9mm Ammo

[daveIT]

I just read this at Ammunition For The Self-Defense Firearm and I'm wondering what you guys think...

"
Now it is time to impart some crucial information: NEVER use 147 grain ammo in a 9mm pistol! There was a stupid fad for 147 grain hollowpoints a few years ago, and many were suckered into buying these weak, worthless and malfunction-prone rounds. I don't care what you've heard: never use any 9mm hollowpoint heavier than 125 grains. 147 grain hollowpoints often jam in many popular 9mm guns like the Browning Hi-Power, SIG, Beretta 92, S&W and Glock. Ignore the gun magazine hype and stick to what works. If you want to gamble, go to Reno. Don't gamble with your life. 147 grain ammo sucks.
Bad 9mm Loads to avoid (and certainly NEVER carry). Numbers given:
Federal Gold Medal 9mm 147 grain JHP (9MS)
Federal Hydra-Shok 9mm 147 grain JHP (P9HS2)
Winchester 147 grain 9mm Silvertip Subsonic JHP (X9MMST147)
Winchester 147 grain 9mm Super-X Subsonic (XSUB9MM)
Remington 147 grain 9mm JHP (R9MM
Remington 147 grain 9mm Golden Saber JHP (GS9MMC)
Remington 140 grain 9mm JHP (R9MM7)
Remington 88 grain 9mm JHP (R9MM5) This bullet is far too light.
CCI Lawman 147 grain 9mm PHP "Plated Hollow Point" (3619)"

Is this true?

[Joeywhat]

Considering I've used 147gr exclusively for JHP in my XD, and have never had a jam, I call shenanigans.

I've also heard, from more then a few good sources, that Chuck Hawks is a moron.

[bakestein]

I use 147 gr WWB hollowpoints. I have not had a problem. Thankfully I have not had to use them in self-defense either, so I can't speak to that. No jams, no problems cycling, etc.

JMO

[hotpig]

Many of the loads listed are first generation hp designs. If you buy any of third generation 147gr hp ammo like Gold Dot, Winchester Ranger, Federal HST for example they are top performers even in compact weapons.

A lot has changes since that article was written.

[digitalexplr]

Here is a link that has much better and upto date information. Don't believe everything you come across on the 'net. Some information is way out of date.

I personally carry Federal 147gr HST JHP's in my 9sc. After several hunder rounds of never experiencing a failure of any kind, I find the quoted recommendation laughable.

LE - Wound Ballistics

[daveIT]

I figured as much...thanks for the info.

[BOFH]

Originally Posted by digitalexplr

Don't believe everything you come across on the 'net. Some information is way out of date.
LE - Wound Ballistics

That is the key right there...you gotta look at data for the ammo that is currently available. The current crop of defensive designs are impressive and put a lot of the old standards to shame.

[mongoose33]

Dave, I asked a similar question in the middle of a thread a while ago. Here's a link to that part of the thread (read down in it to see others' views):

Why 9mm?

I'd run across the very same article you had, and asked essentially the same question.


After seeing the great responses, I was convinced the 147g ammo isn't the problem it may or may not have been at one time. It isn't clear from the article that any of it was shot through an XD, or what weapons were prone (if any were) to jamming, or whether certain brands of ammo were worse or better than others.

In fact, the ammo I want to have is the HST 147g hollowpoints. At this point, I don't see any real validity to the "no 147g" argument, in part because that article is the only place I've ever run across it.

[Bobby Schulz]

I use 147gr ranger T in my G34 no problems here

[Soup]

A lot has changed in bullet manufacture since that was written, unfortunately he hasn't updated or even put a date on that writing so you could put it in context.

Latest generation premium hollowpoints have been created to work in short barreled modern firearms. My personal choice is 147 grain Federal HST out of my XD9SC, and the bullet will most certainly still expand at the velocities generated by the shorter barrel.