Best 9mm Personal Defense Round

I prefer the Federal 115 grain JHP (9BP) loads when it comes to the 9mm. Using +P ammo is nice, but I tend to stick with standard pressure loads for all of my weapons. Easier to shoot, less expensive and easier on the gun. All while still being quite effective.

Of course, due to my affinity for standard pressure loads, I generally prefer using .45 ACP and .40 S&W caliber weapons, thus essentially eliminating the need for +P use. I guess I feel that if +P ammo is needed in order to be effective, then one should consider a different caliber.
 
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We all know what we like, but none of us can tell you what's right for your gun.

Every gun that comes off the factory line is gonna be a little different and is going to shoot differently. What shoots great in your Glock 17 might not do the same in my Glock 17. That's just what you live with when dealing with automatics.

The only way to know is to shoot different brands until you find the one that has the tightest pattern, and doesn't jam. All of the new stuff that's out now (Hydra-Shoks, Gold Dots, Rangers, XTPs, etc., etc., etc.) is gonna be fine and do the job - as long as you hit your target.

Trial and error. It's expensive at first, but once you find out what your gun likes, stick with it.
 
Just in case there's any further interest...

Check these videos out...
I prefer the 147gr but there's videos of 124gr on here too and they ALL have their pros and cons... at least in the Glock 19
Point your friend to this site or maybe have a look yourself?
I wouldn't say they're scientific tests, but they're about as good as they're going to get and it's all modern JHP ammo, not the stuff from 20 years ago. Hope this helps.

Winchester Ranger SXT 147gr
http://www.youtube.com/user/tnoutdoo.../1/xY05GU8ZNfc

Winchester Ranger Bonded 147gr
http://www.youtube.com/user/tnoutdoo.../6/9ZMgyqWgW7M

Speer Gold Dot 147gr
http://www.youtube.com/user/tnoutdoo...10/S5aGOjyV6CU

Federal HST 147gr
http://www.youtube.com/user/tnoutdoo...14/KpO5kPuQYrA
 
My picks for 9x19mm carry-protection loads....

There are some good options posted in the topic so far.
In my opinion, a few great 9x19/9mmNATO rounds are(in no real order);

the Winchester Ranger T 127gr +P+ JHP(it's very rare for citizens but highly rated), Winchester Ranger T bonded 124gr +P JHP, Remington Golden Saber bonded 124gr JHP +P, Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P JHP, Hornady TAP 9mm, CorBon DPX 115gr +P JHP, Magsafe SWAT load.
Some TFL members use or endorse the 147gr 9mm rounds. They can work well but I prefer the 124gr weight. It does great and you can buy or shoot milspec 124gr FMJ 9x19mm rounds for training/target use.
I'd add that for spare or 2nd/3rd pistol mags, I'd suggest using FMJ 9mmNATO rounds like the Federal EFMJ or the PowRball loads. They feed great and may punch deeper into barriers/building material to hit armed subjects.
Let me be clear(due to those who distort my remarks), a bonded 124gr or 147gr JHP is better for protection or as a anti-personnel round(to use a US military term) BUT if you(or your bud) get into a firefight that requires a speed load or spare magazine, then more than likely, you'll be behind cover firing at a bad guy(gal ;) ) that is behind a barrier too.
If you are in a critical incident and are down to your last pistol mag, I'd un-%#* the area toots sweet!
 
The best round is the one you put where it needs to go, after that I like the new Winchester PDX1 that the FBI has adopted as well as the Gold dot, The Federal HST deserves mention also. I like the 124 gr weight bullets as they have the better track record for penetration and expansion combined. The Ranger T series by Winchester is also an excellent round but I have to wonder if it will be fazed out with the new PDX line. Hornady critical defense sounds good but I'd like to see some real world results.
 
I use the 124 gr +P+ 9mm load in my sig sauer P229r. It works great and has great expansion. They use the Gold dot and it's published velocity is 1300 fps from a 4" barrel. So that would be my first choice.
My second choice is the Cor-Bon 125gr +p load which I used until I swiched to the buffalo bore +P+ load.
The third choice is the Federal 105gr Expanding Full Metal Jacket. For a lighter recoiling round that peforms great and consistintly I like this one. I use it in guns that do not do well with +P or +P+ ammo.
However there are so many good loads out there that you will have a hard time finding a truely "bad" load. I also test every brand of ammo before I trust it. I shoot them through fabric covered water jugs, I fire through dry wall to see if they will plug up. I go to a local junk yard and buy an old car windsheild and shoot through it. I know that my testing it not perfect nor does it perfectly replicate human tissue. However I can compare my results with new ammo to ammo that is tested say by the FBI. then I fire the load they tested in my tests and it give me an idea about how it compares to the older load that was more scientifclly tested.
I know my system is not perfect but it gives me some peace of mind know a little of what the bullet will do and how it was enginered.
 
I was a big fan of Hornady Critical Defense 115 grain and I still have it loaded in my backup mags. But lately my primary mags have been loaded with 124 grain Speer Gold Dots.
 
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