Field and Stream tests 9 mm ammunition

[MillCreek]

https://www.fieldandstream.com/guns/best-9mm-ammo?fbclid=IwAR0Z-_ZT-Zu_EWrd_3N_8xq4yV0qo8Jxby5vHG8ux5-gA0ZG1rjhmEIb5B4

Interesting that 4 out of the 5 top rounds were 124 grain.  I vacillate between 124 grain and 147 grain standard pressure Speer Gold Dot.

[MechAg94]

I tend to stick with Federal HST or Speer Gold Dot 124 grain.  I can usually find one of those or both. 

It looks like many of the others aren't bad, just not quite as good.  Some like Hornady Critical Defense have really low penetration.  That one is at only 10" penetration. 

 

[Devonai]

I've been using Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P exclusively for 20-plus years and I consider these results to be a validation of that choice.  However, back then my only reasoning was that you could get a 50-round box for the same price as a 20-round box of Cor-Bon or other "premium" loads.

[WLJ]

Pretty much 100% Speer Gold Dot 124 +P here.
I know for a fact they do a number on hands. 

[HankB]

I like the Winchester Ranger Talon 127 grain +P+ in suitable 9mm pistols.

Current availability?   

[MechAg94]

I've been using Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P exclusively for 20-plus years and I consider these results to be a validation of that choice.  However, back then my only reasoning was that you could get a 50-round box for the same price as a 20-round box of Cor-Bon or other "premium" loads.

That is a big part of the reason I used it and the Federal HST.  At first there were ammo sellers at gun shows who sold the 50 round boxes.  Later I found them online.  Being able to load up your high capacity magazines without buying multiple boxes of ammo is nice.  The 20 round boxes always seemed like a rip off.  Cor-bon has been overpriced since I started buying guns.  I don't think I ever saw it at a more reasonable price. 

[Ron]

45ACP 230gr Hardball. If it was good enough for Normandy and Iwo Jima it's good enough for me!

 

[Perd Hapley]

Gold Dot 124 +

I've been meaning to switch to HST Micro. I just have to get around to buying 100 rounds of it for testing. And I'm cheap.

[Boomhauer]

I like Speer gold dots. Reasonable cost and wide availability (at least outside of panic periods )

[French G.]

I have Golden Saber 115 now, or 115 XTPs that I loaded. Gold dot 124 I still consider my preferred round. At one point I found a case for $250. Guess that day isn't coming back.

[Brad Johnson]

I've always figured anything in Golden Saber, Gold Dot, or Hydra-Shok (now HST) would be decently reliable. Nice to see they meet expectations.

Brad

[Bogie]

I really need a subcompact .45... If I have to shoot someone wearing a plate, I want them to at least feel it long enough for the followup...

[MechAg94]

I really need a subcompact .45... If I have to shoot someone wearing a plate, I want them to at least feel it long enough for the followup...

The XDs pistol that I have works pretty good.  Only 5 or 6 rounds in the mag, but it is compact and easy to conceal.  Probably more reliable than a sub compact 1911.
I finally got a holster for the S&W M&P 2.0 45.  Not sub compact, but it is smaller and slimmer than a many other choices and shoots pretty good.  I saw an ad for a Springfield XDm 3.8 that had all their newest features.  I used to have one, but I didn't like it.  The was too fat for me to get comfortable with the grip in a subcompact form.

Short of that, it seems to me that more 10mm options are coming out every year.  I am trying to get the S&W M&P 10mm, but can't catch one in stock yet. 

[WLJ]

The XDs pistol that I have works pretty good.  Only 5 or 6 rounds in the mag, but it is compact and easy to conceal.  Probably more reliable than a sub compact 1911.
I finally got a holster for the S&W M&P 2.0 45.  Not sub compact, but it is smaller and slimmer than a many other choices and shoots pretty good.  I saw an ad for a Springfield XDm 3.8 that had all their newest features.  I used to have one, but I didn't like it.  The was too fat for me to get comfortable with the grip in a subcompact form.

Short of that, it seems to me that more 10mm options are coming out every year.  I am trying to get the S&W M&P 10mm, but can't catch one in stock yet.

Most 10mm are built on 45acp or similarly sized frames. With 10mm making a strong resurgence after almost dying IMHO you might as well go 10mm nowadays. If 45ACP steals your soul full roundhouse 10mm also goes after your relatives.
Thing to watch out for is many off the shelf 10mm loads are 40S&W loads in a 10mm case. Check the numbers.

[MillCreek]

I really need a subcompact .45... If I have to shoot someone wearing a plate, I want them to at least feel it long enough for the followup...

I have several AMT DAO BackUps that I bought new back in the 80's and 90's.  The ones I still have are .380 and 9 mm.  A friend of mine had one in .45 and I shot it several times.  25 ounces loaded, as I recall, and the recoil was not bad.  There are better choices available now, but back in the day, if you wanted a stainless compact pistol in a major caliber, they were a popular choice. With modern lubricants, I have not had any of the galling or feeding problems mentioned by some.

[Ben]

45ACP 230gr Hardball. If it was good enough for Normandy and Iwo Jima it's good enough for me!

Clint Smith has some similar line. Something about, "Ask all the enemy soldiers in Korea how they liked being shot with the .30 carbine."

 

[MechAg94]

Clint Smith has some similar line. Something about, "Ask all the enemy soldiers in Korea how they liked being shot with the .30 carbine."

 

See, he is a big fan of the new 30 Super Carry! 

[lee n. field]

The XDs pistol that I have works pretty good.  Only 5 or 6 rounds in the mag, but it is compact and easy to conceal.  Probably more reliable than a sub compact 1911.

My XDS45, out of the box was a little wonky, and took a bit of work to get reliable.   Polishing a few places, and a lot hand cycling.  Once there, it's been absolutely reliable, with every ammo I've tried.  5, 6 and 7 round magazines.  And a very good trigger for a striker fired gun.  No kid's toy plastic space gun here.