Be that as it may It would of been appreciated if at least ONE round would of been a ball/jacketed round as some states does not allow hollow point ammunition to be carried by a citizen (in a concealed mode). Best 9mm Ammo for Self-Defense. However, the best, and most valid test is the incident reports from la enforcement agencies that have been involved with shootings. FMJs work best for short-range shooting, plinking, target practice, range training, and competition shooting. Likewise for handgun calibers, not counting rounds I consider obscure but slowly gaining popularity (e.g. But with designs such as modern day hollow points and fluted bullets, the energy is not wasted as the bullet can utilize it to cause more tissue destruction. Why do I have to choose one over the other when I can have both? Keep them coming? The 9mm needs good expansion to be effective, and all calibers must exhibit adequate penetration for good effect. A lighter bullet with a smaller cross sectional circumference propelled to velocities a couple hundred feet per second faster than the speed of sound, this handgun caliber is unrivaled when it comes to penetration, so much so that it will overpenetrate soft tissue targets — but that can easily be mitigated by using soft jacketed hollow point (SJHP) or jacketed soft point (JSP) bullets. Now that we have learned about the calibers and have home defense considered, let’s delve into 45 ACP vs 9mm for self-defense. Colt Python 2020 Review: The Greatest Revolver of All Time? The Critical Defense uses a polymer plug to instigate expansion. When you choose personal safety gear, choose what is optimum for your use, not what is popular. Let us also clarify that we are discussing the merits of heavier or lighter grain weights for the same caliber, such as 115 gr vs 147 gr 9mm. Gelatin, water ballistics, etc. round wasn’t included in your list of personal protection ammunition. With modern loads, the difference in expansion and penetration may be slight in either barrel length. They quickly gained a great reputation and are widely regarded as one of the best 9mm self-defense choices currently available. My wife loves her .357 Magnum as her EDC for me it’s .40S&W at 180 gr. Home » Personal Defense » 5 Good 9mm Luger Loads for Personal Defense. Federal HST 9mm 147 gr . I wanted to test at least one +P or maximum-effort loading. We talk a lot about ammunition on our website, but I'm not sure we've ever really discussed what I'd consider to be the best self-defense rounds out on the market, right now. You need the bullet that will perform best in your handgun and possesses the qualities you can count on. It works fine in every 9mm I have fired, and offers good accuracy and a clean powder burn. suited for self defense Many thugs are ourt wearing home made armor (heavy clothing) and light weight higher velosity rounds don’t cut it. I like the idea and fortunately have not had to test it in real situations. The ability to equalize force instantly is a critical part of any defense plan. Out of Box–To-Match Review: Walther PPQ M2 - The Shooter's Log, SHOT 2013 Preview: Nosler Custom Competition Ammunition - The Shooter's Log, Defensive Ammunition Selection: Tragedy Leads to Innovation - The Shooter's Log. The industry standard for the 147-grain JHP seems to be 960 to 1000 fps. Both fly along at around 1170 fps which also happens to work well with several of my 9mm pistols. I tested the loads without regard to advertised velocities or overstated claims. This is a good go-anywhere, do-anything load. The Mission of Cheaper Than Dirt! The 9mm is not quite as good as some of its fans think, but it is a better cartridge than most of its detractors would have you believe. Water only supplies the end result. Now I carry it daily in my Glock model 45 9mm. Older shooters may also feel a need for lower recoil. Selecting a good defensive round is one of the most overlooked but perhaps one of the most critical elements of selecting your tools for self-defense. Originally Posted By buckshot_jim: I carry 124 +P Gold Dots. The 115-grain Fiocchi Extrema isn’t loaded too hot or too light, it is just right! I load a 147 gr Remington match bullet in front of VV 3N37 powder which results in a MV of 1,000 fps. Federal American Eagle IRT 9mm 147 Grain TMJ My fav has been MagTech First Defense 92.6 Super light recoil, wicked fast, near perfect penetration in gel. The main issue we see is that because ammo is marketed as “hollow point” or “self-defense” ammunition, people believe that it's the best thing to have. The best 9 mm ammunition usually has an ideal balance between penetration in addition to expansion, though they can vary concerning muzzle velocity and muzzle energy (fancy a muzzleloader?) The 9mm will not create as big a hole as the .45 acp does, and it will never outrun a speeding .357 magnum bullet fired from a 4-inch-barrel revolver, so as far as ballistics, it will never come close to my two preferred handgun calibers. This is why the heaviest 9mm bullets only weigh 147 grains. How to choose the best 9mm round for personal defense: 9mm bullet weights range from 115 to 147 grains and velocities from 1,200 to 1,000. Recoil would be greater, and greater slide velocity may lead to malfunctions. For testing, I used a GLOCK 19 9mm handgun. The 9mm cartridge is remarkably efficient and makes the best use of its powder charge in short barrels, and if you peruse the charts over at Ballistics By The Inch you’ll find that the standard-pressure 9mm loads don’t gain much in the 16-inch-long barrel of the typical carbine. With a full length of only 6.42 inches and 24 ounces it’s one of the smallest 9mm pistols you can find – but it offers an impressive 10 round capacity, making it’s great for regular duty carrying as well. Ever since it first appeared a few years ago, Springfield… By Chuck Taylor. As far as self-defense ammo goes, there are a few brands with an established track record in real-world use. But we’ll add a few more metrics of our own: muzzle energy, wounding capability (the bigger the permanent and temporary wound cavities, the better) and pricing. A heavier bullet penetrates barriers better, and when it hits a bone in the body, causes the bone to fracture and splinter. }, Jay Chambers For decades the FBI claimed the .40 Smith & Wesson was the optimal personal defense round. Avoid it at all cost, but by the same token, be prepared with the best gear and supplies possible. Using my browser to print a copy doesn’t really work well, it works but includes too much extraneous material. Reliability is good. I am looking to end any threat. Accuracy is consistent at 15 yards. The bullet houses a soft center metal like lead, surrounded by a harder metal, usually copper. Self Defense. Learn about the top choices in 9mm defensive carry ammo according to our Customers. Your email address will not be published. I want a round that is heavy with extreme terminal performance XTP….going as fast as possible + P. Get the most for your money. Underwood 9mm Xtreme Defender +P+ is the second fastest, while Corbon PowRbal +P is the third. The consensus among firearms enthusiast is, when a high energy FMJ bullet hits a soft target, the energy is just wasted because the bullet won’t stop until it travels too far or it hits another target. Accuracy is excellent. The main issue we see is that because ammo is marketed as “ hollow point ” or “self-defense” ammunition, people believe that it's the best thing to have. This is a good general-purpose defense load. Do you have an opinion regarding the relatively new NovX 9 mm? If you have the need for deep penetration against heavily-clothed attackers or feel that light cover is part of the likely scenario, this is a good choice. Recoil was the greatest of any load tested. The sweet spot of penetration, expansion, and velocity. The point of impact is not as drastically different between fmj and defense loads. Gold Dot 9mm 115 gr. Okay, so the first part: what you gain and lose with lighter-for-caliber bullets compared to heavy-for-caliber bullets. Contact your handgun manufacturer to make sure your piece can handle +P loads before you even consider buying any of these: Info were gathered from several YouTube videos uploaded by tnoutdoors9, ShootingTheBull410 and ScubaOz, ammunition manufacturer websites, third party websites such as LuckyGunner and online gun forums. Takiyya - Tawriya - Kitman - Muruna - Google these. This video comes in response to a subscriber's question. setTimeout( Here’s a quick-guide infographic that shows you the different loads I’ve featured: (Click here to skip directly to the rest of the article.). This is why the heaviest 9mm bullets only weigh 147 grains. Best Loads for XD 9mm Sub-Compact. Self defense handgun ammunition is quite like a fire extinguisher: When you need it, you really need it, and you need it to work well. Shopping with us is absolutely safe - you never have to worry about credit card safety when shopping here... Share your latest AR build or photos from the range with #RangeDayFriday for a chance to win a new firearm! And don’t even get me started on modern 9mm handgun designs with wider frames that allow for double-stack magazines. While there are a number of great ammo manufacturers making defensive ammo that’s worth a look, these are the best of the best. Hornady gunner 9mm +P 124g XTP 1175fps or get some Hornady 9mm 147g XTP 975fps. In addition, heavier bullets tend to have more felt recoil. Penetration was ideal at 16 inches, and expansion was excellent at 0.58 inches. Penetration was 16 inches and expansion a very consistent 0.55 inches. eight To help our readers make sense of the table above, we’ve created a few graphs. Unless you have had to shoot a bad guy and the ammo did it’s job your opinion is meaningless. I would like to see something on frangible as self defense loads. What 9mm bullet weight is best for self defense? I can go on all day. Please be respectful of others. I[m sure that was just a graphic way of explaining it to me, but actual shootings demonstrated to them what didn’t work and a reason to switch. In addition, heavier bullets tend to have more felt recoil. Just because I said I prefer the two handgun calibers I mentioned above doesn’t mean I think the 9mm is no good. 9mm: Bullet Material: Lead: Weight: 115 Grain: Price Range: $.8-$1/shot: TAC-XPD offers a compromise between power and recoil. It cannot do the work of larger calibers, but it certainly outclasses smaller calibers. 2nd Generation Winchester Ranger T-Series (RA9T) is superior to all of these rounds. Federal HST 9mm 124 gr . Sure, shrapnel can be deadly long term, but the main goal of stopping a life threatening presence is to stop that target as soon as possible. It has evolved into perhaps the ideal personal-defense caliber for most users. And furthermore, a discount fire extinguisher doesn’t quite cut the mustard. You can check out … We personally prefer the 124 gr since it is less “snappy” than the 115 gr to us. America's Ultimate Shooting Sports Discounter, 5 Good 9mm Luger Loads for Personal Defense. What self defense ammunition is best for the 9mm carbine? Posted: 5/17/2015 1:39:49 PM EST Quote History. Required fields are marked *, (function( timeout ) { +P or higher-pressure loadings may reach 1300 fps. The weight retention capabilities of a self defense round can help a bullet achieve outstanding performance or fail completely. if ( notice ) Get notified when 9mm, .223 Rem., and Other Popular Calibers are in Stock & Ready to Ship. 1. They provide great penetration and a full energy transfer. My wife carries the .38 Special Critical Defense Lite in her S&W Model 60. The bone fragments shooting in all directions in turn result in more tissue damage. Gelatin is great and has been used by manufacturers to test their hunting and personal defense loads for years. We want you, our readers, to be able to make informed decisions. Member Joined Apr 2003; Posts 13678; EE Offline; AZ, USA. Velocity averaged 1140 fps. What 9mm bullet weight is best for self defense? Great price for 9mm Ammo; Great for competition & training; Non … Let us know in the comments section below! The chart below specifies each brand’s ballistic performance factoring in bullet weight and velocity: The red bars on the bar graph above represent each bullet’s weight in grains. This would be incorrect.  =  So to narrow down the ever-growing list of 9mm ammo options for self defense, we’ll be comparing offerings from different manufacturers based on the bullets’ ability to penetrate only within 12 to 18 inches (those that penetrate less than 12 or over 18 inches will have to be weeded out), how they perform in ballistics gel tests, and how much each costs. She has RA issues and the Lite isn’t too unpleasant to use. ); 2nd Best 9mm Ammo: Remington – UMC Ammo 9mm Luger 115gr FMJ Time limit exceeded. It is important to choose a loading with a good balance of expansion and penetration. Most modern self-defense ammo is based on high velocity and lighter than standard bullets. round from G 2 Research. I use nothing but 124 grain in my Canik Tristar c-100. three These are actual velocity figures when bullets are fired from a 4-inch barrel — not the velocity figures printed on the box of each of the brands. Typical small frame revolvers can only hold five rounds, medium frame revolvers can only hold six to seven, and large frame revolvers can only hold up to eight. You can save copy of the article by holding down the left mouse button to highlight what you want then hit the right button on the mouse and select copy (or CTRL + C then paste it to your words or notepad then save as. The best 9mm bullet weight is well known, it is the one that is in your carry gun when you need it. Powder burns at a constant rate, so if you have 2x as much powder, it takes 2x as long to burn up. The .357 magnum on the other hand is the complete opposite of the .45 acp. The green bars on the bar graph above represent each bullet’s velocity in feet per second. By. I use the 147 grain JHP. It is a small-arms projectile, it can be used in concealed carry guns. What about its downsides? 10mm, .460 Rowland), I have a soft spot for both the .45 acpand the .357 magnum — which shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone because like I said, I love 1911s and magnum revolvers. All of this Ammo sounds great but, I hope everyone thinks about OVER PENETRATION!! And even so, standard 9mm bullet weights are 115, 124, and 147 grain, though the powder charge generally only weights somewhere around 5 grains. They make frangible handgun rounds. The gas is what pushes the bullet. American Eagle 9mm 115 gr . I wanted to test a heavyweight 9mm. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). Despite its widespread popularity, both among law enforcement and the general public, there are plenty of opinions out there that the 9mm isn’t really an adequate self-defense cartridge. Speer Gold Dot 124 g gdhp. Cut my teeth on the .38 Special/.357 Magnum 158 grain so I was used to managing recoil. })(120000); And with modern bullet designs such as expanding full metal jackets (EFMJs), jacketed hollow points (JHPs), etc., the lighter and faster 9mm can rival the slower and heavier .45 acp in the terms of wounding capabilities. Is 9mm FMJ OK for self defense? When looking for the best 9mm ammo for self-defense, check out this list of defensive carry loads from our Customers. This loading breaks 1047 fps average in the GLOCK 19. This loading fills the need for a low-recoil loading for those of small stature, particularly in a compact handgun. Good article and a wide variety of test cartridges within the 5 brand limit. This ammunition was not developed for police or FBI, but for personal protection. The +P in the P365 is stout, but not unmanageable. While these will have no problem breaking bones, these bullets will be significantly slower compared to the lighter and faster options like the PolyCase ARX Inceptor +P and the Underwood 9mm Xtreme Defender +P+. The Shooter's Log, is to provide information—not opinions—to our customers and the shooting community. 9mm versus .40 Smith & Wesson: Which caliber is better for self-defense? I am surprised that the “Radically Invasive Projectile” R.I.P. I load a 147 gr Remington match bullet in front of VV 3N37 powder which results in a MV of 1,000 fps.  −  The primary advantage of gelatin is that the wound channel may be observed and even preserved. It has evolved into perhaps the ideal personal-defense caliber for most users. Obtain training and build skills, or else resign yourself to defense at arm’s length. One example is the Liberty line. I wish you had a single “button” which would allow us to save a user friendly copy of an article. ‘m lucky my state allows it but not all………..So when traveling across states!? As a PA State Constable I carry these rounds and trust my life with them. I like hammer-fired handguns better than striker-fired ones, I like handguns with an all-steel frame better than those with a polymer or an alloy frame, and I like. Penetration was 20 inches and expansion was a reliable 0.56 inches. We reserve the right to edit as appropriate, delete profane, harassing, abusive and spam comments or posts, and block repeat offenders. Superior to all five. When choosing bullet weight for reloading 9mm cartridges, your primary focus is reliability. Criteria number three immediately disqualifies all the 147-grain JHP because from the XD-9 sub-compact’s 3.5-inch barrel, they won’t generate velocities higher than 875 fps (feet per second), hardly sufficient to expect more than marginal bullet expansion at best. I don’t buy into the whole .45 acp vs. 9mm debate, because I don’t see the point. The information provided here does not represent the views of Cheaper Than Dirt! The sweet spot of penetration, expansion, and velocity. TOP 5 BEST 9MM AMMO FOR SELF DEFENSE 2020Are you looking for the best 9mm ammo for self defense for pistols of 2020? Decide that defending yourself is possible, not impossible. Fortunately for us, since the FBI already did the research, we can use this metric to help us determine which ammo to pick. A compact .40 S&W handgun or .38 Special small-frame revolver may be a bear to handle. A 147gr 9mm is a bit longer than a 115gr 9mm so it takes up more space inside the case. This will help create a level playing field for comparing the various rounds, and 147 gr. BREAKING: NFA Registration To Be Required for Pistol Braces? We’ve gathered info on some of the most popular 9mm self defense loads available online. There is no indication on the box of the exact weight of the powder charge, and without knowing precisely what powder is … The 9mm uses a .355-inch bullet. Folklore, legend, casual recommendation and tradition influence a shooter’s choice of caliber far more often than analysis of testing data. Likewise for handgun calibers, not counting rounds I consider obscure but slowly gaining popularity (e.g. They are a little bit lighter than most 9mm ammunition, and that does slightly reduce their power, but it also cuts down on recoil. At least these are the numbers the FBI go by. I love older pistol designs and all modern designs the same way. It’s a no-brainer that a higher muzzle energy equates to better performance. If you are in a situation where it would be required to carry a lot of ammo then using a lighter then standard case would be one way to reduce weight along with … Space that would otherwise be taken up by powder. The Best 9mm Ammo Review in 2020 for Self-Defense/Range Shooting. The core principle of Critical Defense is their Flex Tip Technology that avoids expansion in fabrics and saves the impact for denser, more fluid materials. For me, as far as handgun calibers, these two being on the higher end of the ballistics performance spectrum, no other calibers come close. On the other hand, my work is easily double-checked. Every now and then there are articles that I’d like to save, either for my own future reference or to share with others. At least these are, So to narrow down the ever-growing list of 9mm. Typical small frame revolvers can only hold five rounds, medium frame revolvers can only hold six to seven, and large frame revolvers can only hold up to eight. Please click the reload button and complete the captcha once again. I agree with Daniel on 6/8/20, I also use Winchester Ranger +P 9mm 124g JHP. Verdict: Best 9mm Ammo. With all the 9mm ammo choices on the market though, we’re presented with another problem. So as much as I hate to say it, my two favorite handgun calibers have the same Achilles’ heel: the handguns they’re chambered for can’t carry as many rounds as I’d like. The fastest of all the bullets we gathered info on is PolyCase ARX Inceptor +P, which is understandably so, because it is also the lightest. 16.5 Inches of penetration with expansion at .74 Inches. Not saying that wheelguns are worse than semi-autos, if anything I feel safer knowing that I can store and access mine in a pinch, like in my car or nightstand. Many affordable handguns are chambered in 9mm as well. Pros. Time limit exceeded. The purported effectiveness of the .45 ACP among its fans is nothing short of mythical while the same people revile the 9mm, even today, as marginal or wimpy in comparison. Case in point, a full-size Glock 17 can hold 17 rounds of 9mm in the mag, while a Glock 21 (which is about the same size as a Glock 17) can only hold 13 rounds of .45 acp. You forgot the 2 very best, Norma 108gr MHP and Fedral 124gr HST. The following rounds are all from reliable manufacturers with proven track records of performance in difficult situations. Posted by: ... as do the +P versions in any given bullet weight. We probably would not use this one in a sub-compact pistol. Five of the contenders, Federal Premium HST JHP, Speer Gold Dot +P “Short Barrel” JHP, Hornady XTP +P JHP, Winchester PDX1 Defender +P and Buffalo Bore +P+ JHP all weigh 124 grains. Note: These are some of the most powerful 9mm loads on the market. In this article we will be looking at some of the best 9mm self-defense loads around today and the ideas behind them. Learn about the top choices in 9mm defensive carry ammo according to our Customers. And even so, standard 9mm bullet weights are 115, 124, and 147 grain, though the powder charge generally only weights somewhere around 5 grains. Hollow Points (HP) Hollow points relate mostly to self-defense and home protection. A lot of folks don’t understand that questioning the veracity of a source is instrumental to understanding and using sources. Please click the reload button and complete the captcha once again. The ballistic gelatin doesn’t shoot back. As a part time instructor I thought they were garbage and so did everyone else we went back to Fiji for punching paper and stuck with Speer gold dot for carry ammo. Great penetration, the biggest expansion, and velocity for those who like shooting the slightly heavier 124 gr rounds. The proof is in the pudding: regardless of whether you use a full size or short barreled 9mm handgun, if you want reliable deep penetration, good bullet expansion, and high weight retention, then it's really tough to go wrong with the 124-grain Federal HST.