Best 9mm Carry Ammo Recommendations

[EDC_Minded]

I'm in the market for some 9mm carry ammo and I could use some advice. What hollow points have you found to be the most reliable in terms of performance and stopping power?

 

[27-2]

I don't carry 9mm but, theres a lot of good options with ammo, imo
I really like Underwood Xtreme Defenders (Lehigh bullet) or for a JHP, either HST or Gold Dots

 

[Gerald D.]

In readily available ammo the HST's are hard to beat, plenty of tests available on Youtube, just make sure the person doing the testing knows up from down.

 

[x_count]

I carry a Sig P365 and run the Speer Gold Dot short barrel 124 +P. Thankfully I haven't had to test it, but Gold Dots are hard to beat. As Gerald stated HSTs are well proven also.

 

[patrick_ford]

You can go wrong with either HST or Gold Dot +Ps pushing 124gr bullets. I’ve tended to favor Gold Dots.

 

[URIT]

My 9mm pistol is currently carrying Norma MHP (Monolithic Hollow Point) rated at 108 grain, 1312 fps, and 413 ft-lb. in my EDC. I'm still running Federal Premium Law Enforcement in safe back ups.

Here's a site with some good ballistic data... https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/

 

[RoMaC21]

Lots of good choices here but remember that it has to function well in your gun. I know it’s expensive, but buy a few different ones, weight, brand, projectile, etc. and try them out. They all may run really well but you may not like their performance personally.

 

[firedawg60]

HST or Gold Dots for me.

 

[LimaCharlie]

YouTube is slam full of 9mm SD ammo tests. Some of it well done, others not so much.
Expanding bullets in 9mm have come long way.
I usually carry the Speer Gold Dot 124 gr. +P 'Short Barrel' in my 'Summer Carry', which is a little Kahr PM9.
A good alternate is the Federal HST, and I buy 'pulled' HST bullets from American Reloading for use in 9mm and .38 Super handloads. They also perform really well.

 

[SammySmoothbore]

Gold Dots for me, largely because they fxn well, and because the LEOs mostly carry Gold Dots. Best practice is to ask your PD, Sheriff or HP what they carry, then make sure they fxn 100% of the time.

 

[Grampa]

For an objective analysis, go to LUCKYGUNNER.com and review his ballistic lab tests of ammo. He has tested many varieties of ammo in many calibers, and it is all there for you to see. That said, Underwood Extreme Defense and/or Extreme Penetrator ammo is good, though many swear by Federal HST and/or Speer Gold Dot as well.

 

[URIT]

I read the last comment from Grampa; then, wondered if I had recharged my EDC - S&W 3953 - with carry ammo. I discovered I hadn't replaced the range ammo I used after burning through the Norma MHP.

The weapon was charged and the mag full of Speer Lawman 147gr TMJ range ammo. Great 9mm range ammo at a nice price.

I reloaded with Federal Premium Law Enforcement HST 124gr. I'm comforted knowing there are enough LEOs using this ammo that a prosecutor would not make my ammo choice an issue if something dreadful happens.

P.S. Call your county Sheriff and ask what 9mm ammo he supplies his deputies for duty use and load your CCW with his recommendation. This may save you thousands of dollars for expert testimony if you have to use your weapon in a dreadful situation. Most self-defense shooting are close range and the farther out it goes the more a prosecutor may question your actions and bring you before a jury of folks not well informed.

 

[SammySmoothbore]

P.S. Call your county Sheriff and ask what 9mm ammo he supplies his deputies for duty use and load your CCW with his recommendation. This may save you thousands of dollars for expert testimony if you have to use your weapon in a dreadful situation. Most self-defense shooting are close range and the farther out it goes the more a prosecutor may question your actions and bring you before a jury of folks not well informed.

If that ammo runs in your pistol, this is the absolute right answer. It is hard to argue when an aggressive DA questions your ammo choice and it is the same as your local LEO. This concept has been mentioned at virtually every CCW and tactical pistol course I've ever taken.

 

[URIT]

I called my county Sheriff today to learn if they had changed duty ammo in the last decade. I learned they are currently using Speer Gold Dot 124gr in their duty pistols.

The Craven County SO also trains with their duty ammo. My pockets aren't deep enough to blow that kind of money for training.

Between range fees, ammo costs, and maintenance stuff expenses add up quickly. Practicing with my defense ammo is important to maintaining muscle memory and confidence, but too costly for me to do all the time.

A couple years ago, I decided on a strategy to make practice more affordable by using cost-effective practice ammo and selected Speer Lawman 147gr TMJ range ammo. Good thing Speer Lawman TMJ range ammo mimics the performance of their Gold Dot.

I've recently read that most defense ammo is for full size pistols, and pistols with a barrel of 3.5-inch or less should use short barrel ammo. Well, is this a ploy to encourage carry gun holders to switch to more expensive ammo or the real deal?

Nevertheless, my next box of personal defense carry ammo will be the Speer Gold Dot G2, either their Carry Gun for compact pistols or their standard GD personal defense ammo if it is just a for profit advert.

PS - Just check the Gold Dot 9mm ballistics chart at Ammo dot com to find the Carry Gun is 135gr and the Short Barrel is 124gr +P otherwise performs the same as the standard Gold Dot 124gr. Of course, the two custom loads cost more than the standard round.