What's your favorite defense round for full sized M&P 9?

fieldgrade · Oct 18, 2014

This will become a nighstand gun when it's just me and the wife in the house in the next year or so.

What is the most reliable running factory defense round you have found for your M&P9?

And let me add, it's an all brick house, so except for windows, I don't care how many walls/floors they go through while "doing business."

Errorhead · Oct 18, 2014

The one I shoot the best with!
My Glock 19 likes Critical Defense, all my .40 Glocks do better with JHPs, try them all.

hardluk1 · Oct 18, 2014

I have tried a limited number of defense ammo brands. Always with a speed bullet. Never had a failure with9 pistols using mainly Georgia arms new ammo now with underwood and some speer gd. The other bullets are the generic name for the gold dot, Bonded jacketed at underwood, speer bonded unicorn at GA, Same bullet. In 28 years between the 3 companies and never a single problem. Used in 380, 38sp , 9mm +P, 40 and 45+P loads .

Both our M&P's , a compact and a full size btoh run underwood 124gr +P boded hp for speer.

Wahoo95 · Oct 18, 2014

Get some 124/147gr Federal HST, Speer Gold Dot, or Winchester Ranger and see which shoots best for you. Everyone has their favorite but all the premium self defense ammo is designed to meet the same performance standards. I load mine with HST but would be just as happy with either of the others.

RJT · Oct 18, 2014

Critical Defense

geneinnc · Oct 18, 2014

The one that feeds 500 flawless rounds.

Wahoo95 · Oct 18, 2014

RJT said:
Critical Defense

Why? Its good ammo but even Hornady realized they dropped the ball with its performance standards hence the reason they brought Critical Duty to the market. CD doesn't meet the same performance standards as the other premium SD lines.....which is why its targeted at the civilian market. With some many other solid options which see use a duty ammo for so many departments I see no reason to steer anyone to Critical Defense or Critical Duty unless you got it for a good price. So yes its good ammo but better options are available.

geneinnc said:
The one that feeds 500 flawless rounds.

How does that ensure that round 501 isn't a factory defect? Doesn't take 500rds to figure out whether a particular brand/type is compatible with your pistol. The 500rd test is a waste of time and money.

Stentor · Oct 18, 2014

Underwood +P+ 147 gr Speer Bonded Jacketed Hollow Point....I am a big fan of Underwood Ammo for self defense rounds.

Tarowah · Oct 18, 2014

My M&P 9 has eaten everything I have ran through the gun without issue and right now it has Ranger 127 Gr +P+ in it, I have also ran 147 HSTs and 147 Gold Dots with great result.

fieldgrade · Oct 18, 2014

Stentor said:
Underwood +P+ 147 gr Speer Bonded Jacketed Hollow Point....I am a big fan of Underwood Ammo for self defense rounds.

It looks scarce. Not even available at the Underwood site, or gunbot.

Where have you found it?

Stentor · Oct 18, 2014

fieldgrade said:
It looks scarce. Not even available at the Underwood site, or gunbot.

Where have you found it?

Directly through Underwood--they have the +P+ 115 gr and +P+ 124 gr (both with Speer bonded hollow points) in stock now; great ammo and very good prices.

You can watch their Facebook page to see what they produce each day.

geneinnc · Oct 19, 2014

How does that ensure that round 501 isn't a factory defect? Doesn't take 500rds to figure out whether a particular brand/type is compatible with your pistol. The 500rd test is a waste of time and money.

Stupid me! Just grab any ammo you can find guys. Save your time and money. All ammo is going to have a factory defect sooner or later. [emoji23]

Top 5 advice advice and it was free!

Wahoo95 · Oct 19, 2014

Not trying to sound like hater but the over pressured ammo loaded by companies like Underwood, Doubletap, and Buffalo Bore never make the most recommended list put together by the various subject matter experts nor are they ever even considered by any LE Department and that should raise a question. The Gold Dot bullets they use are designed to operate optimally at the velocities that Speer loads them. Pushing the faster gets you more felt recoil, more blast, and many times over expansion.......smaller recovered diameter especially with bonded bullets. Engineers design this stuff to meet a specific performance standard so improving performance isn't always as simple as pushing it faster.

fieldgrade · Oct 19, 2014

Wahoo- I'll pick up some of the Federal, or Speer, and give them a whirl. Bought some Speer Gold Dot for my 1911. Need to get it to the range to see how it runs, too. Thanks for weighing in. And thanks for the other suggestions guys.

B00GER · Oct 19, 2014

I've used Rangers and like them, but the tests of the Gold Dot 124gr in both standard and +P looked good so I've picked those up.

Stentor · Oct 20, 2014

Wahoo95 said:
Not trying to sound like hater but the over pressured ammo loaded by companies like Underwood, Doubletap, and Buffalo Bore never make the most recommended list put together by the various subject matter experts nor are they ever even considered by any LE Department and that should raise a question.

Not sure that many LE departments would be willing to go with a small shop like Underwood--really no reason for them to do so.

Tntoutdoors has done extensive testing of various ammo (posted on YouTube); the Underwood 147 gr tested pretty well.

The Underwood ammo performs well and it's more cost effective than most other comparable options.

hardluk1 · Oct 20, 2014

I use underwoods 124gr +P speer bonded unicor ammo. Same gold dot bullet with out name infringements. Same for Georgia arms but not as fast.

2alpha-down0 · Oct 20, 2014

Gold Dot, HST, or Ranger T/Ranger Bonded, in either 124gr+p or 147gr. For 9mm I currently carry Ranger T 147s.

I would stay away from off-brands like Underwood and Buffalo Bore. If nothing else, I'd bet boutique loaders don't add flash suppressants like the big boys do.

Scsmith42 · Oct 20, 2014

Wahoo95 said:
Not trying to sound like hater but the over pressured ammo loaded by companies like Underwood, Doubletap, and Buffalo Bore never make the most recommended list put together by the various subject matter experts nor are they ever even considered by any LE Department and that should raise a question. The Gold Dot bullets they use are designed to operate optimally at the velocities that Speer loads them. Pushing the faster gets you more felt recoil, more blast, and many times over expansion.......smaller recovered diameter especially with bonded bullets. Engineers design this stuff to meet a specific performance standard so improving performance isn't always as simple as pushing it faster.

Darn! I wish that you had written this BEFORE I bought all of that Buffalo Zbore ammo....

sheepdog910 · Oct 21, 2014

Ash I shoot Federal HST 2 124 gr +p in the G19. It is LE ammo but I am sure you can find it hell Lawman's may of lifted the ban by now and you can pick up a 50 box for 22 bucks. Personally I love it I have shot the Speer GD and hated it and the Ranger 127 +p+ it a bit much for a polymer frame in my opinion. That being said the 147 gr +p Ranger is also a good round and I have a box of that as well for the G19. Either way you know how to get in touch if you wanna chat some more.

What's your favorite defense round for full sized M&P 9?

fieldgrade

Errorhead

hardluk1

Wahoo95

RJT

geneinnc

Wahoo95

Stentor

Tarowah

fieldgrade

Stentor

geneinnc

Wahoo95

fieldgrade

B00GER

Stentor

hardluk1

2alpha-down0

Scsmith42

sheepdog910

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