Educate me on ammo types and weights, in general.

[Magnum50]

Good morning... Been a long-time shooter, Army then LE for a total of over 30 years. But to be honest was never into guns till I retired and started doing competition shooting and boosted my guns and ammo count by about 10-fold. I just shot what the Army gave me and what my department told us to shoot gun wise and ammo wise.

Now that I'm really getting into guns, self-defense, CCW, and competition my thirst for knowledge is striving. I understand the difference between FMJ (ball ammo) and JHP, FMJ more for training and range while JHP is more for defense.

So. Going through my ammo. Basically, a lower weight is a lighter shot best for competition shooting like the Blazer 9mm 124 gr. FMJ rounds I use for steel plate challenge, while something like my Hornady American Gunner 9mm Luger+P 124 gr. is the same weight but for self-defense.

I guess my question... My Federal 9mm Tactical HST at 147 gr. would give more punch and shoot much straighter than a lower grain?

So, in general lower weight is a softer hit and a higher weight is more of a forceful, straight-line hit? Correct.

Also, when it comes to sub-sonic rounds, I have Magtech 9mm Luger FMJ Flat subsonic rounds with 147 gr. for my Sig MPX with a suppressor. Now its weight is high, but the fps is only 990 fps. I would think a sub sonic round would have to be a low weight. And if any round even if it doesn't say sub-sonic is under 1000 fps does that automatically make it a sub-sonic round?

Thanks for your time and education.

 

[Ozarker]

I'm no expert on guns or ammo, but I have been picking AI's brain about ammo, I understand that subsonic begins below 1100/1150 fps, the speed of sound at sea level but most consider the limit at around 1,050 fps. So, anything under that would be subsonic and good to go in any silencer for that caliber.

HST is good for self defense, while you can go with hollow points, soft points, poly-points all with effective results I don't know anyone who can bounce off FMJ ball ammo. Most of my 9mm is 147 grain FMJ.

 

[ECS686]

All the common service rounds perform within what the fbi firearms Training Unit (tops in research and real world stuff)

For 9mm the best performers are 124-147. Most agencies issue either 124 plus p or 147 Gold Dot 124-147 Federal HST 124 or 147 Plus P or not Hornady Critical Duty. Not quit the numbers but still popular is the Winchester Ranger and Remington Golden Sabre


Pick any of those and you will be fine as well as your gun shoots them well (which they should) and make your thoracic aortic box hits (3x5 cards or B8’s are great to practice on)

Some will bring up Buffalo bore here or double tap but they are boutique rounds not available to everyone off the shelf and I don’t like to depend on delivery systems all the time.

You can find then 3-5 main
Duty loads I mention at any box store or gun shop (I also recommend picking up more than you need (500-1,000 to keep back) in case anothwr pandemic event happens and hih can’t get new.

I’d you to have to use a 115 the Gold Dot is fine and the classic Federal 115 9BPLE plus p Plus is an old schol round that Illinois state police used and does 1,300 FPS and will go around 13” but comes apart and comolete devastates the target. The issue why it’s but favored js everyone wants bonded or locked (like critical duty) to retain weight and penetrate farther.
Also don’t get wrapped up in amature YouTube gel tests. If it gets 12-18 (FBI really prefers 14-16) your good somesont expand as large as others and it’s ok.

Some channels are down on Critical duty or Gold Dot G2 but IS Marshals Texas DPS KansasTroopers run Critical Duty, NuPD and Several Others Gold Dot 124, Indianapolis PD 224 HST, and LAPD Border patrol and Dev group (Seal team 6) run 147 G2.

All if the are dirt napping bad guys all over the country and world but the amateur gel tests dudes on YouTube some with a funny hats had that one failure (to him)

And from a coulle buddies of mine I train with all the time

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

It sounds like you have a good grasp on using the right ammo for the mission. In my practice I usually shoot regular FMJ 124 grain 9mm because that's the same weight/pressure as my SD ammo, Gold Dot.

From what I've read, heavier bullets are less susceptible to wind/air resistance but that applies more to long distance rifle. Any muzzle velocity less than the speed of sound is technically sub-sonic. Heavier bullets from a pistol may hit a little harder but I think the real stopping power is the wound channel when the hollow point expands. Hit the links below for "everything you wanted to know about ammo but we're afraid to ask".

Ammo Types Explained: Understanding JHP, FMJ, +P & More | 2024

Ammo Types Explained. Learn about different ammo types like JHP, FMJ, and +P in this beginner-friendly guide. Understand their uses and differences.

concealednation.org

Types of Ammunition | Academy

Explore the world of ammunition — Understand common types and uses for a broad range of ammo including FMJ, hollow point, soft point, and shotshells.

www.academy.com

Ammo Types Explained For Beginners

Learn about different types, including bullets, cartridges, and shells. This beginner’s guide from Able’s Ammo helps you choose the right rounds.

www.ableammo.com

Forgive me if I state the obvious.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[10mmLife]

Good morning... Been a long-time shooter, Army then LE for a total of over 30 years. But to be honest was never into guns till I retired and started doing competition shooting and boosted my guns and ammo count by about 10-fold. I just shot what the Army gave me and what my department told us to shoot gun wise and ammo wise.

Now that I'm really getting into guns, self-defense, CCW, and competition my thirst for knowledge is striving. I understand the difference between FMJ (ball ammo) and JHP, FMJ more for training and range while JHP is more for defense.

So. Going through my ammo. Basically, a lower weight is a lighter shot best for competition shooting like the Blazer 9mm 124 gr. FMJ rounds I use for steel plate challenge, while something like my Hornady American Gunner 9mm Luger+P 124 gr. is the same weight but for self-defense.

I guess my question... My Federal 9mm Tactical HST at 147 gr. would give more punch and shoot much straighter than a lower grain?

So, in general lower weight is a softer hit and a higher weight is more of a forceful, straight-line hit? Correct.

Also, when it comes to sub-sonic rounds, I have Magtech 9mm Luger FMJ Flat subsonic rounds with 147 gr. for my Sig MPX with a suppressor. Now its weight is high, but the fps is only 990 fps. I would think a sub sonic round would have to be a low weight. And if any round even if it doesn't say sub-sonic is under 1000 fps does that automatically make it a sub-sonic round?

Thanks for your time and education.

Think of the ammo weight like throwing a baseball vs throwing a rock of the same size even if the rock is moving a little slower which one do you think will hurt worse? The forward momentum of a heavier object tends to hit harder and deliver more energy transfer than a lighter object moving close to the same speed. Theres a lot more to it but this is a basic example of grain weight.

As for a 147 subsonic vs a lighter projectile the heavier 147gr will tend to move slower using a similar amount of power than a lighter projectile due to the force needed to move the 147. Another reason a heavier grain bullet is used for subsonic is to allow enough back pressure with the powder burn to cycle a semi auto firearm reliably vs a lighter round exiting the barrel faster taking the gasses needed to cycle the next round with it. A suppressor will cause excess backpressure itself which can cause malfunctions when using low grain subsonic ammo.

 

[HayesGreener]

Subsonic 147 grain 9mm loads were first developed for use in suppressed weapons. It has been adapted and adopted by many as a carry load. Some folks like it for carry because they believe it has greater penetration.

For 9mm I personally prefer the Hornady Critical Duty +p, 135 grain flex lock. It was the round selected by FBI as a duty.load due to its performance in barrier peneration. FBI did the testing and I trust it.

Critical Duty® - Hornady Manufacturing, Inc

Critical Duty^® ammunition provides barrier blind performance in full-size handguns.

www.hornady.com

 

[powerboatr]

for me in 9mm its 124 or 147 for carry pistol

in the 1911 45 is 230 round nose

range is all reloads in the 124 range for 9 mm and 180 or 230 for the 1911s
180 for the 1911 lets you get good practice and not waste them 230s

i am thankful so far since retiring from the navy, i have never had to discharge a round towards a human. but i am confident the rounds above will be effective

 

[Anchorite]

For me, in a semi-automatic pistol, I'm not a competitive handgun shooter, so I am not trying to get some crazy number to be compliant with some arbitrary power factor. For me, any 124-135gr 9mm at ~1200fps does all I want in a 9mm semi-automatic handgun. If I need more in the .355 diameter, it's a 357.

I like the 155-180s in the 40, and 185-230s in the 45ACP. I'm happy right there.

For revolvers, I think about it in terms of what I call "balance point," that being the point of shooter comfort, trajectory and ample penetration - and again, for me, that tends to be in the 1200fps. range. Doesn't matter the revolver cartridge, and generally not bullet weight specific.

I'm happy with all manner of bullet configurations.

Rifles are a whole other can of worms.

Of course, YMMV.

 

[Annihilator]

For me in my sub compact 9mm’s, I use 115gr either Sig V-Crown or Hornady Critical Defense, in my medium 9mm’s I use 124gr, now in my 1911’s I have been using 185gr Critical Defense, I just find that in the subcompact’s, the 115gr has less felt recoil, I haven’t tried any 147gr ammo actually

 

[Magnum50]

I just find that in the subcompact’s, the 115gr has less felt recoil, I haven’t tried any 147gr ammo actually

Thats what I was thinking, a lighter load would give you less recoil, but aren't you worried about when the SHTF that not being heavy enough to cycle the next round. I'm thinking in my Hellcat pro or Echelon 4.0c comp (which are my 2 CCW's), for that kind of ammo. Wouldn't a heavier round be more reliable? Last thing I want in a gun fight is a failure to cycle.

thanks.

 

[powerboatr]

For me in my sub compact 9mm’s, I use 115gr either Sig V-Crown or Hornady Critical Defense, in my medium 9mm’s I use 124gr, now in my 1911’s I have been using 185gr Critical Defense, I just find that in the subcompact’s, the 115gr has less felt recoil, I haven’t tried any 147gr ammo actually

your 185 grn 45 critical defense, do you find they have any issues in the load ramp
i tried in several of my 1911s with hollow points and it seemed to fail to load a few times out of 50
my 1967 colt will throw a fit if its not round nose, no mater the weight, even with a clean and polished feed ramp.

my ronin seems to like pretty much everything but wad cutters

thanks

 

[Jester560]

For me, I carry 124gr hp ammo in all of my 9mm handguns. My 10mm handguns, I carry 200gr hp.

For competition, I shoot USPSA & IDPA, I shoot 137gr coated. With these, I get the soft recoil impulse of 147gr and the faster slide action of 124gr.

 

[TEXASforLIFE]

Good morning... Been a long-time shooter, Army then LE for a total of over 30 years. But to be honest was never into guns till I retired and started doing competition shooting and boosted my guns and ammo count by about 10-fold. I just shot what the Army gave me and what my department told us to shoot gun wise and ammo wise.

Now that I'm really getting into guns, self-defense, CCW, and competition my thirst for knowledge is striving. I understand the difference between FMJ (ball ammo) and JHP, FMJ more for training and range while JHP is more for defense.

So. Going through my ammo. Basically, a lower weight is a lighter shot best for competition shooting like the Blazer 9mm 124 gr. FMJ rounds I use for steel plate challenge, while something like my Hornady American Gunner 9mm Luger+P 124 gr. is the same weight but for self-defense.

I guess my question... My Federal 9mm Tactical HST at 147 gr. would give more punch and shoot much straighter than a lower grain?

So, in general lower weight is a softer hit and a higher weight is more of a forceful, straight-line hit? Correct.

Also, when it comes to sub-sonic rounds, I have Magtech 9mm Luger FMJ Flat subsonic rounds with 147 gr. for my Sig MPX with a suppressor. Now its weight is high, but the fps is only 990 fps. I would think a sub sonic round would have to be a low weight. And if any round even if it doesn't say sub-sonic is under 1000 fps does that automatically make it a sub-sonic round?

Thanks for your time and education.

not totally true...............lighter and faster bullets can exceed the muzzle energy of slower heavier bullets. drop on heavier bullets (which are slower WILL have more drop per foot. if all expected impacts will be 100' and less i don't think any of it will matter. shooting steel out to 100 yards with 9mm +p from 90gr to 125's, the 125's require more elevation (45acp +p is even worse, but has more impact energy). 40s/w with 135-155's are decent out to the same distance, 10mm and 357sig are the easy buttons as the shoot fairly flat (weights depending) for semi-autos. practice tells everything! i shoot very little factory ammo as there isn't much offerings in weights i want. at defensive ranges (25 yards and less) there may only be 2" difference depending on ammo and cartridge used.