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Practice/ carry ammo for my Sig

4578 Views 10 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  '75scout
Looking for good practice & carry ammo for my 9mm 226.

I'm planning to try Hornady TAP 147 gr for carry... what's a good practice ammo to match?

I'd like to buy a 1000rd case of Wolf just to burn at the range, but they only come in 115gr that I can find. Will it make that much difference?

WWB 147gr costs twice as much as the Wolf...
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Robb - I stoke my 226 with +P 124 GD's. I like the performance of the bullet and feel too that flash is low compared to some rounds. I guess TAP will be good tho wondering if rather high on cost.

I am not to be honest sure whether anything is guaranteed a match for practice ammo - never been that discerning I guess. I will use mostly WWB just because of cost saving and it enables me to still get good practice drills. Even homeloads if I have brewed some up.

I guess too Wolf would work for drill practice - just never yet used any steel cased stuff in mine. I doubt the 115 weight will be a biggie at combat distances.
Heh, heh! The "weight" issue. Almost as good as 9MM vs. .45!:biggrin2:

Seriously, from what I've seen (PD shootings, couple of SD shootings) the 124 grains, at the fastest loading, are the most consistent expanders. 147 grains just don't seem to be as consistent, through multiple layers of denim or leather. How fast are the TAPs going?

115s will be very mild, just use a mag or so of your carry ammo for familiarization, periodically. This isn't the difference between .38 Spl, and .357 Mag, IME.
When I carried the 9 226 we where issued the 147's Sabers, decent bullet did what it said it would do, but not the best going..

My personal 226 is now stocked with 127+P Winchesters.. Have played some with the powerball, but not convinced yet on them.

The TAP ammo is getting good reviews so far, but in 9mm, the best loads going all seem to be at the +P level ...

For straight practice I use the WW boxed stuff and its the 115, unless I find a deal at one of the local shows on jhp's
I've had good experience with Georgia Arms Canned Heat FMJ's. You can order on-line. The price is good. I think the Georgia Arms would give you a good FMJ match to your defensive choice. They offer 147gr 9mm FMJ at 950fps. Your Hornady 147gr TAP is rated at 975fps.
As for the TAP ammo! Its really spendy and everyone is backorderd accept hornady.com Im getting a box from them shipped out in the next week or so but from what ive seen online through peoples expantion tests. The Speer Gold Dots Expand very very well and They are really reiable expanders. Out of the 10 test sites ive seen online NOT one had a Jacket seperation problem or a Failure to Expand. So Im really looking into getting some of thouse too!

As for the practice ammo. What ever works for you i guess. I shot some wolf though mine but after the first box i decided not to anymore the steel casings were giving me bad vibes. and they diddnt seem to want to load into the mag very well.. but it could have been just the way i was loading them. aq
I thought that the Hornady TAP FPD ammo was a bit cheaper than other SD loads? I was planning on checking some out in .40 for my Glock so I haven't bought any myself. But I did check on Midway and their Hornady 147 grain 9mm is $13 for 25 while the Speer GD is $13.79 for 20.

Either way please post your impressions of the Hornady.

I also just go WWB or the Remmington UMC for practice.
I plan on conducting a 9mm HP round test on Friday. Similar to The Box-O-Truth. 8 or so milk jugs lined up and filled with water, plus a layer of denim on the 1st jug. I'll be testing 124 Fed Hydrashoks, Hornady TAP, Gold Saber +P and anything else I have laying around. I want to check on performance for my self before I get my CHL and start carrying. The Hydrashocks are what is in my GLOCK 26 right now although it just sits at home for the next 9 months.

I really want to test the Hydras because I have 100rds I got from Cheaper Than Dirt for $19 a few months ago. The next week they were back up to normal price.
Wolf?

tanksoldier said:
Looking for good practice & carry ammo for my 9mm 226.

I'm planning to try Hornady TAP 147 gr for carry... what's a good practice ammo to match?

I'd like to buy a 1000rd case of Wolf just to burn at the range, but they only come in 115gr that I can find. Will it make that much difference?

WWB 147gr costs twice as much as the Wolf...
I stay away from the Wolf and other Russkie crap. Mostly I shoot reloads for practice or I buy Red Box 500rds at a time.

I've heard great things about the TAP and I seem to be able to find lots of the stuff in 45 & 40 but have not seen too much in the 9mm. When I do carry a 9mm, I usually stoke the main mag with MagSafe for here in SUNNY (81 degrees today!) South Florida and my spare mag has +P+ Corbon 115gr JHP that sizzle along at 1350fps.
Some people contend its best to practice with an ammo made by the same manufacturer as their carry ammo (ex. WWB and Winchester Rangers)
Doesn't bother me. For me practice ammo is for cheap plinking and polishing my techinique, so its Winchester White Box 100rd value pack at Wally World. For self defense I chose a name brand JHP in 124 grain or near there. Just make sure the self defense rounds will feed reliably
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