Best 9mm Carry Round
- Thread starter treillw
- Start date
I shoot 124 grain HST out of my XL. A little bit more weight gives you a little bit more penetration relative to lighter alternatives.
Also I run standard pressure. No +P for me.
Whatever ammo you end up with, run a bunch of it through the gun to ensure reliable feeding. It's expensive but must be done. I've had pistols jam up with certain ammo types (but not others) before. Especially in a carry gun it's critical to test everything out.
Whatever ammo you end up with, run a bunch of it through the gun to ensure reliable feeding. It's expensive but must be done. I've had pistols jam up with certain ammo types (but not others) before. Especially in a carry gun it's critical to test everything out.
If you look at the penetration and expansion tests it just doesn’t get you anything. It recoils more for slower follow ups and increases wear on the gun.
I use Sig Sauer v-crowns in anything that’s being carried in public(.45, .40, 9mm). I’m not really particular about bullet weight but generally a heavier bullet per round. I originally bought them because they were a bit cheaper than some other carry rounds but have seen a few tests of them and they perform well enough that I’ve just stuck with them
I like to use what‘s most accurate from one of the following (in no particular order):
Federal HST 124gr
Federal Tactical Bonded 124 or 135gr
Remington Golden Saber Bonded 124gr
Speer Gold Dot 124gr
Winchester Ranger Bonded 124gr
Winchester T-Series 124gr
If I can’t find any of those, I look to the regular Remington Golden Saber or something loaded with the excellent Hornady XTP bullet. Other good options are the Federal 9BP/9BPLE or Federal Hydra-Shok (not the DEEP).
Hornady Critical Duty is generally highly regarded, but I would choose all of the above over it. Hornady Critical Duty tends to have the least expansion of the bunch, out of duty pistol barrel lengths. It does well out of longer barrels where others tend to over-expand and under penetrate. Hornady Critical Defense is designed for short barrels, but it’s performance is average and the price is high.
The new solid displacement type bullets (such as Lehigh) may be the way of the future, but I haven’t seen enough of it to move to them.
Federal HST 124gr
Federal Tactical Bonded 124 or 135gr
Remington Golden Saber Bonded 124gr
Speer Gold Dot 124gr
Winchester Ranger Bonded 124gr
Winchester T-Series 124gr
If I can’t find any of those, I look to the regular Remington Golden Saber or something loaded with the excellent Hornady XTP bullet. Other good options are the Federal 9BP/9BPLE or Federal Hydra-Shok (not the DEEP).
Hornady Critical Duty is generally highly regarded, but I would choose all of the above over it. Hornady Critical Duty tends to have the least expansion of the bunch, out of duty pistol barrel lengths. It does well out of longer barrels where others tend to over-expand and under penetrate. Hornady Critical Defense is designed for short barrels, but it’s performance is average and the price is high.
The new solid displacement type bullets (such as Lehigh) may be the way of the future, but I haven’t seen enough of it to move to them.
I'm not saying it's the best but...
I usually carry the Winchester Ranger +P 124gn bonded JHP, the same stuff I was issued on duty.
The NYPD uses and has more data on the 124gn +P Speer Gold Dots than maybe any other JHP 9mm duty round on the planet... it doesn't get more proven than that, so if I can't find the Ranger stuff, I use the Gold Dots.
I usually carry the Winchester Ranger +P 124gn bonded JHP, the same stuff I was issued on duty.
The NYPD uses and has more data on the 124gn +P Speer Gold Dots than maybe any other JHP 9mm duty round on the planet... it doesn't get more proven than that, so if I can't find the Ranger stuff, I use the Gold Dots.
Issued ammo is HST
I like Hornady critical defense for my pocket EC9. Especially for cold winters here where penetrating thick clothing would be more vital than expansion
I like Hornady critical defense for my pocket EC9. Especially for cold winters here where penetrating thick clothing would be more vital than expansion
Regardless of what you decide, choose a round that you can get easily today and tomorrow. Make sure you can get more easily.
147 HST is a great start.
147 HST is a great start.
This guy put together a series of videos testing over 40 different types of 9mm ammo out of 3" barrel compact pistols. The videos are a bit old, but still relevant...
Ammo Quast - 9 mm
Ammo Quast - 9 mm
Last edited:
I don't have a brand preference. Used to run 147's but nowadays I just run whatever the gun likes the best. Buy a bunch of boxes, shoot em, pick the ones that cycle and group the best. Don't overthink it.
Some combo of Speer Gold Dot and Federal HST. Usually 124 has been easier for me to find. Ideally I try to use range ammo of the same grain, that way its not like getting used to the feel of one weight (say 115) and then for actual use something different (say 147)
I like the civil defense because they are so much lighter. A mag full of em makes a difference in weight to carry. I've shot it and it's accurate enough for 15-20 yards.
Paul Harrel, tnoutdoors9, and lucky gunner all have good info on it. From all the research I’ve done, standard hollow points in the 124-147gn range all work well. Speer gold dot, federal HST, Winchester ranger, and hornady critical defense/duty all seem to do well. Just make sure they’ll still expand at your barrel length
I'm not qualified to say what is best. With that said, I carry a berretta PX4 loaded with Federal XM9001 115g JHP's
I shot a hog with an Xtreme penetrator. came out the other side. Ran 30 or so yards. It acted just like I had shot it with the 243 or 6.5cm or 30-06.... I was/am very impressed with them. Don't know if I would carry that bllet for self defence though. Combat or some place that there was no issue with the bullet going anywhere you care about, hell yes.
The Defender bullets are way more agressive with the flutes. Way more splatter factor and less penetration.
If somebody sends me some I'll shoot a hog with them and send a report.
Handgun Self-Defense Ammunition - Ballistic Testing Data
Lucky Gunner tests more than 110 different 9mm, 45 ACP, 40 S&W and 380 ACP handgun self-defense ammunition loads in ballistic gel with analysis and video.
www.luckygunner.com
lucky Gunner did a great comparison on 9mm
personally I carry Speer gold dots, because that’s what I used as a cop. I’ve seen what they do in real life. Every gun I carry is loaded with SGD. I use the 124s cause (ahem) I found a few boxes at my retirement.
but I wouldn’t feel like I was losing out with HST, Rgold saber, etc.
being able to find a good supply will be your hardest problem-good luck.
oh yeah, MAKE sure your firearm will feed and fire whatever you get.
Federal HST.
Here endeth the lesson.
Well, unless you got a teeny-tiny little .380... then just FMJ.
Here endeth the lesson.
Well, unless you got a teeny-tiny little .380... then just FMJ.
Warning fud lore data point incoming; well, 10 year old data maybe…
Federal Premium HST was carried by every ‘professional’ shooter I worked with back in the day, nothing but high praise. I usually carry a .45 if open carrying, or a little snubbie .38 if CCW, but do often carry a 9mm of some flavor if coming home from work and need to run errands…that’s usually what’s locked in the truck vault.
Depending on what I bought the year before (shoot all my carry ammo over a rolling 1-year period), it’ll be loaded with either Fed Premium HSTs (usually 124gr for 9mm), or the Barnes TAC-XPD (don’t recall the bullet weight off the top of my head).
Barnes TAC-XPD is the only one I ever saw that would occasionally beat the Fed Premium HSTs in the FBI’s, and other tester’s blind barrier tests.
Federal Premium HST was carried by every ‘professional’ shooter I worked with back in the day, nothing but high praise. I usually carry a .45 if open carrying, or a little snubbie .38 if CCW, but do often carry a 9mm of some flavor if coming home from work and need to run errands…that’s usually what’s locked in the truck vault.
Depending on what I bought the year before (shoot all my carry ammo over a rolling 1-year period), it’ll be loaded with either Fed Premium HSTs (usually 124gr for 9mm), or the Barnes TAC-XPD (don’t recall the bullet weight off the top of my head).
Barnes TAC-XPD is the only one I ever saw that would occasionally beat the Fed Premium HSTs in the FBI’s, and other tester’s blind barrier tests.
All mainstream defensive loads are more than reliable. But you're welcome to continue expending brain cells on marginal decisions.
Cool. I enjoy spending my time getting more skilled with a handgun so that BS like this matters zero because I can crush someone's vitals at will.
Your approach reminds of me of the forever C and D class USPSA shooters that spend tons of time looking for the "perfect" load.
I feel personally attacked! (147 Gr subsonic btw)
And its true that chasing incremental improvements in bullet design is waaay behind shot placement. And the people who measured bullet performance said "pick a good load and practice, don't bother chasing bullet performance"
I've tuned rifles to shoot 1" at 400 yards - you're not far off regarding perfect loads.
Similar threads
