the heavier one will penetrate more, and maybe have slightly more recoil. There's also a 147gr XTP and it penetrates more than 15" in ballistic gelatin which is excellent IMO.

 

I prefer heavier bullets but I doubt anyone on the receiving end would be able to tell the difference.

 

I prefer heavier bullets but I doubt anyone on the receiving end would be able to tell the difference.

This. Unless you're the FBI 20+ years ago with bad ammo and a very bad (unlucky) day (the day that started 9mm hate known as the Miami Shootout), you're probably fine with both or either.

 

Thanks.

 

Shot placement make bullet weight irrelevant... Just saying

 

The biggest difference will be with the 115/124 vs the 147 when using a suppressor. That's when you really be able to tell.

 

My preference is heavy-for-caliber, so I use 147gr in 9mm. Of those two, I'd get the 124gr.

With 115gr you have to be very careful about load selection, as even generally excellent designs like Gold Dot and HST tend to underpenetrate in that weight class. I surely wouldn't count on a 115gr XTP.

 

Changing bullet weights could (maybe) affect your gun's point of impact and how it cycles. Some guns are more sensitive to this than others... some not at all. Shoot them both side-by-side and pick the one that works best (functions 100% and shoots where you point it).

 

I prefer heavier bullets but I doubt anyone on the receiving end would be able to tell the difference.

This. Unless you're the FBI 20+ years ago with bad ammo and a very bad (unlucky) day (the day that started 9mm hate known as the Miami Shootout), you're probably fine with both or either.

Part of the problem in Miami was that many of the FBI agents hit their targets, but didn't make any Central Nervous System hits early on. The FBI could've been shooting hot 10mm semi-autos and likely would have ended up just as dead.

A point I've seen Wahoo95 make before applies here: unless you can STOP the bad guy with a CNS shot, s/he can continue to do you damage even though fatally wounded!

.

 

I'm a convert to heavier bullets for the 9mm. I carry Speer Gold Dot 147 gr. JHP, standard velocity. This bullet penetrates more than the 124 gr. +p rounds I was using, and kicks less. A winner both ways.

 

To mirror much of the above, it probably won't matter, so get what you shoot the best.

However, from my own research I've come to see that the deeper penetration of a heavier bullet can sometimes not be a good thing. The heavier bullet has a lower velocity and may lead to the round not expanding and merely boring through a target like a FMJ round.

On the otherhand some lighter rounds have a tendency to have the velocity to expand well, however lack the mass to penetrate deeply.

I personally like 124gr or 147gr bullets. I have historically carried 147 grain Rangers, or now I am trying out the 124gr standard pressure Gold Dots.

Bottom line: shoot them all, and see what you shoot best. Heck, if you are most accurate and consistent with ball ammo, carry that, as a hit with ball trumps a near hit with hollow points.

 

NYPD has had good results with the 124 grain +p gold dot. This round is their standard issue and many big names, Massad Ayoob among them recommends it. So take that for what it is worth to you personally.

 

Think about your barrel length. All the major manufacturers make good LE load, HST, GOLD DOT, Critical Duty, Winchester T's, but they do not all perform well in short barrels. They also mostly use 124gr and 147 gr ammo for penetration. Recently I picked up a couple nice older pistols with 3" barrels, and the ammo rules kinda go out the window. Turns out that I'm switching from Gold Dots to HST for my 3" barrel 9mm, and from HST to Gold Dots( short barrel version), for 45ACP . In 9mm , I vote for 147gr HST. I don't think +P is worth the extra bang.
Brent

 

Not a fan of +P.....prefer standard pressure rounds designed around a good bullet.

Though I prefer heavy for caliber loads and standard pressure loads I have to admit I have a small stash of Federal 115gr +P+ 9BPLE load and its street proven so I wouldn't feel I'll equipped with it. I also have some 115gr Corbon DPX which I'm confident in.

 

I have better grouping with heavier ammo at longer distances.

 

To mirror much of the above, it probably won't matter, so get what you shoot the best.

However, from my own research I've come to see that the deeper penetration of a heavier bullet can sometimes not be a good thing. The heavier bullet has a lower velocity and may lead to the round not expanding and merely boring through a target like a FMJ round.

On the otherhand some lighter rounds have a tendency to have the velocity to expand well, however lack the mass to penetrate deeply.

I personally like 124gr or 147gr bullets. I have historically carried 147 grain Rangers, or now I am trying out the 124gr standard pressure Gold Dots.

Bottom line: shoot them all, and see what you shoot best. Heck, if you are most accurate and consistent with ball ammo, carry that, as a hit with ball trumps a near hit with hollow points.

Good point.

 

I use 124g +p+. Although I don't think the bad guy cares what you are shooting at him!

 

I would skip over Hornady completely. My favorite carry rounds are Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P, Winchester Ranger 127gr +P+, and Federal HST 124gr +P

Some people say they don't care about carrying proven effective ammunition. "Bullets are bullets". Speak for yourself. If I need to use my pistol for self defense, I want the best chance of stopping the threat.

 

Atlas in winston had 125gr standard gold dots for 35$ per 50. Seemed decent considering not having to wait or pay shipping.

 

Atlas in winston had 125gr standard gold dots for 35$ per 50. Seemed decent considering not having to wait or pay shipping.

That's a great price. They're usually about $0.90-1.00 per round. Whatever you choose, buy enough to practice with and carry.

 

In short a quality 115gr +P+ will put a hurting on pretty much anyone, I switch between light and heavy 9mm SD ammo for winter/summer carry, in the warmer months I will carry pretty much any quality HP SD ammo, but in the winter months I believe that the 147gr Rounds are better at punching through heavy jackets and clothing.

 

Not a big enough difference to really matter. Use what you can regularly shoot.

I use Hornady Critical Duty (135gr) because I can afford to shoot it every couple of weeks, vs. HST's or Gold Dots, which I can't afford to shoot as often.

 

I prefer heavier bullets but I doubt anyone on the receiving end would be able to tell the difference.

The coroner might....

Shot placement make bullet weight irrelevant... Just saying

This^^^

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2

 

I just wanted to say, its a pistol, so no matter the caliber, or bullet weight they all are equal in how bad they suck at stopping anything. Its all about copious amounts of lead on target with the placement of the shots.

John

 

I just wanted to say, its a pistol, so no matter the caliber, or bullet weight they all are equal in how bad they suck at stopping anything. Its all about copious amounts of lead on target with the placement of the shots.

John

Just what would YOU know about shooting people???

Oh...wait...