Sub 4 inch barrel 9mm - what load?

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18DAI

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Those of you who are carrying 9mm pistols with sub 4 inch barrels, what load are you using? And why did you choose it?

For over a decade I have used 147 grain Winchester Ranger RA9T or the bonded RA9B in my 3913 and 3914 off duty guns.

A few years back, I picked up a couple of S&W CS9 3 inch barrel sub compact 9mms. After some research and reading actual street use and results - from short barrel off duty or concealed carry 9mms, I am thinking about switching to Speer Gold Dot 124 grain +P in the 3 inch guns.

I'm interested in the experiences of other small9mm owners/users. Thanks! Regards 18DAI
 
I carry a Shield.
I carry either Winchester RA9B or Winchester 147gr D (Defend). By the looks of the Winchester "D" it is a very similar if not the same bullet as the RA9B

Ammunitiontogo.com has quite a bit of gel test data on their site. Of particular interest to me is that their test gun is a Shield. When you compare the different loads for penetration and reliable expansion the Winchester D performed really well with very uniform expansion across the test bullets and 18" + penetration.

Winchester D:
https://www.ammunitiontogo.com/prod...er-w-train-and-defend-147gr-jhp-ammo#gel-test
 
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My EDC is XDs 9mm 3.3" barrel. I use Hornady American Gunner 124 grain +P and or Golden Sabers. Either way, I seem to shoot well with the 124 grn +P loads. I'm interested to see how this shakes out. I'm not exactly a precision shooter, but they go where I intend for them to go. Just not super tight groups like some guys here.
 
124gr Federal HSTs in my Shield.
Several tests have shown slightly better than average penetration and expansion even from a short barrel. Accuracy is decent. Available in a 50rd box for not a whole lot of money so throwing some down range on occasion doesn't hurt.
 
Don’t count on the ammo choice ... count on the shoot placement!

That being said in my compact 9mm EDC’s (SA EMP mainly) I carry standard Speer 124gr Gold Dots (they do offer a “short barreled” +P version you mentioned if you want an extra warm-n-fuzzy) because I got a hell of a deal on a couple cases (it came out to about $21 per box of 50). I’ve also run Winchester Ranger-T, Federal HST and Hornady Critical Duty also with no problems in cycling or accuracy. If it cycles 100% reliable any of the major manufacturers like those mentioned will do the job if you do yours.

As to the “short barreled” ammo I am not fully up on the added performance ... I seem to remember one of the more attractive things was burn rate for trying to have more powder burnt while still in the barrel. Suppose to give less muzzle flash and a little higher velocity. Honestly I loaded up a mix of different 9mm SD loads and aside from bullet weight I saw and felt no real difference in accuracy, felt recoil, reliability or such at the ranges of HD/SD (25 yards and under). For me I’ll stick to the 50 rounds per LEO boxes (I’ve gotten Speer Gold Dots, Winchester Ranger-Ts and Federal HST all in that 50 rd box deal at some point) I get for $21 vs the 20 rounds per “short barreled” SD boxes for $18 ... and also do basically the same for my .45acp HD/SD ammo.
 
Fed hydrashok 124gn in my shield and all my 9mm carry options, because it's a known good defense round and works in all of them. I dont think there's anything real to gain by micro engineering my EDC ammo choice.
 
Like mochajoe said, different pistol
Ruger EC9s, Hornady Critical Defense. 3-5" groups from the draw on the limited occasions I've done that with that ammo. That gets pricey real quick...
 
Federal 150gr HST Micro. Good Lucky Gunner test data and shoots really well for me.
 
Thanks to all for the input and info! Much appreciated.

While I am a card carrying member of the shot placement school, I primarily carry a 45. But when the weather is hot and miserable or dress code prohibits a larger gun.........or I just feel lazy ;) I will carry one of my small 9mm guns.

As I often state, when asked, the primary difference between 45s and 9mms is that you must be more selective in your ammunition choice with a 9mm. Winchester Ranger has been my choice for many years, but Speer and Federal make some very effective rounds as well.

I think I will keep the 124 +P in the CS9 and the 147 RA9B in the 3914NL. Thanks again! Regards 18DAI
 
NCFubar said:
As to the “short barreled” ammo I am not fully up on the added performance ... I seem to remember one of the more attractive things was burn rate for trying to have more powder burnt while still in the barrel. Suppose to give less muzzle flash and a little higher velocity. .
Click to expand...

If memory serves (an increasingly risky proposition these days) the powder is optimized for the shorter barrel as you note above, and the bullet itself is modified with a larger hollow point cavity to more reliably initiate expansion at the naturally lower velocity you would expect in a shorter barrel.

I've never used the GDSB loads in 9mm, but it's my carry ammo of choice in 2" .357's like the SP101.
 
I may be the odd man out on this. On my 3.5" there's five 115gr hollow point Winchesters with 2 115gr FMJ on top.

I can swap out the FMJ after a couple of chamberings so I'm assured there isn't setback. The rest are all tested for reliable chambering.
 
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