9mm: 124+p vs 147+p

**Bang** · October 15th, 2017, 05:02 PM

Muzzle energy can be misleading when it comes to penetration issues. Many years ago archers demo'd how bullets would stop in a suspended bag of sand while an arrow would through and through. Slower heavier bullets sometime fare better in penetration, depending on design...and therein lies the rub. Most things....cars, planes, clothing, tools, boats are a compromise weighted to a centered goal. Same goes for ammo.

**Pag23** · October 15th, 2017, 07:58 PM

If you want a round to penetrate some barriers or windshields with minimal deflection, try the caliber of 357Sig...

**dkf** · October 15th, 2017, 08:42 PM

Never a fan of 147gr myself. Against barriers (especially hard barriers) the 124gr tends to do better especially with a good bullet. Bonded bullets tend to do better against hard objects like auto glass but a good non bonded JHP is no slouch.

**Seabee CO** · October 18th, 2017, 09:11 PM

Unless it is coming out of a barrel of an SMG, +P in a typical 4" or less 9mm barrel is over rated especially in 147gr. You do get some minor uptick in muzzle energy, but I don't think the flash/blast is worth it. I'd rather be ready for a good follow up shot if I needed it with standard 124gr NATO.

If I had to choose between the two, I'd go with 124gr.

**raxar** · October 18th, 2017, 11:06 PM

If you really want to poke holes in stuff go with 7.62 tok

**Edg** · October 23rd, 2017, 05:48 PM

For store bought ammo Ive found the winchester pdx1 in 124 grain to be great. Its bonded and Chronos way faster then advertised....like 1290 out of a G26.

**saleen322** · October 23rd, 2017, 09:46 PM

There are good reasons why the FBI is going to 9mm and one of them is the new round Speer developed. It is not a +P, moderate velocity, and almost perfect penetration across the board. This little chart compares a 115 +P+, a 124 +P, a 357 Sig (just because), and the last one is the FBI round. The FBI 147 penetrates at least 13" in all mediums and never goes to 15". YMMV

**51158** · October 23rd, 2017, 10:13 PM

I'm a big fan of corbon DPX, It's solid copper,that should take care of penitration.. I'm not a fan of +P's at all too much muzzzle flash.. All corbon ammo also has minimal muzzle flash.. Here's a video for barrier test, my dpx isn't in the vid but a few mentioned here are

**Boris Badinov** · October 23rd, 2017, 11:23 PM

Underwood or Lehigh Xtreme Penetrator (solid copper) projectile is virtually barrier blind.

The 115grain +P, and +P+ bullets are more effective against most (if not all) barriers when compared to the 124gr and 147gr +P bullets (fmj or hollow-points) and similar bullets in other larger calibers.

**Boris Badinov** · October 24th, 2017, 12:12 AM

Originally Posted by philadelphia patriot

I think they’re great rounds, but 20 rounds for like $30 + shipping is a little tough to swallow.

Tanners Sporting Goods in Jamison carries the Lehigh XP (same bullet used by Underwood). I get it in .380, but no idea what other calibers they offer. Seems like 9mm would likely, though.