Speer Gold Dot and the M&P Shield Plus, Norma MHP

[Certified Silly Goose]

Had an interesting chat with the LGS yesterday about ammo for my new Shield+. Sadly, he was out of Gold Dot AND HST, but I have a box of Critical Defense kicking around somewhere in my safe, so that'll do until he gets my Gold Dot back in stock. Dealer also recommended HST and something from Winchester, but I've had a lot of bad experiences with Winchester at the range so I tend to avoid,

So I get back home and I go looking for the Hornady and I found a very old (at least 10 years) box of Norma MHP 9mm wayyy at the bottom, never opened. I remember I bought it with mild interest and because of the price. Then I took it home and saw the fine print (*out of a SIX INCH barrel... who the hell carries a 6" barrel?) and relegated it to the depths of my ammo cabinet. Wild trip down memory lane, but it got me thinking "this is a great forum topic!"

For a 3.1" performer like the Shield, I know Gold Dot is one of if not the best, and I'd rank HST and Hyrashok up there as well, but I wanted to see what you all are carrying these days for your short-barrelled 9mm needs.

P.S. For the forum thread-counter police: Go ahead and write the ticket. I AM SURE THERE ARE THREADS ON THIS ALREADY. Times change, people change, ammo changes, guns change. Live in the here and now. I'm starting a new one. Go to Home Depot, buy some lumber, build a bridge, and get over it

 

[TEXASforLIFE]

What i like about Speer is in their reloading manuals they give snub info in some cartridge categories.

 

[Mr.W.]

Nothing but HST 147 gr., or my highly preferred HST 150 gr. Micro with my XD-S original.

 

[3L120]

Lucky Gunner, I think, published expansion and penetration of a lot of calibers.

 

[Certified Silly Goose]

Nothing but HST 147 gr., or my highly preferred HST 150 gr. Micro with my XD-S original.

HST has always been my VERY close 2nd choice behind Gold Dot.

 

[ECS686]

Then best round for a short barrel is 124 HST or 124 Gold Dot. The 115 Gold Dot the one exception on 115’s gaht are worth anythjng. I stay away from anything else 115!outside plinking stuff

The 124’s (especially HST) seem to be formulated to work well in every barrel length from 3 to 5”. A training associate that works for Indy PD has done a lot of testing with their duty log 124 HST and his finding (and we are friends with Chuck Haggard taht has done a lot of testing) found they he doesn’t get much more velocity difference between a 4” or a 4.5” Glock with HST and it seems most companies have formulated 124 to work around a 4” barrel.

The 147’s fair better in a 4 or 4.5” and the 135 Critical Duty isn’t a bad choice for anything kver 3 1/2” or more.

All that said I am just talking bullet performance and expansion as how the manufacturers intend them to. Bottom line and more importantly what’s more accurate in YOUR gun and shot placement and penetration matter more than expansion (how flowery it is) or caliber

 

[Certified Silly Goose]

Then best round for a short barrel is 124 HST or 124 Gold Dot. The 115 Gold Dot the one exception on 115’s gaht are worth anythjng. I stay away from anything else 115!outside plinking stuff

The 124’s (especially HST) seem to be formulated to work well in every barrel length from 3 to 5”. A training associate that works for Indy PD has done a lot of testing with their duty log 124 HST and his finding (and we are friends with Chuck Haggard taht has done a lot of testing) found they he doesn’t get much more velocity difference between a 4” or a 4.5” Glock with HST and it seems most companies have formulated 124 to work around a 4” barrel.

The 147’s fair better in a 4 or 4.5” and the 135 Critical Duty isn’t a bad choice for anything kver 3 1/2” or more.

All that said I am just talking bullet performance and expansion as how the manufacturers intend them to. Bottom line and more importantly what’s more accurate in YOUR gun and shot placement and penetration matter more than expansion (how flowery it is) or caliber

I always go for the 115 Gold Dots. I live in the People's Republik of Massachusetts. If that round goes through the bad guy and so much as BRUISES anyone behind them, I'm looking at 10 years prison and millions in lawsuits. I'll triple-tap if I need to. If I ever get to NC, I'll switch to the 124's.

 

[ECS686]

I always go for the 115 Gold Dots. I live in the People's Republik of Massachusetts. If that round goes through the bad guy and so much as BRUISES anyone behind them, I'm looking at 10 years prison and millions in lawsuits. I'll triple-tap if I need to. If I ever get to NC, I'll switch to the 124's.

I get the concern but pass through I have only seen one case and that was last year in Detroit and a head.

Now outright misses all the time.

But you do yiu, no fault in that.

 

[HansGruber]

Then best round for a short barrel is 124 HST or 124 Gold Dot. The 115 Gold Dot the one exception on 115’s gaht are worth anythjng. I stay away from anything else 115!outside plinking stuff

The 124’s (especially HST) seem to be formulated to work well in every barrel length from 3 to 5”. A training associate that works for Indy PD has done a lot of testing with their duty log 124 HST and his finding (and we are friends with Chuck Haggard taht has done a lot of testing) found they he doesn’t get much more velocity difference between a 4” or a 4.5” Glock with HST and it seems most companies have formulated 124 to work around a 4” barrel.

The 147’s fair better in a 4 or 4.5” and the 135 Critical Duty isn’t a bad choice for anything kver 3 1/2” or more.

All that said I am just talking bullet performance and expansion as how the manufacturers intend them to. Bottom line and more importantly what’s more accurate in YOUR gun and shot placement and penetration matter more than expansion (how flowery it is) or caliber

Handgun Self-Defense Ammunition - Ballistic Testing Data

Lucky Gunner tests more than 110 different 9mm, 45 ACP, 40 S&W and 380 ACP handgun self-defense ammunition loads in ballistic gel with analysis and video.

www.luckygunner.com

Not a whole lot of difference between the 147 and 124 HST’s…the 124 gets a little more penetration, but the both have the same expansion (.61).

I carry 147HST’s in most of my pistols…

 

[Certified Silly Goose]

Handgun Self-Defense Ammunition - Ballistic Testing Data

Lucky Gunner tests more than 110 different 9mm, 45 ACP, 40 S&W and 380 ACP handgun self-defense ammunition loads in ballistic gel with analysis and video.

www.luckygunner.com

Not a whole lot of difference between the 147 and 124 HST’s…the 124 gets a little more penetration, but the both have the same expansion (.61).

I carry 147HST’s in most of my pistols…

Any risk of pass-through with the 147s?

 

[HansGruber]

Any risk of pass-through with the 147s?

Considering that the 147 had LESS penetration than the 124, I would think it is considerably lessened, yes.

That being said: the probability is never zero.

 

[ECS686]

Any risk of pass-through with the 147s?

I wouldn’t get to wrapped up around then I’m ers as again there is not any reported issues of pass throughs usually any bystanders hit in Civilian shootings are from outright misses.

That said if it’s that much a concern the simple solution is run Federal 115 grain 9BPLe (not to be confused with 9BP)

9BP was used by Illinois state Police to great success. When they changed to that most folks hit took dirt naps.
It runs around 1,300 FPS and while it only does 11-13” it completely obliterated everything until that like a 357 Mag hit.

 

[ECS686]

Considering that the 147 had LESS penetration than the 124, I would think it is considerably lessened, yes.

That being said: the probability is never zero.

From street results there has been deeper penetration on real bodies with 147 than the 124. But it’s not a pass through issue. The 124’s seem to expand as the manufacturers intend in shorter barrels tjan the 147 does.