9mm Defensive Ammo Weight Preference?

[Jason Freeland]

Just curious as to what weight of 9mm ammo everyone uses, for defensive purposes? I tend to go for heavier bullets, but have lost the train of thought I used to arrive at that conclusion . My usual goto is 147 grain Speer Gold Dot, but I have tried others in various weights and manufacturers. The Speers just gave me less trouble than the others with cycling in my PCC and I try to use the same ammo in it as my pistol. So what does everyone use?

 

[Catt57]

I'm currently using 124g because that's what my pistol likes best.

 

[Perplexed]

I buy 420 grain JHP 9mm from Ten Percent Ammo. One round blows out both lungs.

April 1st.

 

[wolfman1]

185 grain JHP 45 ACP. Bigger hole, kills'em deader.

 

[okcBob]

Federal 124 gr HST

 

[alank2]

I prefer the way the 147gr recoil impulse feels and that heavier bullets tend to penetrate deeper.

 

[El Pablo]

Whatever is on sale 147 gr for my suppressed pcc. No need to go deaf when defending myself.

 

[rawhide]

Due to a lot of reading many years ago I have always carried with 147 gr 9mm. I practice with whatever is affordable except when I think it's time to rotate out the old with some new.

 

[Rustygun]

I recently switched to 124 g FMJ RN from Rocky Mountain reloading. I have cycled about 3k through my carry gun with zero problems. Just bought another 2K for under $100/1000. Before this I used 115 g for years. No problems with them either.

The reason I switched was I had read that IDPA requires a “power factor” and the 124 g allows me to meet that requirement without loading “hot” rounds. I do not participate in IDPA at this time but might in the future.

My carry ammo is 115 g gold dot.

 

[MilitantBEEMER]

124gr for me.