Can someone recommend a home defense 9mm round?

[MHarvey124]

I've been shooting for about a year now but mainly just for fun at the local range with my S&W MP 9mm. Never really cared about home defense. It was never really a priority. Now I am thinking about it after I started watching The Best Defense and other shows on the outdoor channel.

Now normally I've just been shooting Winchester 9mm luger FMJ loads but from what I've read here and on other sites that kind of round really isn't the best option to use for home defense. Can anyone recommend a JHP and grain that would be good in my full size MP 9mm that would be good for home and self defense. I do live in a townhouse connected to another unit and from what I can tell the walls are pretty thin. Not sure if that will make a difference.

[tombogan03884]

Federal Hydro shok or Hornady TAP are both highly recommended.
Another thing you can do ( this will help if you actually NEED to use it) Find out what the local cops are using and get the same stuff.

[SigShooter]

I live in Condo myself, so I too have thought about overpentration of the walls. It's too bad there isn't a magic bullet that doesn't penetrate drywall, but punches right through everything else.

Glaser Safety Slugs claim to be a reduced risk round, but I don't think either of the two configurations they make will have adequate penetration on a bad guy. They are designed to break up quickly and dump all of their energy. The trouble is, all the little pieces they break into don't penetrate very far, which makes them safe for everybody but the person defending his or her life or family. Still, they're an option if you think they'll work. (dakotaammo.net)

I use Speer Gold Dots in the 124gr +P loading. They're bonded so they will penetrate like no tommorrow. But they also have a reputation for expansion, so it should stay in the BG when properly used. Any misses or ADs are going to be legally problematic if an innocent person gets hurt, but I'm not aware of any bullet that be frangible against drywall only, and mushroom in the middle of the BG, and not be manufactured with pixie dust.

Since I'm sure someone will begin to argue bullet choice vs. legal liabilities, I would be interested to know if someone is aware of any legitimate cases in which:

1) the resident lawfully fired upon a home intruder

2) the bullet used in the resident's weapon was of a pistol caliber

3) the bullet penetrated the walls of the home

4) the bullet struck an innocent bystander

5) the bystander filed a lawsuit against the lawfully acting resident (the resident was firing at an intruder, not shooting the bystander)

6) The bystander won the lawsuit and/or a settlement

7) if conditions 1 through 6 apply, then the case applies to this thread.

I know I'm being particular, especially since I didn't start this thread, but like I said someone will begin to comment on collateral damage as a result of bullet choice. To back up their argument, they always speak in generalities about what could/maybe with right attorney happen, and not what has actually occured. And that's annoying bs.

[ellis4538]

Cor-Bon has some good rounds also.

Richard

[Hottrockin]

I’d recommend getting at least 50 rounds each (min.) of the top quality stuff; Federal, Remington, Cor-Bon, Speer, etc. and running them all through to see what your gun likes to eat the best.  I did this with my .40 S&W and was amazed at how each brand was a little different.  I shot most in the seated / rested position trying for close groups, watching muzzle flash and felt recoil.  In my XD the Remington Golden Sabers (165g) seemed to be the ticket.  Once you find one or two, then run another 100 rounds or so thru it in normal fashion; standing, two handed, one handed, different distances, etc. to see how it still holds up.  I for sure would stick with JHP and a name brand, not reloaded or off brands.  Finding out what the local LEO utilizes seems like a good idea too.

[Sponsor]

[MikeBjerum]

I'd go with Tombogan's suggestion. 

As far as the construction of the townhouse goes, you could take a coat hanger, straighten it out, poke a hole in your sheetrock (just as if hanging a picture), probe with the coathanger to get an idea of what is behind the sheetrock.  If all you find is a hollow cavity or fiberglass insulation and sheetrock on the other side you may want to look for a place with solid partitions. 

Solid partitions will not only be an advantage if you fire a stray shot, but it will protect you in the case of a neighbor with a stray shot, home invasion through the wall, and most commonly ... Fire.  From helping my mother find apartments over the years I have learned that in new construction the rent will be higher for lots of concrete, but once a building passes the 15 year point in age there is basically no difference in price for one with concrete floors and divisions between units.  I know moving is no fun (this is the reason I don't move - every year I'm helping another family member move and that fills my need), but if you are concerned enough to protect yourself and your family this could be a good step.

[PoorSoulInJersey]

1) the resident lawfully fired upon a home intruder
2) the bullet used in the resident's weapon was of a pistol caliber
3) the bullet penetrated the walls of the home
4) the bullet struck an innocent bystander
5) the bystander filed a lawsuit against the lawfully acting resident (the resident was firing at an intruder, not shooting the bystander)
6) The bystander won the lawsuit and/or a settlement
7) if conditions 1 through 6 apply, then the case applies to this thread.

Does the situation really hinge on #3? I would think striking an innocent bystander is striking an innocent bystander, regardless of whether it was cause by over-penetration, missing, accidental discharge, or shooting through a wall as a result of any of these. The question is not much different from what rounds to use when you are shooting in a public place.

Conceptually, though, it's another magic bullet question, asking "what bullet will give me <insert contradictory expectations here, like kill the bad guy, stop hairloss, pick up after my dog, have no recoil, and still be cheap enough to practice with at the range 3C a week>"

I see this question of what type of building you live in and what rounds may or may not penetrate the wall as no different from any other situation. Remember the episodes of TBD where they mentioned making sure you have a solid backstop and the more more recent one of making sure no one else was behind the target? Since you can't know who is on the other side of the wall, it's important that you have a solid backstop

It's basic gun safety: make sure what you are shooting at and what is beyond it. A drywall or plaster partition, even a fire rated one with a couple layers of drywall, isn't a safe backstop. If you don't have a sufficient backstop (which in residential construction, you're talking poured concrete, multiple wythes of brick, or a bookcase facing the right direction with a lot of books on it), you can count on possibly hitting someone you did not mean to.

The real question is not "what round will magically protect possible innocents?" It's "what can I do to avoid accidentally shooting innocent neighbors?" That mostly means installing an alarm, having a cell phone by the side of the bed, buying decent locks (ok, now with the basics out of the way, we can talk weapons), selecting a good safe room, pre-planning your lines of fire, and spending enough time practicing ("war gaming") in your house that you know what a "safe shot" in your house is.

[Michael Bane]

Good discussion!

The key point is you need to do the drills we showed in THE BEST DEFENSE, scope out your possible/probable lines of fine in your condo and KNOW YOUR BACKSTOPS for each of those lines. LaserGrips are handy for this exercise because you can see precisely where your point of impact is going to be.

If after the exercise I still had backstop problems — that is, the design of my condo left me with a bag of bad options — I might default to the Glasers, although I agree on their human penetration issues. You guys know I carry a 9mm myself, but this is one of the situations where I might at least consider a bump up in gun, specifically to a .45 ACP loaded with Glasers, for a little more umph. Alternately, I might add a shotgun to the mix, and inexpensive 870 or Mossberg, and load it with birdshot as my primary home defense weapon...

Michael B

PS: I carry either Hornady TAPS or Corbon DPX in my carry gun. I'd rull out DPX for your situation.

[ericire12]

http://www.handloads.com/misc/stoppingpower.asp?Caliber=15&Weight=All

[MHarvey124]

Thanks for all the great advice guys. Really appreciated.

Ironically enough after posting this question I ended up watching the latest episode of The Best Defense discussing the importance of knowing whats behind your target and moving into a position better suited for stopping a stray round and making sure bystanders will not be in the line of fire. Thanks for heads up on watching the show Mr Bane. As soon as I am able to scrap up enough cash I'm going to have a set of Crimson Trace lasers on order.

Hottrockin: Your suggestion is really good. Unfortunately money is kind of tight right now so picking up 50 rounds of different loads may be a bit costly. I do agree this probably is the best way to figure out what is going to work best with each individual's firearm.

I'll probably try getting some Hornady Taps or Federal Hydrashock for the time being.