9mm carry ammo

[Rastus]

1st choice    Corbon DPX
2nd choice   Hornaday Critical Defense

Exception being short barrel, go with Speer Gold Dot for short barrels.

[Solus]

Thanks..... What grain?

Corbon DPX  115gr +P.  Solid Copper    1250fps muzzle -  Corbon test barrel
Hornaday Critical Defense 115gr              1140fps muzzle - Hornaday test barrel

In all the objective tests I have seen, Corbon has more reliable and greater expansion and penetration than the other ammunition tested.  The Honraday Critical Defense is a good second and most often tests the best when Corbon DPX is not included.

The Corbon is more expensive and often unavailable due to it's high demand.  The Hornaday CD is cheaper, more readily available and is not much behind in performance.

The muzzle velocity of these two rounds are fairly close, so "feel" should not be to far off when switching between them.

If you handload, you can make cheaper practice ammo using any hollow point bullet of 115gr.  If you have a chronograph, you can duplicate the muzzle velocity of each in your personal weapon and practice with the identical feel as  your carry ammo.

As stated by others, you will need to fire enough of each type in your pistol to insure total reliability.

[Solus]

Does anybody really know the answer to this? I mean, I could go on about the wonders of Hydrashock or Golden Sabres, and others can talk about different brands. But do we really know what the hell we are talking about? To me, I have gotten a bit cynical about the whole thing. I'm thinking that if its a jacketed hollow point that feeds reliably and goes bang every time, I'm not sure that there is much of a difference. Am I wrong here?
FQ13 who doesn't want to be carry trash, but I'm not really sure how one quality brand is that much better than the other as long as your pistol likes it.

You could be wrong.  

Expansion and penetration is what is required to maximize your chances of stopping the fight, and not having the other guy stop it for you.

The latest improvements in bullet design have allowed the 9mm to approach the performance of larger caliber rounds.  However, reliable expansion and penetration are more important to it's success than in the larger calibers.  

A hollow point that does not reliably expand and penetrate after passing through a layer or two of clothing leaves you will 9mm ball ammo, which shouldn't be anyone's choice for a self defense round.

In repeated tests using ballistic gelatin and passing through various media before entering the gelatin block, Corbon DPX is found to be the top performer.  Whether the difference is worth the price, I can't say for you, but when my life is on the line, I'll take any small advantage I can get.

The current wisdom calls for 12 inches of penetration after passing through some type of clothing as being ideal.  Expansion while maintaining the maximum penetration up to 12 inches is desired.   And while 12 inches seems a lot, this is in pure gelatin, not a body with bone or other obstructions which will reduce actual penetration.

Penetration over 12 inches is viewed as non-desirable as it will increase the probability of the bullet passing through the target, causing collateral damage.

[fightingquaker13]

Exception being short barrel, go with Speer Gold Dot for short barrels.

Why? What makes them better and in what weight? I started this thread being a cynic, weary of hearing about the "wonder bullet" of the month. Now, I am willing to bow to consensus and get the Hornady or corbons, as they aren't any more money than my current Golden Sabres. But if the Speer is better in short barrel, I'm all ears. Thanks Rastus.
FQ13

[Timothy]

Speer designed the cartridge around a snubby or short barrel and worked it till they reached maximum numbers and expansion.  I've not tried any as I don't own a short barreled firearm at the moment.

I too use GS in my .45 but I change weights in the winter to a hotter 185 grain vs. the 230 grain.  My pea brain and my own calculations on my super duper HP calculator with the most buttons I've ever seen told me to do so....varying mileage and all that...yes, I speak with my calculator...

I like the Corbon, Hornady and most everything else too.  My PARA hasn't ever coughed on anything.  I'm certain it will continue to eat what I feed it.

[Sponsor]

[twyacht]

With competition and high prices for premium SD ammo, most of the top shelf brands will be effective considering the overwhelming ratio of SD shootings occur at 7 yds. or LESS.

The important thing to remember is have TOTAL RELIABILITY in your particular pistol. That does include "investing" NOT spending good money shooting SD ammo at the range to verify proper feed, function, accuracy, recoil, and ejection.

It's your life that will be reliant on your ammo, training, and accuracy.

The Military M9 Beretta, and ol' 1911 service pistols, dropped many a bad guy with ball ammo....

[kmitch200]

Why? What makes them better and in what weight? I started this thread being a cynic, weary of hearing about the "wonder bullet" of the month. Now, I am willing to bow to consensus and get the Hornady or corbons, as they aren't any more money than my current Golden Sabres. But if the Speer is better in short barrel, I'm all ears. Thanks Rastus.
FQ13

I have short barrel Gold Dots in my G27.
The hollow point is much more pronounced that the regular GD. In the shorter barrel they opened up more than their regular GD brothers but still had the weight retention to penetrate.
Faster opening but still enough weight to penetrate. What's not to like?  The results of testing the 40 out of the short barrel were impressive. Which is why I carry them daily.
Midway only lists 124gr +p loads for the 9mm short barrel if that bears on your decision. I don't know if they make a non+p version.

I've used Golden Sabres in just about every caliber and never felt like I was short changing myself. I just found the Gold Dots to be more accurate in most of my guns.

[Solus]

Why? What makes them better and in what weight? I started this thread being a cynic, weary of hearing about the "wonder bullet" of the month. Now, I am willing to bow to consensus and get the Hornady or corbons, as they aren't any more money than my current Golden Sabres. But if the Speer is better in short barrel, I'm all ears. Thanks Rastus.
FQ13

The Corbon ammo you want is  it's DPX line.   

If you find them close to the same price for other ammo, either you have found a great deal or the other ammo is over priced.

I've not found it being too close to other types in price.

at Midway   
Corbon DPX 9mm 115gr +P  $36.99/20    $1.85 each
Hornaday Critical Defense 115gr 16.99/25   $.68  each

Both happen to be in stock.   

[seeker_two]

First and foremost, find the ammo that functions reliably in your gun...whether that's a high-tech hollowpoint or just simple ball ammo. If it fires 50 rounds w/o a stoppage, it's a good round.

One type I prefer is the Cor-Bon Pow'R'Ball ammo...if a pistol functions with ball ammo, it usually will function with Pow'R'Ball.... http://www.gunblast.com/PowRBall.htm

[MikeBjerum]

I like the theory behind Critical Defense.  That is what I currently carry in my .38 +p and .380 acp.  As soon as I get lower on JHP and Hydro Shocks I am going to try some in the .45 acp.  However, testing the 1911 for new ammo gets a little hard on the pocketbook!

With the cost the reason I haven't done a lot of changing in the .45 acp is that I figure that bullet leaves as big a hole without mushrooming, if the hollowpoint plugs up, as the .38 and .380 leave when all works correctly.  That and the force the .45 acp hits with give a good advantage.

Maybe I should just recommend you carry some .45acp and a gun to burn it in