I Like It Hot

[9 Micky Mouse]

With the 9mm being the minimum we should carry in a pistol for personal protection. I prefer the hottest round I can get. However, I currently carry 127 +P+ Winchestar for deeper penatration.

I like the way Federal HST mushrooms but at 1200fps for a 124gr +P it is to slow for me.

I have on hand:
Speer Gold Dot 115 +P+ 1400fps loaded by Buffalo Bore
Corbon JHP 115gr +P 1350fps
Winchestar 115 +P+ 1335fps


So what are your thoughts on a hotter 9mm? Also with the 9mm being invented around the 124gr your thoughts on the lighter 115gr.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[high pockets]

I'll stick with no more than +p. Why beat up your gun? Shot placement is every bit as important as bullet expansion.

[21bubba]

A hotter 9mm? Come on up to 357Sig.

[HotGuns]

"Hot" rounds are not alway the best rounds.

What really matters is accuracy. If it goes fast and is accuate, its all good.

If it goes fast and is all over the target, thats not good.

I would rather shoot a slow 1200 FPS bullet that could hit the target 10 times out of 10 than one that was fast and only hit it 5 times.

[atctimmy]

I always use standard pressure rounds. If I want something hotter I'll shoot a .40 or a .357 Sig.

[ArkhmAsylm]

I keep the Winchester Ranger 127 gr +P+ T-series JHP in my Glock 17. Hard hitting, & man, I love those talons!

[retsupt99]

I'm with Hot Guns, accuracy overrides everything else, grain, caliber, number of shots, and firearm type.OMOYMV

[JOHNSMITH]

lightweight rounds flying super fast in 9mm may not produce the results you're looking for, just as a FYI.

[Hiram25]

You can use a board if you hit the target with it.

[HK Jake]

I'll never understand the obsession with super fast rounds, especially when we know 99% of it is shot placement. I like my round to penetrate deeply and mushroom up real early; the speed at which it travels makes no difference.

Example: How many people have been killed with the big and slow 230gr .45 ACP FMJ load? Lots! How many have been killed with standard pressure 9mm FMJ? Lots more! It makes no difference what speed it's travelling at, only where you put it!

[bmcgilvray]

"I Like It Hot"


If "hot" gives an additional comfort level then great but realistically, relying on a mere 200 fps, in the velocity range in which 9mm operates, is embracing a false sense of security.

If 9mm is not considered trustworthy for personal self-defense at 1200 fps with good hits then it should not be considered trustworthy at 1400 fps either. I wouldn't have a problem trusting a reliable 9mm pistol for serious self-defense even though I'm not a particular fan of the cartridge.

The velocity performance of a load is pretty far behind accurate bullet placement in any listed order of importance. Really far behind, actually.

Nine grains of weight isn't significant in the overall scheme of things either.

[Devilsclaw]

A .22 will drop an 1800# steer deader than dead with proper placement. Personally I think you're getting a little too concerned with velocity, but if you wanna "go fast" like Ricky Bobbi, then the 115 gr. Corbon would be my choice. Or...get you some HS-6 and 90 gr. bullets.....just don't blow yourself and your gun up!

I'm with 21bubba--if you want a FAST 9mm, go to .357 Sig. Much better for your gun. Main downside is that it'll have to be either a Sig or Glock, not that those aren't fine guns, but limited choice is what I mean.

[HK Jake]

A .22 will drop an 1800# steer deader than dead with proper placement. Personally I think you're getting a little too concerned with velocity, but if you wanna "go fast" like Ricky Bobbi, then the 115 gr. Corbon would be my choice. Or...get you some HS-6 and 90 gr. bullets.....just don't blow yourself and your gun up!

I'm with 21bubba--if you want a FAST 9mm, go to .357 Sig. Much better for your gun. Main downside is that it'll have to be either a Sig or Glock, not that those aren't fine guns, but limited choice is what I mean.

The HK P2000 can be chambered in .357 SIG. S&W makes an M&P in .357 SIG. There are many others!

[rammerjammer]

+p+ sounds like overkill to me. I load my 9's up with standard pressure 147 grain Hornady rounds. I want heavier bullets that wont have the additional recoil from +p+.

[ShadeAngel]

Well if speed is your goal Double Tap now has offerings in several calibers with very light Barnes all copper bullets moving and amazing speeds.

I am not advocating them, I would really like to see gel tests for these rounds, but if you fall in the light and fast camp these are for you.

Clicky-->9mm Ballistics : 80gr @ 1560fps / 433ft. lbs. from a G17