What's the best 9mm ammo - Page 2

Ben Dover · September 17, 2018, 05:39 PM

I like a big ol' honkin' flash! If'n ya caint hit em', then by golly blind 'em!

EIGHTYDUECE · September 17, 2018, 06:24 PM

Go to Luckygunner and look thru their testing and make your own choice.

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/sel...llistic-tests/

jrothWA · September 17, 2018, 07:40 PM

I like to shoot and carry the 124 gr XTP's.

Reload using the 124 XTP's, to duplicate the carry ammo.

Geezerbiker · September 17, 2018, 10:51 PM

Thanks guys for the opinions. I'll be carrying them in probably a Ruger LC9. I wanted a Kimber Micro9 but I can't justify the cost... Anyway I'm going to make up pick up one in the next week or two...

Tony

wild cat mccane · September 18, 2018, 07:57 AM

Remember, Speer and Federal are now owned by the Vista Outdoors. Same company.

Interesting example of similarities between the two. Speer .223 Gold Dot is the same bullet construction as the new Federal Fusion .223. Crazy world. Vista Outdoors owns almost all bullets in the US with the exclusion of Tula, Remington/Barnes, Hornady, and a few of the smaller manufactures they haven't gobbled up.

9mm bee's knees is the HST.
Ranger T 147gr has at times been test as penetrating too much and not opening up.
Gold Dot lagging behind the HST, when Speer was owned by ATK, went into a revision with the Gold Dot G2.
XTP as defined by Hornady (X for extreme, where extreme is referenced for it's penetration) doesn't open up large the other hollow points. That's why you see XTP rounds in hunting rounds (ie 10mm) and the FTX in the personal defense line.

HST always lands at 17" or under fully expanded.

Chaparral · September 18, 2018, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geezerbiker

As I recall Corbon used to be considered the best but I haven't carried a 9 in a long time. What is considered top grade defensive ammo these days?

Tony

I still carry Federal Hydro-shocks. I use to carry Winchester Silvertips back in the 80s and then switched to Hydro-shocks.

Geezerbiker · October 2, 2018, 01:05 AM

I was looking on Midway for some defensive ammo and ran across NovX 9mm lead free ammo. Before I order some, anyone here have any experience with it?

Tony

**Spats McGee** · October 2, 2018, 05:51 AM

^^^ Never heard of it before, to be honest.

wild cat mccane · October 2, 2018, 07:19 AM

Not that I dislike Corbon and I did carry DPX in my P3AT when it was THE .380 round...

But in 9mm it's not sufficient in the non +P load and the +p 115gr Barnes XPD/Corbon loads are the only 115gr that are "good" in the big tests. The expansion of the XPD is impressive.

As a result of the light 115gr, we see they stop in the 13-near 14 inch range. The Federal loads go 15" plus and are large.

Geezerbiker · October 2, 2018, 07:35 AM

I'll probably end up doing my own tests but I'm hoping to narrow down the choices to 2 or 3 brands to try...

Tony

Jack19 · October 17, 2018, 06:12 PM

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/sel...llistic-tests/

Realistically, on the Lucky Gunner list of 9mm tested ammunition, there may be only one, or two, that I wouldn't carry based on initial testing. Provided they function in my weapon.

Placement over round.

Find a round that functions in your weapon.

Shoot it enough to know it won't fail when you need it. At least to the degree that reality allows you to do so.

Practice, and get realistic instruction.

Be willing. Survive the fight. Don't over think it.

Give me an 80s designed Winchester Silvertip and I'm happy as a clam; 30 years later. Are there more modern designs? Yes. Do any of them give me more confidence? No.

Brian48 · October 17, 2018, 08:21 PM

I still like the classic Corbon 115gr +P jhp. Bought two new boxes yesterday, in fact. Most of the time, I use HSTs (all variants except the Micro version) or 124gr +P Gold Dots, but for those really hot summer months when people are wearing really light clothing or for HD, I like the low penetration, high energy dump of this old school load.

TxFlyFish · October 21, 2018, 12:50 PM

124 +P Gold dots, with the added benefit that it is a boring well known brand

bamaranger · October 22, 2018, 12:26 AM

Sorry......but free ammo is my favorite.

USNRet93 · October 24, 2018, 07:00 AM

Lehigh/Underwood/Blackhills Xtreme Defender..

Super Blackhawk · October 26, 2018, 06:46 AM

Hard to beat Hornady Critical Duty or Critical Defense for self defense round, but Speer gold dots n HSTs are right up there

Siggy-06 · October 26, 2018, 03:54 PM

Hornandy Critical Defense or Federal hydrashok get my vote.

September 17, 2018, 05:39 PM	#26
Ben Dover Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2013 Location: High up in the Rocky Moun Posts: 665	I like a big ol' honkin' flash! If'n ya caint hit em', then by golly blind 'em! __________________ The soldier's pack is not so heavy a burden as the prisoner's chains. Dwight Eisenhower It is very important what a man stands for. But it is far more important what a man refuses to stand for.

September 17, 2018, 06:24 PM	#27
EIGHTYDUECE Senior Member Join Date: July 19, 2001 Posts: 578	Go to Luckygunner and look thru their testing and make your own choice. https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/sel...llistic-tests/ __________________ "KNEES IN THE BREEZE" "Shop Smart, Shop S-Mart"- ASH

October 2, 2018, 05:51 AM	#33
Spats McGee Staff Join Date: July 28, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 8,821	^^^ Never heard of it before, to be honest. __________________ I'm a lawyer, but I'm not your lawyer. If you need some honest-to-goodness legal advice, go buy some.

October 17, 2018, 06:12 PM	#36
Jack19 Senior Member Join Date: August 18, 2001 Location: Somewhere in the Ford Galaxy Posts: 713	https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/sel...llistic-tests/ Realistically, on the Lucky Gunner list of 9mm tested ammunition, there may be only one, or two, that I wouldn't carry based on initial testing. Provided they function in my weapon. Placement over round. Find a round that functions in your weapon. Shoot it enough to know it won't fail when you need it. At least to the degree that reality allows you to do so. Practice, and get realistic instruction. Be willing. Survive the fight. Don't over think it. Give me an 80s designed Winchester Silvertip and I'm happy as a clam; 30 years later. Are there more modern designs? Yes. Do any of them give me more confidence? No. __________________ Liberty will not long survive the total extinction of morals. Samuel Adams Last edited by Jack19; October 17, 2018 at 06:47 PM.

October 17, 2018, 08:21 PM	#37
Brian48 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2001 Location: Boston, People's Republic of MA Posts: 1,616	I still like the classic Corbon 115gr +P jhp. Bought two new boxes yesterday, in fact. Most of the time, I use HSTs (all variants except the Micro version) or 124gr +P Gold Dots, but for those really hot summer months when people are wearing really light clothing or for HD, I like the low penetration, high energy dump of this old school load. __________________ Proud to have served.

September 17, 2018, 07:40 PM	#28
jrothWA Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2006 Posts: 2,519	I like to shoot and carry the 124 gr XTP's. Reload using the 124 XTP's, to duplicate the carry ammo.

September 17, 2018, 10:51 PM	#29
Geezerbiker Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: Willamina, OR Posts: 1,908	Thanks guys for the opinions. I'll be carrying them in probably a Ruger LC9. I wanted a Kimber Micro9 but I can't justify the cost... Anyway I'm going to make up pick up one in the next week or two... Tony

September 18, 2018, 07:57 AM	#30
wild cat mccane Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 3,624	Remember, Speer and Federal are now owned by the Vista Outdoors. Same company. Interesting example of similarities between the two. Speer .223 Gold Dot is the same bullet construction as the new Federal Fusion .223. Crazy world. Vista Outdoors owns almost all bullets in the US with the exclusion of Tula, Remington/Barnes, Hornady, and a few of the smaller manufactures they haven't gobbled up. 9mm bee's knees is the HST. Ranger T 147gr has at times been test as penetrating too much and not opening up. Gold Dot lagging behind the HST, when Speer was owned by ATK, went into a revision with the Gold Dot G2. XTP as defined by Hornady (X for extreme, where extreme is referenced for it's penetration) doesn't open up large the other hollow points. That's why you see XTP rounds in hunting rounds (ie 10mm) and the FTX in the personal defense line. HST always lands at 17" or under fully expanded.

October 2, 2018, 01:05 AM	#32
Geezerbiker Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: Willamina, OR Posts: 1,908	I was looking on Midway for some defensive ammo and ran across NovX 9mm lead free ammo. Before I order some, anyone here have any experience with it? Tony

October 2, 2018, 07:19 AM	#34
wild cat mccane Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 3,624	Not that I dislike Corbon and I did carry DPX in my P3AT when it was THE .380 round... But in 9mm it's not sufficient in the non +P load and the +p 115gr Barnes XPD/Corbon loads are the only 115gr that are "good" in the big tests. The expansion of the XPD is impressive. As a result of the light 115gr, we see they stop in the 13-near 14 inch range. The Federal loads go 15" plus and are large.

October 2, 2018, 07:35 AM	#35
Geezerbiker Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: Willamina, OR Posts: 1,908	I'll probably end up doing my own tests but I'm hoping to narrow down the choices to 2 or 3 brands to try... Tony

October 21, 2018, 12:50 PM	#38
TxFlyFish Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2011 Posts: 1,246	124 +P Gold dots, with the added benefit that it is a boring well known brand

October 22, 2018, 12:26 AM	#39
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,302	can't resist Sorry......but free ammo is my favorite.

October 26, 2018, 06:46 AM	#41
Super Blackhawk Member Join Date: October 23, 2015 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 50	Hornady Hard to beat Hornady Critical Duty or Critical Defense for self defense round, but Speer gold dots n HSTs are right up there

October 26, 2018, 03:54 PM	#42
Siggy-06 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 1,148	Hornandy Critical Defense or Federal hydrashok get my vote. __________________ Flicks just like a lighter, just a different kind of fire.