most powerful 9mm

FMJ for me

My opinion is that we are being sold a bill of goods by great marketing. The bullet that was "killer" 5 years ago and ultimate at stopping the bag guy is now second rate to the newest thing on the market.

I'm not saying bullet design hasn't progressed for it surely has, I just think most of it is hype. Also, because of the price of self defense ammo probably 99% of us practice with FMJ and load up with the Zombie (or something similar) ammo for self defense. Theoretically, we should practice with what we carry but none of my friends can afford 500 rounds of self defense ammo.

So I practice with FMJ and carry FMJ whether in 9mm, .40 or .45 acp. I can afford 500+ rounds of FMJ! And if I go to court maybe I can claim I was using lame ammo that was not meant to harm anyone for surely no one can be hurt with FMJ. :D

As was stated by RickB; location, location, location. If you can't get on target and have subsequent shots on target then the remaining 10, 15 or whatever rounds you have are useless.

If you want real stopping power get a 10mm! :eek::D
 
i just ordered some Buffalo Bore 147 +p+ so im going to try out the hottest stuff out there and if it sucks ill just get some HSTs.
 
When buying Buffalo Bore ammo, you likely will not be getting Gold Dots. They used to use them but then generally went with an inferior bullet called the Montana Gold. If you look at their website, they generally just say "jacketed hollow point" ammo which is practically meaningless. Now, if you consider their non-hollow point ammo for hunting and even defense in some calibers (standard pressure .38 sp. wadcutters), that's a different story.
 
Carrying hollowpoints isn't just for stopping power. It's also to cut down on over-penetration. Carrying FMJs is a terrible idea, the bullet may go through your target into the orphan behind them, and misses will go through 6 suburban homes before stopping.

Carry hollowpoints, the court defense for their use is very practiced at this point. It is safer for everyone involved.
 
From what I have read buffalo bore used the Montana gold bullets during the ammo shortage and also disclosed that they were not gold dots on the website. This is what I have heard and the most recent reviews I have looked at seem to all say that the bullets they are getting are in fact gold dots.
 
From what I have read buffalo bore used the Montana gold bullets during the ammo shortage and also disclosed that they were not gold dots on the website. This is what I have heard and the most recent reviews I have looked at seem to all say that the bullets they are getting are in fact gold dots.
I emailed them this past week asking if their 10mm hollow points were bonded. They were not.
 
The insistence on light loads in 9x19 is outdated. Modern 147-grain loadings perform excellently. Search around the internet (youtube videos by tnoutdoors9 are a good start) and look at the 147-grain Speer Gold Dot and 147-grain Federal HST loads. Consistent 12"+ penetration and impressive expansion (in the HST's case, extraordinary expansion).

Sources:

http://le.atk.com/pdf/GoldDotPoster.pdf

http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Self_De..._FAQ/index.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSFQg...53-U_oyecoBBs=
- 147-grain Speer Gold Dot gel test w/denim

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBIDn...is18yEDASGG7s=
- 147-grain Winchester PDX1 gel test w/denim

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNRqr...F6382529FB5C51
- 147-grain Federal HST gel test w/denim
 
Last edited:
ScotchMan: No disrespect but if you think my 9mm FMJ will go through six suburban homes before stopping we need to talk. :) Not sure how they make them where you live but I don't think a 9mm will go all the way through my house let alone six houses.
 
I almost responded to Scotchman myself sks, but as his statement went on it got more and more outrageous until it got to the point I had to assume he was being facetious.
 
So what's the best way to find out if these 9mm are bonded? I assume a non bonded bullet at that velocity would just explode.
 
My opinion is that we are being sold a bill of goods by great marketing. The bullet that was "killer" 5 years ago and ultimate at stopping the bag guy is now second rate to the newest thing on the market.

Well, everyone markets their products. Even the best current design will give way to a better design in the future---which is exactly what happened to past revolutions in bullet technology. The Hydrashok was an advancement. HST is better. The best of the new designs DO expand reliably, from shorter barrels, and thru heavy clothing. And yes, like old designs, they're marketed as "the ultimate". Temporary "ultimate" would be more accurate.:D
 
Nnobby45: I like that, "temporary ultimate". Nicely done. :)

I won't write any further on this as I don't want to hijack the OP's thread.
 
I bought into the fast hollowpoint bullet theory, and that's all I loaded in my 357 for years (125 JHP), and I loaded it hot. So now I live in the country and occasionally trap pigs. Had a large open-topped trap full of midsize pigs last year, and needed to 'terminate' them. I went to the house, got the Python and a box of ammo and went back to the trap. The box of ammo was about half the 125 JHP's and half a 148 grain wadcutter, loaded not so hot. I started blasting pigs with the 125 gr JHP and just not getting what I expected in results. I switched to the 148 gr wadcutters and knocked those pigs flat. I could theorize on the why's and wherefores, but the simple fact is that the wadcutters were more effective in killing pigs than the hot, fast JHP's. For lack of a better idea, I'll say it's due to better penetration with the wadcutters. I haven't tried the same thing with my 9mm, which is loaded with 125 gr JHP's, so can only report on the 357 and bullet choices and results.
 
And in the next thread, many will be arguing about whether 'killer' ammo should be carried in a 'defensive' weapon, because a 'prosecutor' will use it against you...

*yawn*
 
@salmoneye...I live in missouri and I don't carry a gun to do anything BUT kill someone if I have to (I pray that day never comes.) Missouri goes by the "make my day" law so I don't have to worry about that nonsense
 
Back
Top