What round is best for self defense in a micro compact 9mm?
- Thread starter pbm
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Speer makes excellent SD rounds.
https://www.speer.com/ammunition/gold-dot/?prefn1=caliber&prefv1=9mm Luger
The differences between each load is minor. Any one of them would be great. If your gun is rated for it, the +P would be a good choice as well.
My agency issues the Federal 124g which are basically this round
https://www.federalpremium.com/handgun/personal-defense-hst/11-P9HST1S.html
Can't go wrong with that, either.
Just makes sure and put a few magazines through your gun, with your magazines, and this ammo, to verify compatibility.
https://www.speer.com/ammunition/gold-dot/?prefn1=caliber&prefv1=9mm Luger
The differences between each load is minor. Any one of them would be great. If your gun is rated for it, the +P would be a good choice as well.
My agency issues the Federal 124g which are basically this round
https://www.federalpremium.com/handgun/personal-defense-hst/11-P9HST1S.html
Can't go wrong with that, either.
Just makes sure and put a few magazines through your gun, with your magazines, and this ammo, to verify compatibility.
That's my thinking also which is why I'm leaning towards the 124 HP.
1. Test the combo of the gun, mag and ammo for 100% reliability
2. Check for accuracy
3. Check bank account and choose
HST, Ranger, Gold Dot and the industry standard, from which all other HPs are compared.....Which means something.
For a cheaper and just as accurate brand try defender ammo.......https://www.defenderammunition.com/......recently, I have had some excellent results through several guns, several calibers.
I would stay under 124GRN, IMO 147 was trying to make 9mm do something that it was not designed for. Your smaller gun may require more slide speed, who knows.
M1152 is pretty serious stuff aswell.
2. Check for accuracy
3. Check bank account and choose
HST, Ranger, Gold Dot and the industry standard, from which all other HPs are compared.....Which means something.
For a cheaper and just as accurate brand try defender ammo.......https://www.defenderammunition.com/......recently, I have had some excellent results through several guns, several calibers.
I would stay under 124GRN, IMO 147 was trying to make 9mm do something that it was not designed for. Your smaller gun may require more slide speed, who knows.
M1152 is pretty serious stuff aswell.
The best self defense round in any semi automatic is the one that cycles the action without causing a jam for the next shot.
IMO having sufficient velocity for hollow point expansion is important. Some brands make loads just for shorter barrels, or you could go up to a +P if your gun is rated. Orrrrrrr, a standard pressure 115 -124grn may have enough velocity for HP expansion.. It's going to take some experimentation (you know, for science) to figure out if a standard or even +P will 1) cycle correctly and 2) attain sufficient velocity to expand. So get some milk jugs of water and some ammo and have fun.
As for me, I choose Federal HST 124 +P out of my Sig P365 and Canik TP9 SF Elite
As for me, I choose Federal HST 124 +P out of my Sig P365 and Canik TP9 SF Elite
If you choose a round that just injures someone, you may go to prison for 10 years. If you choose a round that actually kills someone, you can probably at least double that.
A person who has been shot by any kind or weight of bullet will likely no longer be a threat to you. Why do you want to kill them?
A person who has been shot by any kind or weight of bullet will likely no longer be a threat to you. Why do you want to kill them?
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because they are trying to kill me or others....if someone warrants being shot by me they are doing something that they need to be killed. people that are intent on bad/evil things will not stop because they are wounded.
Sorry to hear about the laws in your state. In "free" states, if it's a self-defense situation, if you're protecting your home, etc, you don't go to jail.
Are police trained to shoot someone's weapon out of their hand ? Nope. Shoot a person in the knee to stop them from approaching ? Nope. Same "training" principles apply to regular people too.
This is foolish advice based on a lack of understanding on lethal force.
You choose a round based on effectiveness. Your local Police Department does the same.
Legal culpability has nothing to do with the ammo, it has everything to do with whether or not the shooting was justifiable.
It is fantasy to think that an assailant will just stop because they got winged by one round. They won’t just lay down for you.
Fights don’t work that way. The law doesn’t expect things to work that way.
You shoot to stop a lethal threat. You choose an ammo that is good at stopping. It is not about killing, or not killing, it is all about ending a lethal threat.
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There’s so much nonsense in this it’s amazing someone had the courage to post it.
Please tell us how you can tell the difference between wounded and dead in a tiny fraction of a second?
Shoot someone with a 22LR. The might be stopped. The might be fatally wounded. How are you going to know? And how are you going to be able to not only know, but react in time before they kill you?
There’s a reason the every armed professional is taught to shoot and keep shooting until you can be certain they are no longer a threat. Thus the videos of cops shooting a full mag.
And they all know the story of the Skokie IL cop:
14 impacts of 45 Auto failed to stop this attacker for over 55 seconds.
You willing to be your life on “any bullet of any kind” stopping someone? This officer learned not to.
Good advice, and I believe Massad Ayoob gives that same advice.
Not only does it reduce potential complications after the fact, but you’re going to have confidence the ammo has been tested and and validated.
IMO, any of the “proven” loads are acceptable:
— HST
— Gold Dots
— Winchester SXT or Ranger line
— Hornady Critical Duty.
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