by barth

Take your pick;
Winchester Ranger T-Series 127 gr +P+
Speer GDHP 124 gr +P
Federal HST 124 gr +P

My three favorite 9mm rounds as well.

[robhic]

Originally Posted by jrpro130

I don't like golden saber because of the jacket seperation. Just my opinion though.

Even GS bonded? I use the GS 124 +P JHP Bonded and am quite pleased with them.

[unit1069]

Originally Posted by robhic

Even GS bonded? I use the GS 124 +P JHP Bonded and am quite pleased with them.

The Remington 124-grain Golden Saber +P produced the best overall shooting characteristics of all the premium JHP ammos I tested in my quality 9mm pistols, but the reputation for core/jacket separation lead me to carry several other ammos that don't exhibit this behavior.

The Golden Saber Bonded is my next purchase when I order online. I've recently read a glowing endorsement of the GS bonded round from a prominent self-defense expert, which only increases my interest in this particular load.

[dpadams6]

Originally Posted by barth

Take your pick;
Winchester Ranger T-Series 127 gr +P+
Speer GDHP 124 gr +P
Federal HST 124 gr +P

Agreed. The absolute top 3

[Kentguy]

Vinnyboomba,

As other have said that is an awefully hard question to answer. As you can read everyone has a different round that they like. Do your own testing - buy your top 3 choices, try them out in your gun and see which one you like.

But since you asked... In my night stand is my G19 loaded with Hornady's 124g XTP HP. They work fine for me.

Have fun and be safe

[ojabog]

Go to youtube and checkout TNoutdoors9 videos. He provides some decent informaton on expansion and penetration for several different loads.

[JW1178]

I agree with the LE ammo is a GREAT choice, but not the only choice because they want bullets that will go through a car door or windshield and other barriers, while in a home defense situation, it's not really needed. With that being said though, the LE ammo is probably the best choice. The bonded bullets usually don't expand as well as non bonded because they have to be built harder so they stay together, so usually the non-bonded LE ammo I think is the best.

Overall I would not stress too much. I would just get a premium JHP. Not the real cheap stuff, and definately steer clear of the specialty nuclear ammo.

[Bigpoppie50]

Federal HST in 124grain or 147 grain in +p or standard pressure. It will expand to approximately .70 to.75 inches.

[BulldawgGlock]

I also use the G19 for home defense. I use and highly recommend Speer Gold Dot 124 gr. +p. It's great dependable ammo. Stay prepared and stay safe. Call the police EVERY TIME you see a person acting suspicious around your home. If nothing else, you will get some extra patrol in your area and be documented as being proactive to the situation.

[unit1069]

Originally Posted by JW1178

I agree with the LE ammo is a GREAT choice, but not the only choice because they want bullets that will go through a car door or windshield and other barriers, while in a home defense situation, it's not really needed. With that being said though, the LE ammo is probably the best choice. The bonded bullets usually don't expand as well as non bonded because they have to be built harder so they stay together, so usually the non-bonded LE ammo I think is the best.

Overall I would not stress too much. I would just get a premium JHP. Not the real cheap stuff, and definately steer clear of the specialty nuclear ammo.

Many LE agencies issue non-bonded as well as bonded JHP rounds that have proved capable of DRT stops. The Federal 9BPLE, HST, Golden Saber, several Winchester rounds, etc ...

I've got two excellent Austrian pistols, a 9mm and .357sig. At the moment one carries the HST and the other the Gold Dot, and I don't lose any sleep over reversing the carry ammo preference in those calibers because I know both varieties perform as designed.

I really doubt that in most situations a few .01" expansion measurements are the determining factor in a successful self-defense, while successful penetration of barriers may be a more important determinative factor. Anyway, the non-bonded HST shows excellent penetration in hard media and retains core/jacket integrity. Gold Dots already come as the standard for premium SD ammo, in my opinion.

[bigtimelarry]

Originally Posted by Providence

I use Speer Gold Dots 124 gr. +P.

Another +1