9mm Self Defense Ammo

JGC1524

JGC1524

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Are there any laws governing the type of self defense rounds we can use for concealed carry in NC? And, what is the best self defense round available along those lines (9mm).

Thanks!!
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
Any 9mm your gun will function with. Very little difference in all.
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^^^^ with age comes wisdom ...

I run Speer Gold Dots now because I got a hell of a deal on a case or two pre-COVID-19. But I’ve also run Federal Hydra-Shoks & HST’s, Winchester Rangers and even Corbon depending on it running reliably thru the handgun as said above. 124gr is pretty much general purpose but unlike 147gr rounds in full sized handguns ... and pretty much exclusively in a suppressor wearing HD ones.
 
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HSTs or Gold Dots 124 or 147gr, my preference is the 124s.
Used by a whole lot of LEAs. Do quite well in a number of tests floating around out there.
Also once upon a time they were commonly available in 50rnd boxes for just a few dollars more than FMJs, maybe someday again.
 
But just imagine:

"But seeing as how this is a 124 grain HST projectile;
the most ass-kicking 9mm round on Youtube;
and will open a wound channel in ballistic gel a mile wide;
you have to ask yourself one question: do you feel lucky?"

WELL DO YA PUNK!!??
 
A fundamental truth is that all defensive ammunition manufacturers endeavor to design their loads to perform to the FBI standard for performance. Some may do this a little better than others, but most are pretty close if you stay with the major manufacturers. More importantly, find out what works best in YOUR gun as pertaining to reliability and accuracy.

ETA - Some of us might choose to go off the reservation a bit, with our own personal choices, for whatever reason. But, most of the major offerings are pretty decent.

Yet, remember a handgun is NOT an exceptional stopper. It's advantage is it's convenience and portability.
 
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I’m run various 9mm loading, primarily 147gr HST, 124gr +P Gold dots, I have a box or 2 of the Winchester Ranger 127gr +P+ and a couple boxes of 9PBLE 115gr +P+ ammo stashed away for really hard times, but as others have said, “most” modern 9mm hollow points will get the job done if you do your part.

I’d suggest spending a little time on YouTube and watch some tests, Tnoutdoors9 tested just about everything you’ll find in the caliber, some with stellar results, others not so much.
 
I've switched almost exclusively to hard cast flat points when I can get them and if they feed reliably through my gun.

My circumstances are probably different than most fellas on a internet gun board. Maybe one of those "outliers".

That said, with a handgun, it barely matters. Shoot what feeds reliably and accurately and go from there.

If I don't have my preferred load, all these "top of the line" hollow-points I've accumulated over the years will suffice. Just get it in your mind ahead of time to shoot until the threat is over and it will barely matter what is in the gun.
 
I myself have moved to a plated truncated cone with as large of a meplat as I could find. While others are concerned with over penetration, I'm more concerned with the opposite, under penetration. I want to be sure the bullet goes through all of what I'm shooting at. To be able to reach vital organs and to do it with tissue damage and non-self sealing wounding. And if it's bad guys lined up, twofer! I think there are too many variables for bullets to "perform" exactly as designed, meaning expanding just right. Plus, I'm in the country and who know what I might run across. So, adequate penetration is a focus. And I wanted something I could have plenty of rather than a few expensive boxes. A standard everyday round as it were. Having said all of that, this is my personal choice based on my personal reasons. I do not push this on others. Otherwise, I have no problem carrying 124gr +p Gold Dots either. They have a proven history of sucess.
While we're at it, rather than center mass, I prefer high thoracic. YMMV
 
Tarowah said:
Tnoutdoors9 tested just about everything you’ll find in the caliber, some with stellar results, others not so much.
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I'll have to check out some of his vids.
Did you ever watch Shootingthebull410? He did a series, too, and used a mouse gun to see what 9mm worked as desined in modern pocket pistols.
 
draco88 said:
I'll have to check out some of his vids.
Did you ever watch Shootingthebull410? He did a series, too, and used a mouse gun to see what 9mm worked as desined in modern pocket pistols.
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Lucky Gunner has some pretty extensive gel testing as well.

www.luckygunner.com

LuckyGunner.com Labs

Tests, reviews and insights into firearms and ammo
www.luckygunner.com
 
draco88 said:
I'll have to check out some of his vids.
Did you ever watch Shootingthebull410? He did a series, too, and used a mouse gun to see what 9mm worked as desined in modern pocket pistols.
Click to expand...

Yeah I’ve seen some of those vids, I’ll watch dozens of ballistic tests just because I enjoy learning the different ways the bullets work through various types of media.
 
georgel said:
Lucky Gunner has some pretty extensive gel testing as well.

www.luckygunner.com

LuckyGunner.com Labs

Tests, reviews and insights into firearms and ammo
www.luckygunner.com
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Tarowah said:
Yeah I’ve seen some of those vids, I’ll watch dozens of ballistic tests just because I enjoy learning the different ways the bullets work through various types of media.
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Y'all keep in mind...nobody has ever been attacked by a block of Jel.
 
While I may not shoot to FBI standards, it's good to know that my ammo will perform to FBI standards.
 
In the big scheme of things I think that the difference in effectiveness of 9mm ammo is hardly worth considering compared to many other factors like accuracy/shot placement (training), capacity, etc. However I used to prefer light and fast projectiles but now that I own a suppressor I only buy 147gr, lol.
 
Just remember for most small arms, especially handguns, there is generally no such thing as a “magic bullet” … “lucky bullet” maybe but not “magic” so if you ever need it do not be stingy with the ammo … keep sending ‘em until the threat stops!
 
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Jeppo said:
Close enough?

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Yeah, but is he calibrated to 10% ordanance gelatin? And if so, then the standard 12"-18" of penetration ain't gonna get it with Puft Man. 😛

iu
 
Pistols puts holes in people
Rifles puts holes though people
Shotguns with the right load and distance will take a chunk off your opponent and throws that s$&t on the floor

gospel according Clint of thunder ranch
 
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