Recommended 9mm carry ammunition

[scandg]

What do you all think about the following blog post (reproduced in full below, link provided)? Do you agree? Thoughts for other calibers?


Recommended 9mm carry ammunition
December 29, 2009 By: John Fogh

We get a lot of questions about what 9mm ammunition we recommend for self defense. The short answer is 124gr. +P JHP from Federal, Remington, or Winchester.

These rounds tend to function reliably and meet the FBI standards for penetration in ballistic gelatin. These rounds are what most modern 9mm handguns are designed to shoot and thus tend to be the most reliable. Regardless of what the marketing department of an ammunition manufacturer will tell you, there just isn’t that much difference between products in real world terminal ballistic performance, so the real issue is what functions the most reliably in your particular gun.

InSights Training Center Blog Recommended 9mm carry ammunition

[RochPersDef]

I know John Fogh very well. He knows his s**t too!

I carry the HST from Federal. I saw the tests and did some of my own. Same performance as the Winchester Ranger and better than the Speer GD.

Insights has some of the best in the industry for training and real world knowledge. They've been there, done it, and still continue to go there and do it.

[darkvibe]

Between my own research and hearing Dr. Maurer's thoughts at his ballistics lecture here is what makes sense to me. They mention meeting FBI ballistic gel penetration specs. The FBI penetration requirements are deep partly because FBI agents are likely to shoot through something like a car door before the bullet hits their target. That's not the case with most defensive shootings. If you get ammo that penetrates 12" into gelatin (or whatever the FBI specs) it's not going to lose it's energy in a target very fast compared to ammo that doesn't penetrate as much and expands faster like gold dot. I think it's 6" from someone's chest to their spine. Not saying it's a bad choice or anything, just saying that choosing ammo based only on meeting FBI penetration depth isn't necessarily the best way to go.

[tinker]

I'll side with Jeff about the FBI standards. It's a good guide, but not a rule. I'm not saing they are wrong or bad, just that they may not be aplicable to you or I. People who carry for a job and have a higher risk of getting into shootings will usually have different circumstances then an armed citizen.

[VTLO910]

In 9mm I have the following for my pistolas:

Remington Golden Saber, JHP, 124gr +P
Winchester Ranger, JHP, 124gr (I have to double check if they are "Bonded" or not and +P)
Hornady Critical Defense, (I forget the gr. and other specs)


The Golden Sabres so far have been the best for low light for me...

I'll probably be picking up some Double Tap ammo soon as well...

[javerial]

Originally Posted by scandg

so the real issue is what functions the most reliably in your particular gun.

I think the above is much more important than meeting any FBI protocols. It doesn't do you any good to have the uber JHP that expands to over six inches in diameter if it doesn't feed reliably in your handgun.

[FishDude]

I just went hunting on the big Internet for HST and couldn't find anyone that even had it stock. It also appears many places are LEO purchase only.

Originally Posted by RochPersDef

I know John Fogh very well. He knows his s**t too!

I carry the HST from Federal. I saw the tests and did some of my own. Same performance as the Winchester Ranger and better than the Speer GD.

Insights has some of the best in the industry for training and real world knowledge. They've been there, done it, and still continue to go there and do it.

[waldershrek]

Originally Posted by RochPersDef

I carry the HST from Federal. I saw the tests and did some of my own. Same performance as the Winchester Ranger and better than the Speer GD.

Why go Federal then if it has the same performance as Ranger?

[RochPersDef]

Actually, it was just a bit better and easier to get.

I found it pretty easily, you just gotta look in the right places. I picked up 300 rounds.

[waldershrek]

Originally Posted by RochPersDef

Actually, it was just a bit better and easier to get.

I found it pretty easily, you just gotta look in the right places. I picked up 300 rounds.

I had a felling price or availability was gonna be the answer

[Otter]

How often do you "need" to buy SD ammo?
Should be once in a blue moon unless you are shooting people everyday right?
So availablility and price don't seem like they should be a factor due to rare use of SD ammo.

[ddan24]

Originally Posted by Otter

How often do you "need" to buy SD ammo?
Should be once in a blue moon unless you are shooting people everyday right?
So availablility and price don't seem like they should be a factor due to rare use of SD ammo.

Once a year, coming up on purchasing two bricks in a month or so.

[Suby]

Well no you don't need SD all the time but with prices going up and demand going up might as well buy them now and stock up. also you should practice with your SD loads maybe even try different loads. But for the most part you're right.

[REDTAIL]

Federal HST in all caliber's are the way to go for SD carry ammo.

[FishDude]

Originally Posted by REDTAIL

Federal HST in all caliber's are the way to go for SD carry ammo.

Anyone have a link for a good place to purchase them?

[RochPersDef]

Do a Google and they'll come up. Look on Gunbroker too. I have a Google alert for them and I get three or four a day and most are sales of the HST

[Olivetree]

For some reason no one brought the one single important point - it is not how big is the caliber, but how well you can hit the target.

[FST]

Originally Posted by Olivetree

For some reason no one brought the one single important point - it is not how big is the caliber, but how well you can hit the target.

Hey Olivetree...thanks. Shot Placement...important consideration.