Best 9mm ammo???

[ander254]

My dad was cleaning out the gun safe the other day and found a couple bags of 50rds of 9mm. They were from a gun show a while back. Georgia Arms reloads with FMJ brass casings. Had a price tag of $6 a bag.

[Drizzdog]

My 91/30 nagant didn't come with a lot of cosmoline on the metal parts but was inbedded in the stock, so i figure'd I'd refinish it. My sks on the otherhand looked like someone dumped it in cosmoline and threw it in a wooden crate *which they did* and then dumped it in cosmoline just to get even with me for some reason. That one I steam cleaned, soaked with mineral spirits, and let it sit out in the sun in 90 degree weather with a newspaper under it and I found it worked pretty well, it still sweats oil but not too bad. Truthfully I cycle between the box 'o truth and surplusrifle.com pretty continuously, I find they are both pretty helpful in surplus firearms/care.

[evilblackrifle]

Originally Posted by Drizzdog

I would also stay away from 147 grain self defense ammo, I've read in quite a few places that it doesn't feed great in some top shelf guns, and that it's ballistic performance is actually less than a mid grain bullet, like 124 grain. In some cases it does have a knack for over-penetrating.Ammunition For The Self-Defense Firearm

That info about 147gr ammo is about 20 years old. And that link you posted from Chuck hawks is full of bad information.

Here is a better source of information.

Speer Gold Dot Ammunition, Ordnance Gelatin Calibration, Anatomically Correct Targets

[Drizzdog]

Originally Posted by evilblackrifle

That info about 147gr ammo is about 20 years old. And that link you posted from Chuck hawks is full of bad information.

Here is a better source of information.

Speer Gold Dot Ammunition, Ordnance Gelatin Calibration, Anatomically Correct Targets

I was just stating that I've read in a few places that 147 gr. ammunition may not be the best for self defense. The article about ammunition was revised in 2006 and most if not all of these bullets/loads are still produced today. How much these loads have changed while in production, i'm not sure. They clearly do not have the tests or the reasons for their opinions up there *i can't argue with that* but I wouldn't discount the information simply because it is on chuck hawks website. I also do not believe gelatin is final say or test for self defense ammunition, gelatin is used to simulate human/animal tissue, not bone, skin, clothing, or other inorganic objects. I do think its probably the best test we have, but its certainly not the total package. I'm simply stating that I have read in a few places, not just the chuck hawk's article, that 147 grain ammunition has a history of feeding problems as well as over-penetration. Not trying to argue

[evilblackrifle]

Originally Posted by Drizzdog

Not trying to argue

Oh, I'm not either. I just get worked up whenever I see that Chuck Hawks website link you posted. There is too much bad information posted as fact on that website.

[lorcin25]

Originally Posted by Taurus Fan

Yep, unless you want to buy big bulk lots , you can't beat the Winchester 100 round white box, Wal-mart $18.50.

For defense I like the inexpensive Federal +P+ 115 grain JHP law enforcement load, they don't restrict them anymore and are easy to find, go for $18/ per 50 round box. From all the statistics of it's use, the Federal 9BPLE is as good as it gets, other loads that look better on paper and have expensive magic gee-whiz bullet construction may do as well against people, but nothing does better. Federal's plain little vanilla flavored hollow point has an excellent record of performance going back 20+ years.

I went with your recommendation to a "T"

[TXplt]

Originally Posted by Drizzdog

I was just stating that I've read in a few places that 147 gr. ammunition may not be the best for self defense. The article about ammunition was revised in 2006 and most if not all of these bullets/loads are still produced today. How much these loads have changed while in production, i'm not sure. They clearly do not have the tests or the reasons for their opinions up there *i can't argue with that* but I wouldn't discount the information simply because it is on chuck hawks website. I also do not believe gelatin is final say or test for self defense ammunition, gelatin is used to simulate human/animal tissue, not bone, skin, clothing, or other inorganic objects. I do think its probably the best test we have, but its certainly not the total package. I'm simply stating that I have read in a few places, not just the chuck hawk's article, that 147 grain ammunition has a history of feeding problems as well as over-penetration. Not trying to argue

+1 -- heard mixed results about the subsonic 147 gr--alot of it not good; the 115 gr +P and +P+ have performed much better. Basically, you need a fast round with good expansion to be worth anything for self-defense in 9mm. Gold dots are fine, SXT are great, I personally like the cor-bon +P 115 gr and the DPX +P for self defense.

For plinking, the winchester cheapies in the white box. Blazer ok too.

If you're going heavy and slow, get a .45.

[Taurus Fan]

Originally Posted by lorcin25

I went with your recommendation to a "T"

Glad to hear it, let us know how you like the Federal 9BPLE JHP's , from everything I've ever read, they have a reputation for being very reliable, even in guns that are finicky about hollow points. They certainly work in my Taurus 911.

[lorcin25]

Originally Posted by Taurus Fan

Glad to hear it, let us know how you like the Federal 9BPLE JHP's , from everything I've ever read, they have a reputation for being very reliable, even in guns that are finicky about hollow points. They certainly work in my Taurus 911.

Are those the same as the 115gr +p+ that you recommended? Because those are the ones I got.

[Taurus Fan]

Originally Posted by lorcin25

Are those the same as the 115gr +p+ that you recommended? Because those are the ones I got.

Yes, the designation 9BPLE is the Federal +P+ 115 grain JHP. You can google 9bple for all manner of velocity/expansion/stopping power statistics on it, it's been around a long time. Federal made it for many years exclusively for law enforcement agencies and would not sell it to the general public, so there's a great deal of police data available on it's effectiveness. Other newer loads may look better, but the Federal load is still among the best and you won't go broke shooting it for reliability testing. Since Federal made it for police agencies, they designed the hollow point with reliability in mind, so that departments with all different make and model guns wouldn't be complaining about jamming problems with it. It's one of the reasons I like it so much, generally if your pistol will function with ball ammo, it should work with the Federal 9BPLE, and in expansion tests, it does great without all the marketing hoopla and high cost other manufacturers give you .

[Seven©]

Haven't read the whole thread, but that never stopped me from throwing my 2¢ in. Remington bulk pack HP from Wal-Mart and SHOT PLACEMENT !!

[Taurus Fan]

Originally Posted by Seven©

Haven't read the whole thread, but that never stopped me from throwing my 2¢ in. Remington bulk pack HP from Wal-Mart and SHOT PLACEMENT !!

Too true. If I had a magazine full of jacketed ball ammo I wouldn't be all that unhappy.

[The_Vigilante]

I like anything cheap like the 115g White Winchester 100-ct box from Walmart for around $19 or the Monarch 9mm ammo from Academy for plinking. For personal defense I will use Winchester 127g +P+ Black Talon everytime. You don't want to be on the receiving end of this load!!!

[TXplt]

Didn't know they were making BT anymore, but SXT is the same thing; different name.

[GoombaJebboMT]

Originally Posted by Taurus Fan

Cor-Bon's powerball construction to insure expansion sounds good but they only offer it in a 90 grain bullet, I'd prefer something heavier.

The powerball was made to compensate for certain handguns, particularly those semi-auto's that have a feeding problem. It has a plastic tip on the front to help it feed into the chamber better. My Sig P228 does not have this issue, so I reccomend shooting regular CorBon +P JHP in whatever grain you decide to go with, if you do not have this problem either.

I like Corbon though...VERY good bullet. I also like Remington Golden Sabers, a tad cheaper.

[bojangles]

Originally Posted by tlarkin

I buy the winchester 100 round value pack of luger 9mm, makes it about 5.5 cents per a round.

Wow, 5.5 cents per round?! The lowest I've seen online is a case of Wolf 9mm FMJ for about $260 over at Lucky GUnner Ammo. Even with shipping, that works out to about $0.29 per round, unless I'm missing something: 9mm Ammo | 9mm Bulk Ammunition Cheap | Lucky Gunner Ammo

How does WalMart get it so cheap...? I'd kinda be scared to shoot that in my gun.

[Twitch2120]

Blazer Brass and Federal FMJs (burgundy box) retail for 8.97 per 50 at walmart. that makes them cheaper than the WWB stuff. my XDm eats the stuff up but your gun might not. the WWB is great stuff though. just a tad more expensive for plinking. maybe a buck or 2.

for personal protection im using relaods from GA Arms. +p rated stuff pushing 124gr gold dot hollows. if you want new new stff id go with Hornady Critical Defense or Federal HydraShoks

[TACAV]

Federal Hydrashoks and black talons are outdated technology that was awesome 10 years ago.

Hydrashoks specifically have a tendency to break apart or have its expansion retarded by thick or heavy clothing.

However newer designs work out pretty well.
Corbon DPX 115gr. +P HP - Full copper bullet that while a tad lighter than light... look up any gel test and be amazed. Good penetration and expansion
Also...
Speer Gold Dots
Federal HST <-- modern updated version of their hyrdashoks
Winchester Ranger Talon

[danf6975]

federal for plinking and its cheaper than win white box and i personally like corbon and gold dot

[Tack Driver]

Winchester Black Talon is what I've got my .40 S&W loaded with. It's off the maket, but you'll see some of it at gunshows. Federal Hydra-Shok is the way to go now for SD. And for plinking, buy whatever's cheapest, like bulk boxes of Remington UMC.