[9x45]

What our dept issues, WIN SXT 127+P+.

 

[Lab4Us]

I use this chart Handgun Self-Defense Ammunition - Ballistic Testing Data and find what I think I want to use. Have to adjust for your gun barrel length of course.

It looks like all your options are very close in performance, so buy what you can get at best price. FWIW, HST 124g +P is minimally better than HST 124g non +P, so I usually go with the regular. No reason, other than usually cheaper.

I usually go HST because I like Federal in all calibers and their range ammo is very close in performance to their SD ammo. I can almost always find it cheaper than other ammo as well.

The one thing I do with every gun I buy is run a couple hundred rounds of all weights to see how they perform, accuracy wise, at the distances I anticipate using them. And some guns run better with different weights.

 

[peng]

This is simple.

If you carry the best caliber for self defense (9mm), you should use the best load (124g).

People over complicate everything.

 

[pAZ Ron]

I am still trying to hunt down some Federal HST 147 gr +P.
...

Same. I am down to ~60 rounds. Fed HST 147 +P is my preferred round in my PM9.

To the OP, when I EDC a 9mm, it is usually a G26 or the above PM9. In the G26 I carry 124+P (Rem GS).

In my 9mm subgun I use 147 gr all the way. Win Ranger T, Win regular white box JHP, and Hornady custom, all in 147 gr give the best consistency.

I am not buying any more 115 gr SD ammo. My wife's HD gun & her G26 however carry Hornady Critical Defense 115 gr., mainly due to more moderate recoil. When that runs out though, I'll switch them to 124 or 147.

 

[It'soncuz!]

I use 147 grain.
To be fair, it's not worth putting too much thought into. They are all very very similar. Pick a round that shoots to point of aim, functions reliably, and move on.

 

[n2g]

Add me to the 147 gr. HST group.

I have some 124 gr HST also but prefer the 147.

 

[Sam Spade]

Honestly, this is separating fly specs from pepper. Go look at Federal’s website; they have the FBI protocol results for all their loads.

For example, in bare gel,
147 HST penetrates 12.0” and expands to 0.850”.
124 HST penetrates 11.8” and expands to 0.880”.

The rest of the results are similarly similar. I bet if error bars were included, everything would be in the envelope of everything else.

Oh, and I carry 147HST for the best possible reason: I get it free.

Buy it cheap, stack it deep, stop worrying about it and go train.

 

[rohanreginald]

I want 124 standard pressure in 9mm. My understanding of earlier 9mm's and why they sucked was because 115 was too light and their velocity was too fast so they zipped right through their targets. What made the 9mm more reliable for expansion was slowing the bullet down a little and adding more mass. I may be wrong, that is what I have always been told, and I am going to pick my defense loads with this in mind.

 

[Blackshirt]

For me, low sectional density prevents me from using 115 grain hollowpoints. This often leads to the partial disintegration of the bullet when it contacts just about anything. With +p+ it is even possible to separate the jacket from the bullet while in flight. I like 124 grain bullets in my nines.

 

[Monkeybomb]

I use 124 GD. Because that's what I was issued as Duty ammo and it has proven itself in real-world usage.

But I also use it as practice ammo. Not that it makes a huge difference but when running a plate rack a low hit with 124 may knock it down where a 115 might not. I'm pretty competitive and when shooting against my friends for bragging rights I'll take every advantage I can

 

[biscut53]

124 for SD/HD 9mm the majority of the time and 147's the other.

 

[Jack19]

124 or 147 both for penetration.

 

[ReaPer105]

I like the 124 grain in HST. A bit more weight for penetration than 115 and they work well. I had the opportunity some years back to shoot some junk cars. The 124 grain penetrated doors, glass (and headrest after) and impressed. I shoot 115 in hardball for practice on occasion. No real difference noticed in the recoil or operation of the guns.

 

[warbow150]

124+p Gold Dots.

 

[fredj338]

I'm a 124gr guy in conventional cup/core bullets. The lighter bullets open a bit too fast & then not enough mass to drive them deep enough. I also prefer +p because I carry a subcompact. Can 50fps matter for expansion & penetration, maybe.

 

[fredj338]

115 or 124 Grain for summer, 147 Grain for winter. A little more mass to punch through those winter coats if necessary. I've read too many stories of a Carhartt Coat and several layers stopping a 9mm round. That and Meth is an epidemic in the Midwest.

Clothing wont stop a 9mm. It may prevent it expanding if clogged, but then you have a fmj going thru & thru. I am not opposed to 147, but I do like being over bullet expansion vel levels, 900fps for well designed bullet.

 

[fredj338]

I want 124 standard pressure in 9mm. My understanding of earlier 9mm's and why they sucked was because 115 was too light and their velocity was too fast so they zipped right through their targets. What made the 9mm more reliable for expansion was slowing the bullet down a little and adding more mass. I may be wrong, that is what I have always been told, and I am going to pick my defense loads with this in mind.

Not exactly. They lighter 95-115gr bullets, yes 95-100gr bullets were duty ammo loads waaay back when, failed to penetrate enough to hit vitals form any angle & after penetrating bone. The other failure was the bullet not expanding thus "zipping" thru the target. The 115gr+p jhp were better but still a bit light for good mass & penetration.
So 10gr more mass helps with penetration especially if you want more than 60cal expansion. You want more expansion & still get penetration then its 147-150gr. I think 135gr is the sweet spot, but the ammo guys haven't found it yet.

 

[Pierre!]

Nuther vote for 124/147gr.

While developing loads for .40 using the light/middle/heavy loads I learned that the slide speed also is a factor. This does apply to other calibers as well...

115gr = SNAPPY slide speed, often prone to jamming in my hands
124gr = Very controllable slide speed that is very consistent for me
147gr = slight noticeable sluggish slide response compared to the two above.

From this evaluation it seems that utilizing the same bullet weight during practice OR a 'self protection' event would be the best thing to do... and at this point I'm using 124gr for practice and using some 147 as a test. Need to get out the shot timer and test the spit times.

Adrenaline is a wicked mistress - You get to shaking too fast, you may introduce a jam when you are in the real world. I have had hiccups during previous USPSA/IDPA matches... that's when I stopped using 115gr 9mm and went to the 124Gr bullets.

Sticking with a standard that is trusted is best. I'll keep testing out the 147gr to see how it works.

I've been getting some good ammo from AmmoLand Shooting Sports News where they have 'contract overuns' from US Cartrige of 200 rounds of 124HP or 147HP for reasonable prices. You may want to check regularly to get some sweet deals from US Cartrige!

 

[fredj338]

For me, low sectional density prevents me from using 115 grain hollowpoints. This often leads to the partial disintegration of the bullet when it contacts just about anything. With +p+ it is even possible to separate the jacket from the bullet while in flight. I like 124 grain bullets in my nines.

Yes & no. Yes low sec den isnt good for penetration but no, you cant drive the 9mm fast enough to separate a jacket in flight. That would require something around 4000fps & a thin jacket. I have actually done that with 40gr bullet in a 220swift @ 4200fps.

 

[fredj338]

Nuther vote for 124/147gr.

While developing loads for .40 using the light/middle/heavy loads I learned that the slide speed also is a factor.

115gr = SNAPPY slide speed
124gr = Very controllable slide speed
147gr = sluggish response compared to the two above

Depends on the weight of the slide but yes. I also think its torque. Heavy bullets in my 1911/9, slide is slow. Heavy bullets in my g26, plenty of slide speed, nice push.
The higher speed bullets offer more torque exiting the bbl, thus the twisting feeling of the grip v a 147 push. Could be all bs but my theory. I can certainly feel the diff in 115 v 124 v 147 in drills.