9mm Self Defense Loads: Your Choice?

One thing I'm noting the more I read is that the 147 grain has a tendency toward over penetration. Which means it isn't delivering all of its potential energy into the target. That certainly is a factor. What I really wish I had was access to was a few pigs. That might actually help with testing. I wonder where mythbusters got theirs?


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In my opinion the temporary stretch cavity when it comes to pistols is pretty inconsequential. The idea that energy is being "dumped" into the body isn't something I really buy into for handguns (with some exceptions). To me the two questions are is the bullet penetrating to the depth that might be required and is it doing so with enough mass to critically damage organs and take your opponent out of the fight sooner rather than later. Rifles do get impressive stretch cavities that do seem to cause tearing to surrounding tissue just by the round passing through. I haven't seen evidence of similar with pistols. For a pistol unless it's in the path of the bullet it isn't damaged.

I still look for ballistic tests where the round passes clean through the block, but I do it from a standpoint of how much further that bullet will penetrate after hitting the opponent and not as a gauge of energy dump. Complete pass through generally shows no expansion and to me at that point I would just use ball ammo. Lately the prevailing opinion on YouTube seems to be that over penetration is a myth and inconsequential compared to the fact that you might well miss some shots entirely. I don't completely buy into this philosophy, but to each his own.


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TunnelRat, I can't remember where I saw/heard it but but I think long barreled, hot 44 mag can just hit the threshold where shock like from rifle rounds happens. That being said like hell im carrying a long barreled 44 mag for self defense. I carry a compact loaded up with 9mm hornady critical defense 115 grain standard pressure.
 
RoughDivider said:
TunnelRat, I can't remember where I saw/heard it but but I think long barreled, hot 44 mag can just hit the threshold where shock like from rifle rounds happens. That being said like hell im carrying a long barreled 44 mag for self defense. I carry a compact loaded up with 9mm hornady critical defense 115 grain standard pressure.
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Like I said some exceptions. Long barreled 44 mag or 10mm are some of those that get really close and maybe will, I just haven't watched a lot of those tests.

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My top choice is really whatever I can get either locally or via mail-order. Living in this moonbat state, my mail-order options are limited.

Right now, I use either Win 147gr Defend or Federal 150gr HST with my Ruger SR9C, which I use as an EDC gun. 124gr HSTs or Win PDX1 in my Beretta 92FS.
 
I will note that in the current glut the market is in right now I've seen some of the best prices for SD ammo in years. That and it's actually available in decent quantities. It's a buyer's market.
 
While I have stockpiles of the "Big 3", that is HST, Ranger and Gold Dot in standard and +P, I have found that Hornady TAP 124 gr +P shoots exceptionally well in my Beretta 92. Generally better than the Big 3 in fact. The very first time I shot it, I was hounding the bullseye at 25 yds. So I count that among my options. Yes, yes, I know TAP is not in the internet-sanctified "Cool Kid's Club", but I'm not worried. I carry several of the "Outsiders" from time to time when they work very well in a particular gun. ;)
 
Whatever happened to the famous Corbon 115+P loading? It seemed to have developed quite a reputation in the 1990's, yet I don't ever hear about it anymore. Is is still being manufactured?
 
If I was to use my 9mm for self defense I would test different bullets and loads in my Fackler Box. I have tested all my hunting ammo in it and my 357 magnum self defense ammo. The results of penetration can be compared to ballistic gelatin (they are a specific ratio). The expansion in a Fackler Box is identical to that in gelatin.

The lie that the temporary cavities or wound channels are important can be dismissed. The internal organs and tissues are elastic enough that things may be moved around but most of the "killing power" comes from actual cut tissues caused by interference with the bullet itself. This has been proven over and over since the mid 1900s especially with rounds that are less than hyper-sonic (below 3000 fps at impact).

All the benefits of ballistics gelatin are there with a Fackler Box - repeatability and consistency are better than with wet paper or other things used for testing and the penetration measurement is down to the inch. If you are going to test terminal ballistics building a strong Fackler Box is a good investment.
 
MandolinMan said:
Whatever happened to the famous Corbon 115+P loading? It seemed to have developed quite a reputation in the 1990's, yet I don't ever hear about it anymore. Is is still being manufactured?
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I don't think they've updated the bullet much for that loading since the '90s, and the advertised velocity of 1350 fps probably scares a lot of potential customers who don't want to damage their guns. They definitely don't appear to be greasing the palms of any gun magazine writers or major retailers either.

But the human body hasn't evolved much since then, so they are still quite deadly.
 
from my home defense glock 17 to my vehicle protection glock 26 to my on person glock 43. they all are stoked with winchester ranger 147 grain t-series. its just hard to beat the penetration and those "deadly talons" are kinda cool to.
if i didn't carry ranger's it would be either hst's or gold dot's all in 147 grain standard pressure. imho the wear and tear and more recoil don't give me that much if any edge over a standard pressure round.
Big Ed
 
My only 9mm handgun is a Glock 43. The most accurate out of my 43 was the Gold Dot 124gr+p short barrel. Ive always tended to lean towards bullets that were a little faster over the slower and heavier bullets.
 
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