What is the best self defense 9 mm ammo out there?

[RoundEye]

I personally like Winchester Ranger or PDX-1. I also like Hornady Critical Defense.

A lot of people like Federal HSTs, or Speer Gold Dots.

 

[skb720]

Federal HST 124 grain +P

 

[FoundFather]

I'm running Federal HST 147's. Sometimes i think that 124 standard pressure might be better, but mostly I think either are plenty good enough.

 

[sjb323]

Ballistics is a pretty specialized area of expertise. Rather than looking to an Internet forum for advice on this topic, it may be better to look into what some of the larger federal and municipal police agencies have adopted -- some of which has been suggested here. They all do very exhaustive ballistic testing done by dudes whose primary job it is to T&E firearms stuff. I'm pretty sure most here have not done this type of testing.

 

[ShootFirstFirster]

BLACK HILLS 100GR HONEY BADGER

 

[GeeQ87]

HST 124g

 

[FoundFather]

Rather than looking to an Internet forum for advice on this topic, it may be better .......

True, but where is the fun in that? If we can't spout off while skiiving off from work or drinking beer on our couch, what is the point of this forum? Don't confuse us with logic and facts!

 

[DJD100]

I'm running Federal HST 147's. Sometimes i think that 124 standard pressure might be better, but mostly I think either are plenty good enough.

I've tried both 124 and 147 in my 3" EDC guns, and I could hardly feel a difference? There was maybe a slightly less snappy recoil impulse for the 147 vs the 124, though it was subtle (both standard pressure).

Some say the heavier rounds are better in short barrels as they move slower allowing all the pressure to be utilized vs the faster light rounds, which tend to exit the short barrel faster before all the powder has burned, but I haven't seen a big difference in all the various gel testing online?

I have some light for caliber copper 115's HP's for my 4.5" pistol, and they work well with the longer barrel.

 

[5.56Geo]

Federal HST 124 Grain +P, you cant go wrong!

 

[Spike Spiegel]

Federal HST or Winchester Ranger.

 

[.dC0m]

I have been carrying this for a few years now:

9mm +P "Ultra Light"

libertyammo.com

One of my buddies carries these - I didn't think 50gr v. 115gr would be that much of a difference, oh boy was I wrong...

Interesting tidbit, Black Talons are still illegal in the county and city of San Francisco CA, crazy eh?

Yes they are illegal in the city and county of SF. Funny thing is, by the time the ban came out, Winchester had ceased production on the Black Talons like almost 15 years prior...

 

[Kruzzin34]

I run Underwood with Lehigh 90gr in most of my carry pistols. Velocities are always on point to what they say and I’ve never had a failure. I’ll never carry anything else. Have it in 9mm, 10mm and 45acp and they flat out perform.

 

[sonofeugene]

I have HST.

 

[JohntheBaptized]

I see a lot of Hornady 9mm 115 grain or Federal Defense 9 mm, what do you recommend ? Any other offerings?

It sort of depends, but all around HST has been proven to be reliable no matter the length of the barrel. Having said that, Critical Defense is great for shorter barrels like 3 inch. There’s an old school YouTuber who no longer makes videos because he’s don’t testing ammo, found that when using the correct yellow ballistics gel, the Critical Defense was reliably flowering in short, 3” barrels which makes it great for CCW weapons. It was also shown that Defense and Duty does expand better than other hollow points in heavily clothed or heavily matted clothing. When Defense was tested in clear ballistic gel, or in 4”+ barrels it would not expand properly. So I guess it can depend, but if you’re looking for buying in bulk and want an all around round, HST 127gr and Winchester Defense(Defender?) 147gr are solid choices.

 

[DJD100]

I run Underwood with Lehigh 90gr in most of my carry pistols. Velocities are always on point to what they say and I’ve never had a failure. I’ll never carry anything else. Have it in 9mm, 10mm and 45acp and they flat out perform.

I have it in 32ACP, and it allows that little fella to hit above his weight class, though I haven't tried it in 9mm.

 

[Kruzzin34]

The 90gr 9mm rounds are screamers, I think I’ll be switching over to strictly those for edc soon.

 

[JohntheBaptized]

Depends on the barrel length, but from what I’ve read, Critical Defense 115gr for three inch or close to three inch barrels, HST 124gr for everything else. There’s a Winchester round that performed better, but it was 147gr and I never bothered to remember it. This is for 9mm.

 

[robchern]

Ive always had HST in my home defense handgun. But ive seen some good stuff on videos about Underwood extreme penetrators.

 

[H. Bowman]

I like 147g HST, but they're all not that great. Pistols are terrible fighting guns.

 

[mblat1968]

Speer Golden Dot 124+p