Which is the better defensive load for my 9mm?

[hotpig27]

With top shelf modern hp designs you do not need the +P to compensate for a SB. Bullet technology is beyond that.

[filgun11]

With top shelf modern hp designs you do not need the +P to compensate for a SB. Bullet technology is beyond that.

That maybe so.. but ballistic gel test almost always show that more speed means better expansion. So getting +P for the same price as normal pressure loads, to me, makes sense.

OP, check tnoutdoors9 on YouTube. Lots of ballistic tests of different ammos.

[ungawa]

HST is top dog.

PDX is good, especially with barriers, not that that matters.

Corbon is very good but penetration is a little less.

Gold dot is just fine.

Hydroshocks suck but do get good penetration. So does FMJ. Save money and buy FMJ.

[hotpig27]

HST sells well for me, at least as well as Ranger T. Gold Dot really may be the best selling for my company this year.

[LifeInPa]

Thanks again everybody for the informative conversation.

Buy some of both. Which ever you can manage recoil with better pick that one. Buy more of it and buy more "practice" ammunition so that you can become accustomed to it.

There is probably a marginal difference in terminal performance. There may be a lot greater difference in recoil. So pick the one that you can manage better and train with it. Train some more.

I would assume the heavier round is likely to have less recoil? So far I have trained with mostly 115 Grain Tula, some 124 Grain Auiglia (Spelling? It's a Mexican brand) and some of those cheap bulk boxes of 9mm found at Wal-Mart. I am going to assume the recoil is in that general area. The defensive loads are expensive so I am probably just going to shoot one box, make sure it cycles fine and store the rest.

My preferred choice of carry ammo is Federal HST 124gr +P.
IMO, just right in the middle between 115 and 147 when it comes to speed, expansion, and weight for stopping power.
+P for compensate for the shorter barrel.

HST is top dog.

PDX is good, especially with barriers, not that that matters.

Corbon is very good but penetration is a little less.

Gold dot is just fine.

Hydroshocks suck but do get good penetration. So does FMJ. Save money and buy FMJ.

HST sells well for me, at least as well as Ranger T. Gold Dot really may be the best selling for my company this year.

These rounds you guys are discussing how much are they? Not to sound like a nag but I don't want to spend $20+ and end up with just 20 rounds.

[filgun11]

These rounds you guys are discussing how much are they? Not to sound like a nag but I don't want to spend $20+ and end up with just 20 rounds.

I bought mine for $25 for 50 round box. Bought several boxes.

[hotpig27]

The 147 has less recoil even than the cheap target ammo in 115gr. Most non bonded defensive rounds are around 25.00 per 50 rounds. Bonded ammo is a little more expensive.

[gummy jones]

i prefer 124 +p from the big name manufacture companies for carry because the standard loads have become too slow imo

[hotpig27]

i prefer 124 +p from the big name manufacture companies for carry because the standard loads have become too slow imo

Newer premium rounds are not velocity dependent. This is the reason the 147gr works so well in the compacts.

[gummy jones]

Newer premium rounds are not velocity dependent. This is the reason the 147gr works so well in the compacts.

i dont have much (zero) experience with 147gr in 9mm. just seems like a little too much lead to be pushed by that little casing but that is admittedly just me being naive. i really like 124gr in 9mm and just havent branched out i guess.