Reliable Effective 9mm Carry Ammo?

[Tactical Sleeping Bag]

What is the best 9mm carry ammo? Carry gun is Sig P365xl.

[Grayfox54]

Most any good defensive load will get the job done. But every gun is different. I suggest you buy several different boxes of quality defense ammo and go to the range. Whatever is most reliable and shoots the best in your gun is what you go with. 

[TNman207]

You may get as many different opinions as there are members. Speer Gold Dot HP bullets have a history of reliability. I carry Underwood 90-grain HP due to velocity and muzzle energy. 

[pop pop]

Agreed on the comments will be varied. I have a "Fantastic Plastic" Ruger Max 9 and I favor heavier along with + P. My Max 9 is stocked with Hornady 147 Gr + P ammo. I also like Hornady Critical Defense which is 115 Gr, and the Critical Duty which is a + P with a 135 Gr bullet and built to Police Specs. Suppose to be superior for metal/glass car body penetration. Several of the premium Self Defense brand loadings will be sufficient in these micro guns.  Purchase you a few and see which you, and your Pistol likes. 

[krunchnik]

Sig Sauer V-Crown in 124gr-

After all it's a Sig-

[deerslayer]

The best carry ammo is probably whatever known brand hollow point functions 100% in your carry gun and is fairly accurate that you can find and afford.  You can obsess over ballistics and gel tests, but the fact is that most handguns suck for stopping bad guys.  Their great virtue is that they are very portable and you can have it with you almost everywhere you go.  

Having said all that, I carry Hornady Critical Defense 115 or Federal HST 124.  They are fairly common and I don't want to have to find and test a new round because my ammo is exotic, hard to find, or always out of stock. 

Edited April 23 by deerslayer

[Smith]

My favorite is Federal HST, but I've used Gold Dots, Norma MHP, Critical Defense, Sig Elite Defense.

Any of the modern stuff works extremely well. A lot of the expansion and jacket separation issues have been technologically overcome.

But for your research enjoyment:

https://stevespages.com/page8f9mmluger.html

[FrankD]

another vote for the Federal HST.  Have also used Gold Dots with good results.  Like others have said spend the money and get a few boxes of each and run them through and see which works out and routinely run a mag or two through the gun just to be sure.  

[AuEagle]

Gold Dot, HST, Ranger all good as are most modern makers defense loads. For cold weather situations, FMJ gives better penetration through heavy clothing. JMHO.

[res308]

Exactly right on handgun calibers being a compromise for defense. But it's what we have because it's difficult to carry a full size rifle or shotgun in a holster. So we do our best. Hard to go wrong with the brands mentioned. My boys and I run Critical Duty 135+P, Federal HST 124+P and Gold Dot 124+P. There's other good choices too. I don't know if there really is a "best" one. 

[Defender]

23 minutes ago, res308 said:

Exactly right on handgun calibers being a compromise for defense. But it's what we have because it's difficult to carry a full size rifle or shotgun in a holster. So we do our best. Hard to go wrong with the brands mentioned. My boys and I run Critical Duty 135+P, Federal HST 124+P and Gold Dot 124+P. There's other good choices too. I don't know if there really is a "best" one. 

I carry Hornady Critical Defense in my 365 macro.  I have some Critical Duty, with a plan to carry it in a separate magazine for specific situations, but never got around to doing it.  For environments where I figure I’m most likely to have to shoot, I’m a little concerned about over-penetration or missed shots going through thin walls with the Critical Duty rounds.  Not suggesting others should have the same concerns, this is just me.

[Rt101]

On 4/23/2024 at 8:46 AM, krunchnik said:

Sig Sauer V-Crown in 124gr-

After all it's a Sig-

I use the same stuff in my 365 as well.

[Defunct Ammo]

 

On 4/23/2024 at 10:03 AM, Smith said:

My favorite is Federal HST, but I've used Gold Dots, Norma MHP, Critical Defense, Sig Elite Defense.

Any of the modern stuff works extremely well. A lot of the expansion and jacket separation issues have been technologically overcome.

But for your research enjoyment:

https://stevespages.com/page8f9mmluger.html

I also carry 9mm based on if I'm traveling somewhere I know I don't feel safe or somewhere I haven't been before. This is very helpful for self defence. Thank you!

[chances R]

Safe bet is follow FBI.  Last I heard was Gold Dot. I would also consider Critical defense, and HST with gun function a primary consideration.