[dcook22]

Hi, I'm Dan. I just completed my CCW class and really don't know much at all about guns. This forum seems very helpful, so I'm going to create a series of threads that, with your help, will educate me about my new life as a licensed gun-carrying American.

Hi all,

OK, For the first time in my life I bought ammunition today. :dancingbanana

Being from New York City, this is a big deal. In anticipation of my purchase of a Beretta 92FS or M9, I bought two boxes of Blazer Brass 115 grain 9mm Luger and one box of Winchester 124 gr 9mm Luger. Both are FMJ.

Now, for home defense, I will want some type of hollow point ammo to provide more stopping power. So my question is:

What are the important differences between the types of HP ammo I'm seeing. I see "Soft Point", "Jacketed Hollow Point", "Critical Defense FTX (Hornady)", and there are probably others I'm leaving out. It's a bit confusing. So, I'm all ears and ready to learn. And any recommendations are welcome.

Thanks in advance.

Dan

 

[steve66]

A hollow point is a bullet that has a pit or hollowed out shape in its tip, generally intended to cause the bullet to expand upon entering a target in order to decrease penetration and disrupt more tissue as it travels through the target.

Jacketed hollow points (JHPs) or plated hollow points are covered in a coating of harder metal to increase bullet strength and to prevent fouling the barrel with lead stripped from the bullet. The term hollow-cavity bullet is used to describe a hollow point where the hollow is unusually large, sometimes dominating the volume of the bullet, and causes extreme expansion or fragmentation on impact.


More good reading:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollow-point_bullet

 

[FLRon]

Here is an interesting link that will give you some information. After you look through the info, feel free to ask anything you would like to know. This particular comparison involves 9mm ammunition.

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...er+9mm+T-Series+127gr+%2BP%2B&um=1&hl=en&sa=N

 

[steve66]

Here is an interesting link that will give you some information. After you look through the info, feel free to ask anything you would like to know. This particular comparison involves 9mm ammunition.

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...er+9mm+T-Series+127gr+%2BP%2B&um=1&hl=en&sa=N

Hi Ron, thanks for posting. The test weapon in those ballistics is the gun I want for my EDC (SA XD Service 9mm)

 

[FLRon]

Glad it was helpful Steve. There is so much ballistic info out there, and certainly lot's of points of view. While i'm not saying that it is the final word on the subject, it's nice to have some comparative info that sort of boils it down.

Brownie and SwampRat recently posted a pretty in depth look at .45 cal ammo, so if anybody is interested, it should be easily located using the search feature. If anyone can't locate it, just let us know.

 

[dcook22]

Yeah, thanks for the post, Ron. I ended up buying a box of Federal Premium Personal Defense 147 gr 9mm Luger Hydra-Shok JHP. I've read good things about it.

Dan

 

[capngeo]

Yeah, thanks for the post, Ron. I ended up buying a box of Federal Premium Personal Defense 147 gr 9mm Luger Hydra-Shok JHP. I've read good things about it.

Dan

That is what I carry

 

[SGB]

Best Choices for Self Defense Ammo

Please note that all of the recommended pistol loads listed below have been personally tested and vetted by Dr. Roberts. THEY ARE NOT IN ORDER OF PERFORMANCE, SO ANY BULLET ON THE LIST IS CONSIDERED ACCEPTABLE.

9mm

Barnes XPB 115gr HP (35515) loaded by Cor-Bon (DPX09115)

Winchester Partition Gold 124gr JHP (RA91P)
Winchester Ranger-T 124 gr +P JHP (RA9124TP)
Winchester Ranger-T 127gr JHP +P+ (RA9TA)
Winchester Ranger-T 147gr JHP (RA9T)

Winchester Bonded 147gr JHP (RA9B/Q4364)

Speer Gold Dot 124gr JHP +P (53617)
Speer Gold Dot 147gr JHP (53619)

Remington Golden Saber 147gr JHP (GS9MMC)

Federal Tactical 124gr JHP (LE9T1)
Federal Tactical 135gr JHP +P (LE9T5)
Federal HST 147gr JHP (P9HST2)

 

[mortpes]

Keep in mind that you are responsible for the round. If your round travels through the BG and kills an bystander you are responsible. The hollow points are intended to reduce over penetration and to fragment.