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Old January 7, 2013, 10:33 PM   #1
RevJim
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9mm Ammunition Advice

In light of recent events and the current price of ammo, I broke down and bought a 9mm pistol - a SigPro 2022. My brother-in-law also bought a 9mm - a Ruger SR9. We are looking to purchase self-defense ammunition. I currently carry Speer GoldDot in my .380, .40, and 10mm pistols, but I am unfamiliar with the performance of the 9mm.

What is the best choice for ammunition for the SigPro with a 3.9" barrel - the light, 115 grain hollow point, the medium 124 grain, or the heavy 147 grain?

And what is the best choice for the Ruger SR9?

Thank y'all for the suggestions and comments.
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Old January 7, 2013, 10:59 PM   #2
ClydeFrog
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Good luck...

Hate to say it but this is a awful time to try & buy top notch self defense/protection rounds in 9x19mm/9mm Luger.
Most popular websites & retail sources are either low or out of stock.
In general, I'd suggest the well designed Critical Duty 135gr +P. Its great & did well in the FBI protocol T&Es.
Other top 9mm loads include Corbon DPX, PowRball, Federal Guard-Dog, Ranger T 127gr +P+ JHP, Golden Saber +P JHP bonded 124gr, Speer Gold Dot 124gr JHP +P.
Check www.sgammo.com www.shopcorbon.com www.cabelas.com www.midwayusa.com www.brownells.com www.gilbertsguns.com .
I'd buy a few boxes if you find it available too. The 9x19mm loads sell fast.

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PS: I'd also suggest using 124gr FMJ or milspec ball in spare 9mm magazines. They feed & cycle and you may need to engage a barrier in a gun battle.
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Old January 7, 2013, 11:42 PM   #3
btmj
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After doing a lot of research, I chose either Speer Gold Dot 124 grain +p, OR Federal HST 125 grain +P. I consider them both acceptable, and I buy whichever is available.
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Old January 8, 2013, 12:34 AM   #4
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I go with the heavier is better thought -- so if your handgun will reliably cycle it 147gr
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Old January 8, 2013, 02:25 AM   #5
ClydeFrog
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My 2 bits....

In 9mm(9x19mm), I'd buy a 124gr JHP +P then use 124gr FMJ milspec ammunition for practice/marksmanship. It makes a lot of sense to me.
I'd add that the Hornady Critical Duty 135gr +P round weighs more but it's the rare exception.
I'm not a big fan of the 147gr "hush-puppy" loads. They were designed in SE Asia for surpressed pistols. They got a lot of use in the early 1990s by US law enforcement & SWAT but were lacking in a few areas.

Clyde
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Old January 8, 2013, 04:05 AM   #6
tristar viper
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I carry 147g flat nose in my Glock, American Eagle brand. The gun loves it, I love it, and it's always available at my local gun shop. $17 a box.
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Old January 8, 2013, 05:06 AM   #7
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I just made the rest of my 147g 9mm loads in my basement.

I had 800 cases, but after shooting some on and off for 6 months and testing different settings, I will end up with a box of around 400.

I am switching though to 124g after this last batch was completed. They worked good, but have different bullets now.

Love having a reloader!
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Old January 8, 2013, 01:12 PM   #8
481
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Quote:
In light of recent events and the current price of ammo, I broke down and bought a 9mm pistol - a SigPro 2022. My brother-in-law also bought a 9mm - a Ruger SR9. We are looking to purchase self-defense ammunition. I currently carry Speer GoldDot in my .380, .40, and 10mm pistols, but I am unfamiliar with the performance of the 9mm.

What is the best choice for ammunition for the SigPro with a 3.9" barrel - the light, 115 grain hollow point, the medium 124 grain, or the heavy 147 grain?

And what is the best choice for the Ruger SR9?

Thank y'all for the suggestions and comments.
Depending on the market in your area, it may be kind of hard to locate any 9mm ammo. That aside, I'd recommend a heavy bullet for the SR9- Federal makes the 147 gr. HST, Speer makes the 147 gr. Gold Dot, Winchester makes the 147 gr. PDX, Hornady makes the Critical Duty 135 g.r +P JHP- and there are many more.
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Old January 8, 2013, 01:55 PM   #9
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I like 124 gr the most, but it's a very subjective thing. There are effective loads in most weights. I just find the 124 gr to have the best POI=POA for me.

That said stay away from any 124 gr +p Gold Dots! I hear they explode and cause cancer. Send them to me for proper disposal.
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Old January 8, 2013, 03:34 PM   #10
ClydeFrog
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minor correction; Buffalo Bore: Guard Dog....

I'd correct one selection choice I posted. I'd avoid the Federal Guard Dog EFMJ. It weighs 105gr & a great www.youtube.com clip showed how the 9x19mm round was substandard in most common barriers(fabric, water jugs, etc).
Instead, I'd opt for the powerful Buffalo Bore 124gr +P+ FMJ FN 9mm.
It's designed & suggested as a secondary load for standard barriers in critical events. It's in stock & runs about $1.00 a round in 9x19mm.

I also saw a few well made frangibles; www.magsafeonline.com www.DRTammo.com . These are special purpose loads & not suited for EDC.

Clyde
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Old January 8, 2013, 05:09 PM   #11
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Always pick what your gun prefers which may not be what you prefer !! start ot with the premium ammo for tests.
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Old January 9, 2013, 09:25 AM   #12
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I keep my glock19 loaded w/ golddot 124gr, I have found it to be a great realiable round
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Old January 9, 2013, 09:39 AM   #13
crazy charlie
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mete hit the nail on the head.
What's good for one pistol may not be good for another. Even the same model/manufacturer.
I found this to be true with my Walther P1/ aka P38. Some rounds do not function reliably and vary from pistol to pistol and magazine to magazine.
Reliability is the key.
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Old January 9, 2013, 11:03 AM   #14
peacefulgary
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I prefer 124g+P ammo mostly.
I really like Speer Gold Dot 124g+P and Remington Golden Saber 124g+P.
They offer good weight without sacrificing much velocity

Having said that, one of the best "bang-for-the-buck" ammo that can be commonly found is the Winchester Silvertip 115g.
It's not +P but it is still kinda hot.

Good luck,
Easy
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Old January 9, 2013, 11:19 AM   #15
RBid
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I use Speer Gold Dots in 124 +P and 147. I live in Oregon (heavy clothing is common, heavy people are common) and my priorities are 1. shot placement/controllability 2. penetration 3. Expansion. Because of the light recoil and penetration, I favor the 147gr.

There are a lot of great rounds, and people do tend to over think this. Practice a lot.
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Old January 9, 2013, 11:40 AM   #16
Zhillsauditor
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I think the difference between most of the brand name 124gr +p rounds are negligible. For the sake of price, I've stuck with Remington Golden Saber 124gr +p round, which were available for something like 50-60 cents a round if you found the right deal.
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Old January 9, 2013, 11:42 AM   #17
jimbob86
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147gr HP have a history of not expanding when shot out of handguns .....

I like 124-125 +p .....
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Old January 9, 2013, 11:46 AM   #18
baccusboy
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I suggest you try http://www.underwoodammo.com/

They use Speer Gold Dot, Golden Saber, and Hornady components.
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Old January 9, 2013, 11:54 AM   #19
Madcap_Magician
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All the negative history of 147-gr. 9mm ammo is from old bullet designs.

Modern designs like the Gold Dot, Ranger, and HST loads work well in 147-gr. loads with slightly deeper penetration than the lighter loads with the added benefit that you don't need to load to +P to get the same performance.

I would advise strongly against carrying any type of FMJ ammo due to the minimal wounding characteristics and tendency to overpenetrate, but the round-nose FMJ is the worst in this regard.

Out of a 3.9" barrel, any good 9mm self-defense ammo will perform fine. The difference between a 3.5" barrel and a 4" barrel is generally within the variation from cartridge to cartridge within ammo lots for good ammo. Even a 3" barrel is only about a 50 fps drop, less with more modern ammo. Most 9mm ammo is tested in 4" guns anyway.

Here is the oft-posted read:

http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=19887
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Old January 9, 2013, 12:08 PM   #20
Tactical Jackalope
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Corbon DPX-1's 115gr +p

Speer Gold Dot 124gr +p

Remington Golden Saber 124gr BONDED +p


Always get bonded! Always.
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Old January 9, 2013, 02:06 PM   #21
TacticalDefense1911
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9mm velocity is not affected much by barrel length until you get below 3.5" so you should be fine with any weight bullet. A heavier bullet will deflect less then a light bullet. I wouldn't go below a 124gr load in 9mm unless it was an all copper bullet like the Corbon DPX loads. Federal HST or Speer Gold dot in 124gr or 147gr are GTG. I personally use 147gr. Federal HST but have used 124gr +P Speer GD in the past. Corbon DPX and Winchester Ranger T are both good loads as well. Stick with a name brand company and for the most part you should be fine. Try to stay away from older bullet designs like the Federal Hi-shok and Hydra-shock and the Winchester Silvertip and SXT. Also, I'm not a huge fan of Hornady TAP with the XTP bullet; good hunting bullet, not so good for defensive purposes. They tend to need higher velocities to expand properly. Here is a pretty extensive list of defensive loads that have been well tested and proven to perform properly. Pick one from this list and you will be fine. http://m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=19887
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Old January 9, 2013, 02:08 PM   #22
TacticalDefense1911
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Quote:
147gr HP have a history of not expanding when shot out of handguns .....
Maybe 15 years ago. Todays modern bullet designs do not have this problem.
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Old January 9, 2013, 02:19 PM   #23
jimbob86
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Quote:
147gr HP have a history of not expanding when shot out of handguns .....

Quote:
Maybe 15 years ago. Todays modern bullet designs do not have this problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHBl9fjI-60

Hornady TAP is not 15 years old ......
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Old January 9, 2013, 02:35 PM   #24
TacticalDefense1911
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The XTP comment and the 147gr bullet comment have nothing to do with each other. XTP's regardless of caliber or weight require higher velocities then most of them are loaded to, to expand properly. Todays modern 147gr bullet designs like the ones listed in the link I provided don't have these issues. Just because one bullet of poor design doesn't perform properly does not mean that the entire category does not perform properly.
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Old January 9, 2013, 03:05 PM   #25
.32acp
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In my Berreta M9

Winter months I'm carrying Hornady Critical Duty 135g +P

Summer,

Underwood
Loaded Starline brass, Gold Dot bullets 115g +P+
1400fps

Critical Duty for better penetration, for heavier clothing.

As always, pickup that phone, check with your pistol manufacture that your pistol will handle the higher pressures. In the M9 I should push about 1458 average FPS based on reviews I've read(using the M9), TNOUTDOORS averaged like 1430 in a 4" barrel. Will try out a chronograph myself one day.

Now that I am on an actual computer and not my phone, I took a moment to get the sources.

http://ballistics101.com/underwood_ammo_review.php
-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ7ri9wa728

Last edited by .32acp; January 9, 2013 at 05:20 PM.
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