best personal protection ammo

[bucncrazy]

Im sure this has been done before... Im sure this boils down to personal preference. So what are your opinions on best 9mm pp ammo? I have a 92 fs at home & M&P 9c for carry.

 

[ol' poke]

Hornady Critical Defense/Zombie Max. Both 9mm amn .45 ACP.

ol' poke

 

[M67]

Not sure why people ask so much which is better. Don't plan on getting shot anytime soon, but I'm sure it all hurts like a SOB and kills you just the same.

In my carry gun (9mm), I have Gold Dots, same in .357

I have a loaded mag for my M&P with Zombie Max

Hi Power is full of Golden Sabers

Pre Model 10 Smith has Critical Defense


I think it really boils down to brand preference and how you like the bullet shape. Sure, there are certain rounds that certain guns don't like, but I think it's personal preference. I've just accumulated HPs by people giving them to me, never actually bought a box. If I actually had to pay for something, I'd go Winchester PDX but that's just me

For home protection, Federal has the Guard Dog, it's supposed to stop over penetration through walls if you miss because it caves in on itself once it hits something. If you want 2 different rounds for your guns, you might look at those

 

[rockhopper46038]

The Speer Gold Dots and the Federal HST loadings are what I default to. Here's an interesting link if you feel like reading up on some of the loadings that are out there.
Best Choices for Self Defense Ammo

But I'm about to go "off the reservation" with a 9x23 Win. loading.

 

[jd4320t]

Get a good bonded jhp that runs well in your gun.

 

[bmwguru]

Federal HST +p

 

[loony1]

I prefer Winchester PDX

 

[Trigger Time]

My favorite, Winchester ranger. Don't know if they call it that anymore. I bought several boxes many years ago at the 1500.
i also like spear gold dots. Also the hornady critical defense.

to each their own. Make your shots count and the bad guy won't complain

 

[Latewatch]

For 9mm, Speer Gold Dot .124 gr. +p

 

[in625shooter]

Most 124. 124+P and 147 are close in performance and effectiveness. I'd stay away from the 115's unless that's all you have.

There are several tests on youtube by a guy named ScubaOZ and TNoutdoors with pretty detailed ballistic gel tests.

 

[The Bubba Effect]

For 9mm I have been using Hornady Critical Duty or Federal HST. I have been shooting each in standard pressure and when I have shot up most of my carry ammo I will order some Critical Duty +P and see how I like that.

 

[Bigtanker]

All of the above. Whatever you can get enough of to make sure it works in the gun you're using it in. 100 rounds minimum for me. Personally I use Critical Defense.

 

[USMC-Johnson]

Personally i have run Speer Gold Dot in 124gr...if for no other reason than i trust them.

 

[U.S. Patriot]

After some testing, and looking at other ballistic testing. I like both Ranger SXT, and Hornady Critical Duty. Any modern ammo made by manufactures such as Speer, Federal, Hornady, etc. will serve you well. Test before you buy a bunch of the same ammo.

 

[nm0369]

I only buy carry ammo in 50rd boxes to bring the cost per round down, so that narrows the field a lot. Federal HST is my favorite, followed by Ranger T and Golt Dot. In 9mm I'd go with 124gr or 147gr HST. If your pistol has a short barrel and is rated for +p loads, I'd go that route for best performance.

 

[MCgrease08]

Check with your local PD to see what they carry on duty. If it's good enough for them, it will most likely work for you too.

I personally just switched to Federal LE HST in 124 gr. I'd prefer the 147 gr, but that round is tough to find.

 

[rbMPSH12]

For my Shield I have Speer Gold Dot 124 grain +P Short Barrel and for my M&P9 full size I have Federal HST 124 grain standard pressure (wanted +P but wasn't available when I was buying). 50 round boxes are definitely the way to go for lower cost. sgammo.com gets a lot of 50 rd boxes in sometimes (700-900 boxes per shipment) but they sell out pretty quickly. They often carry 50 round boxes of Gold Dot and HST in various grains and +P/standard pressure. They usually run $28-$30 per box plus $12 shipping. I just got the HSTs from ammunitiondepot.com (out of stock now). They were $29 each plus $15 shipping. I don't know why they charge so much shipping for one or two boxes of ammo.

 

[Sheepdog Gear]

My EDC is a Ruger SR9c with Hornady Critical DUTY 135gr+P 9mm. Best of both worlds. It has been a very proven bullet in the Critical Defense line, and now comes heavier and hotter in the Critical Duty line. But all of this means nothing unless you make sure your gun likes it!

 

[IN_Sheepdog]

Half and half... 9 MM magazines loaded with alternating JHP (hydroshok) , and Liberty Civil Defense.. The second is only a 65 Grain bullet (copper not lead) but it is traveling at over 2000 fps and a frangible round. The copper disk still penetrates 10-12 " but is less likely to hurt anyone beyond the target, Hopefully ... (just thinking of the Aurora Co Movie shooter....)
Video comparison Video to HST.

LIBERTY AMMUNITION USM4 - YouTube

Mixed, because there is still not enough actual real world data on it, and there is with JHP's. Ie. Im not ready to risk everything on a new "bullet"... yet... double tap gives them one of each...
YMMV...

(BTW, isnt the discussion about what ammo you carry right up there with the IWB/OWB concealed/Open argument?)

 

[Who Dares Wins]

MagSafe ammo is pretty good also for a frangible round and it was one of the first ones out there, I believe.

Mag Safe Ammo - Pre-Fragmented Saftey Ammunition Handcrafted In The USA

They are lightweight bullets with BB pellets in them and are hand made, so they cost a little more. I saw somewhere that they only penetrate a 2 or 3 drywall sheets, so useful in a house to avoid collateral damage.