Inexpensive but hard hitting 9mm ammo?

[Northslope Nimrod]

What I need: I started shooting bowling pins in an informal competition. I only have 9mm's. I won't be buying a .45 any time soon. I want to continue using my 9mm until I can atleast hit the pins every shot. However, meanwhile, I often hit the pin but it doesn't knock it off the table...thus frustrating me during the course and I shoot poorly....including the extra time to shoot some pins twice.
Thus, are there some inexpensive flat nose 9mm rounds out there....or other hard hitting ammo? My hollow points are just kinda spendy!

[stephen426]

How many grains are the bullets you are shooting? The heaviest common rounds I know of for 9mm are 147 gr. and even that is no much of a difference compared to the standard 115 gr. stuff. The only way to tip the pins consistently with 9mm is to hit them high. We are talking about a much smaller target though and you would be at a serious disadvantage.

You have to weigh your priorities. If money is tight and you want cheaper target practice, stick with the 9mm. If you can get a decent trade on your gun for a decent pre-owned .45, you might want to consider it. They you can save up for a .22 LR conversion slide to save on ammo costs. The .45 will easily do what the 9mm will do (and most will argue better) for self defense.

[Te Anau]

Heres a good fairly inexpensive HP.
http://www.natchezss.com/ammo.cfm?contentID=productDetail&ammoRecID=2&brand=ZY&prodID=ZYSBA00904&CFID=819088&CFTOKEN=48333906

[Webleymkv]

I second the notion for heavier bullets. 147grn should do the best.

[zzirg]

a freind of mine caught a richochet off a 45 round in his upper thigh ,when we were shooting bowling pins........just a word of caution! he was ok but said it stung like hell

[mathman]

Uh...excuse me, but 'hard hitting 9mm' is an oxymoron... :D

[Ac1d0v3r1d3]

try fiocchi ammo, it seems hotter than other ammo and its usually cheaper aswell.

[Velocity226]

I heard that WWB 147 Grain JHPs are affordable, but haven't price checked it.

[Northslope Nimrod]

Sorry, I forgot to post the grain. Yes...I have been using 115 grain Winchesters and PMC.

[IanS]

Fiocchi. Esp. the ones marked Made in the EU.

Speer Lawman is also good stuff (not as hot as Fiocchi) but more expensive but very clean burning. CCI Blazer is pretty good powerwise but dirty. Winchester WWB, UMC, and PMC are very mild and very dirty; even compared to Federal American Eagle which I consider middle of the road.

[dfm]

We set pins up at different depths for different calibers. Front of the table for .40> autos/all mag revolvers - mid table for 9mm and .38Special. Everyone gets a fair shot according to the caliber they're using.

To run a pin table with a 9mm consistantly you've got to use 147grn slugs loaded to 9 major. Just my opinion.

[J.D.B.]

We have a couple of shooters at our weekly match shooting 9's (one a Glock and the other a CZ). they are both using the WWB 124 FMJ's and doing quite well. We shoot at 12 yards. The Win's seem to have enough for consistently removing those nasty pins from the table. You do need to get a reasonably centered hit, though. Hollow points don't have any advantage over FMJ. I've done quite a bit of experimentation. Hollow points work in soft objects and barely deform in pins. Save a little money and don't bother with them.
Josh

[Geoff Timm]

Most Wal*Marts (TM) have 147 gr Winchester 50 round boxes. I'm not all that fond of the 147 in the 9mm, but for pins it's the best you can do.

Geoff
Who didn't shoot pins with a 9mm, twice. :rolleyes:

[chris in va]

I heard that WWB 147 Grain JHPs are affordable

Roger that. Probably your best bet.

[cje1980]

147 gr. are your best bet. Although they have a lower KE they have significantly more momentum than the 115gr stuff. They have a Flat-Nose which, in my opinion might smack the pins with a little bit more authority. 9mm FMJ is extremely pointy and it is probably just bouncing off. By the WWB USA JHP in 147gr. is about $10-11 per box of 50 and penetrate and expand decently. How about that JHP ammunition for less than .45 practice ammo.

[gddyup]

I don't know how "hard hitting" they are, but I just picked up 200 rounds of Winchester White Box 115gr from Walmart this afternoon for $20. Damn fine price for 200 rounds. I've put WWB, Fiochhi, and Cor-Bon through my XD9 and found that so far (gun is still new), the WWB fires pretty damn flat and pretty accurate for my skill level. At this point, getting more rounds under my belt is the most important thing for me and the Wallyworld WWB stuff is just fine for that, especially at the price.

[Mark54g]

Do they make 9mm rounds in a truncated cone? One would think that with a 9mm they would not glance off as much as a conical shape and would deliver more of their energy. a 124gr or higher weight truncated cone (flat tip) would seem to do what you want, no?

edited to add that I found some
http://www.fiocchiusa.com/cat_centerfire.php

edited again to add this
http://www.natchezss.com/ammo.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=WNUSA9MM1&CFID=830846&CFTOKEN=31036759

[Samuel2001]

Inexpensive but, hard hitting 9mm ammo? Did ya try the 230 grain variety out of a 1911 yet?

Sorry, couldnt help it! :D

[dolanp]

Yeah.. stand at the end of a firing range where everyone's shooting 9mm and see if you walk away. :rolleyes: :p