[__jb]

Now that my Glock 17 is on the way, I'm looking into ammunition. Like most people, I want some range ammo and some self defense ammunition. I see in other threads here on Glock Forums where people recommend the Walmart White Box Winchester ammunition for range ammo. When I go to the Winchester site, there are many different cartridge and bullet types of 9mm ammunition:

1. 9mm Luger
2. 9mm Luger +P
3. 9mm Luger Winclean

I know that the +P means that it is a more powerful powder load. Winclean seems to be a Total Metal Jacket - or maybe it's a full brass bullet. I can't tell from the picture. My guess is the Winclean ammo is very clean, and also very expensive.

So, it seems to me that the Winchester 9mm Luger ammunition would be my best choice for range ammo. The 9mm Luger ammunition comes in 7 different bullet types:

1. Super Clean NT
2. Silvertip Hollow Point
3. Bonded PDX1
4. Full Metal Jacket
5. Full Metal jacket - Flat Nose
6. JHP
7. Flat Enclosed Base

So, it seems that the Full Metal Jacket would be my best choice for range ammo. My guess is that the Flat Enclosed Base would be cleaner, but also much more expensive.

There are three types of 9mm Luger full metal jacket cartridges:

Two of them seem identical in the comparison. My guess is that the 115 grain bullet would be cheaper than the 124 grain bullet. My guess is that the best option would be to get the bullet that most closely matched the weight of the self defense bullet that I decide on.

How does all that sound? Should I look at something else instead.

There seem to be many more choices for a self defense cartridge. Does anyone have a recommendation for a self defense 9mm round?

 

[Boomer]

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=631075
Thats winchester white box.

 

[Boomer]

http://www.epinions.com/review/9mm_Luger_115gr_Full_Metal_Jkt/content_459555769988

This too, the value pack of 100 rounds is a good deal, usually only $27 plus change and tax a box.

 

[Boomer]

Getting a practice ammo with a bullet weight close to you SD ammo weight is a good thing, unless you end up getting +P SD ammo. I would look at SD ammo first, the most common 9mm SD weight I have seen is 124gr.

 

[sfguard]

Oh wow, did you open a potential can of worms. Everyone is going to tell you a different SD round to get and think it is best. Because that is what they use. I really don't get into brand names too much. MOST quality hollow points will be close to the same in performance. I would advise you to stay away from the double tap with montana gold projectiles. Here is a link to a test with it. It didn't mushroom very well at all and SERIOUSLY over penetrated the targets.

Also, you are correct practice with something close in weight to what you will be carrying if not the exact same weight.

 

[sfguard]

Getting a practice ammo with a bullet weight close to you SD ammo weight is a good thing, unless you end up getting +P SD ammo. I would look at SD ammo first, the most common 9mm SD weight I have seen is 124gr.

The powder charge isn't going to affect POI until you start getting well beyond ranges that would be justifiable for self defense. At close range it will only affect penetration. For a good SD round it should go through at least 13 inches in ballistic gelatin.

 

[dprice77]

You should practice with ammo that is at the least close to the weight of your sd ammo. Self defense ammo is pretty much a personal preference. I use 147 gr hydros. Its little slower but I prefer something with good kenetic energy. But use whatever you prefer. Just make sure it is from a reputable manufacturer.

 

[__jb]

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=631075
Thats winchester white box.

Good link, thanks... Do you buy ammunition mail order?

I just noticed that the site in the link is backordered until December...

http://www.epinions.com/review/9mm_Luger_115gr_Full_Metal_Jkt/content_459555769988

This too, the value pack of 100 rounds is a good deal, usually only $27 plus change and tax a box.

Very good information, plus he also reviews other ammunitiom...

Getting a practice ammo with a bullet weight close to you SD ammo weight is a good thing, unless you end up getting +P SD ammo. I would look at SD ammo first, the most common 9mm SD weight I have seen is 124gr.

The choices seem to be overwhelming...

 

[__jb]

Oh wow, did you open a potential can of worms. Everyone is going to tell you a different SD round to get and think it is best. Because that is what they use. I really don't get into brand names too much. MOST quality hollow points will be close to the same in performance. I would advise you to stay away from the double tap with montana gold projectiles. Here is a link to a test with it. It didn't mushroom very well at all and SERIOUSLY over penetrated the targets.

Also, you are correct practice with something close in weight to what you will be carrying if not the exact same weight.

Speer Gold Dot 9mm 124 gr +P

What would you call a reputable manufacturer?

Lots of people seem to recommend Federal... Are they higher quality than Winchester?

 

[__jb]

You should practice with ammo that is at the least close to the weight of your sd ammo. Self defense ammo is pretty much a personal preference. I use 147 gr hydros. Its little slower but I prefer something with good kenetic energy. But use whatever you prefer. Just make sure it is from a reputable manufacturer.

Federal P9HS2 9mm 147gr Hydra-Shok JHP Personal Defense

Is that what you meant? Would a normal gun shop have these? Most of the online mail order businesses seem to be out of 9mm ammo.

There seems to be a Hydra and a Hydro.

 

[Boomer]

What would you call a reputable manufacturer?

Id call, Winchester Silver Tip or Ranger T, Speer, Federal HydraShok , Remington Golden Sabers and so so many more reputable brands/lines of SD ammo. A lot of it comes down to preference of what you like from what you read or from test results on youtube too. I like Federal HydraShoks in .45ACP, seems to me that the tine in the center of a HydraShok bullet would help a big slower moving bullet open a little better. In my .40s, I like Ranger Ts, because they have a nasty pedal design that works wonders on bad guys. Also, the Ranger T bullets technology is closely based off of the old BlackTalon ammo.

I dont buy mail order ammo, Id rather buy it from local locations.

 

[__jb]

Id call, Winchester Silver Tip or Ranger T, Speer, Federal HydraShok , Remington Golden Sabers and so so many more reputable brands/lines of SD ammo. A lot of it comes down to preference of what you like from what you read or from test results on youtube too. I like Federal HydraShoks in .45ACP, seems to me that the tine in the center of a HydraShok bullet would help a big slower moving bullet open a little better. In my .40s, I like Ranger Ts, because they have a nasty pedal design that works wonders on bad guys. Also, the Ranger T bullets technology is closely based off of the old BlackTalon ammo.

I dont buy mail order ammo, Id rather buy it from local locations.

Thanks again, Boomer... very helpful information...

Most of these names are meaningless to someone just starting out... I'm just trying to get somewhat of an understanding before I pick up my G17 on Thursday. My plan is to buy a box of self defense and a box of range ammo from the gun shop when I pick up my pistol.

I'm going to check out some prices before Thursday so I know roughly what the price ranges are.

I wouldn't have thought you could buy ammunition online. That's pretty crazy...

 

[sfguard]

Looks like Boomer touched on several of them for ya. Good luck

 

[KeithD]

Now that my Glock 17 is on the way, I'm looking into ammunition. Like most people, I want some range ammo and some self defense ammunition. I see in other threads here on Glock Forums where people recommend the Walmart White Box Winchester ammunition for range ammo. When I go to the Winchester site, there are many different cartridge and bullet types of 9mm ammunition:

1. 9mm Luger
2. 9mm Luger +P
3. 9mm Luger Winclean

I know that the +P means that it is a more powerful powder load. Winclean seems to be a Total Metal Jacket - or maybe it's a full brass bullet. I can't tell from the picture. My guess is the Winclean ammo is very clean, and also very expensive.

So, it seems to me that the Winchester 9mm Luger ammunition would be my best choice for range ammo. The 9mm Luger ammunition comes in 7 different bullet types:

1. Super Clean NT
2. Silvertip Hollow Point
3. Bonded PDX1
4. Full Metal Jacket
5. Full Metal jacket - Flat Nose
6. JHP
7. Flat Enclosed Base

So, it seems that the Full Metal Jacket would be my best choice for range ammo. My guess is that the Flat Enclosed Base would be cleaner, but also much more expensive.

There are three types of 9mm Luger full metal jacket cartridges:

Two of them seem identical in the comparison. My guess is that the 115 grain bullet would be cheaper than the 124 grain bullet. My guess is that the best option would be to get the bullet that most closely matched the weight of the self defense bullet that I decide on.

How does all that sound? Should I look at something else instead.

There seem to be many more choices for a self defense cartridge. Does anyone have a recommendation for a self defense 9mm round?

It sounds like you will be carrying this pistol and training as such. Honestly the "use the same grain as you carry for defense" is moot.

Most of the training you do is going to be 10 yds and under. Different grain weights are not going to have a noticeable change in POA and POI between them. Now if your going to practice combat accurate hits at plus 50 yds then maybe.

At 3yds a 115 gr bullets POA/POI and a 147gr POA/POI is so small you wont be able to tell let alone effect combat accurate hits.

Go with whatever is cheapest to shoot and train with and run it. Dont bother buying the expensive win clean, your glock will run extremely dirty.

Shoot what ever your going to carry to make sure it functions and you'll be good to go.

 

[__jb]

It sounds like you will be carrying this pistol and training as such. Honestly the "use the same grain as you carry for defense" is moot.

Most of the training you do is going to be 10 yds and under. Different grain weights are not going to have a noticeable change in POA and POI between them. Now if your going to practice combat accurate hits at plus 50 yds then maybe.

At 3yds a 115 gr bullets POA/POI and a 147gr POA/POI is so small you wont be able to tell let alone effect combat accurate hits.

Go with whatever is cheapest to shoot and train with and run it. Dont bother buying the expensive win clean, your glock will run extremely dirty.

Shoot what ever your going to carry to make sure it functions and you'll be good to go.

Yes, my Glock 17 will be my main pistol for the foreseeable future. Actually it will be my only pistol for the foreseeable future...

Is this correct?
POA = Point of Aim
POI = Point of Impact

I went to our local Walmart today and was surprised to see that they had quite a bit of 9mm Luger ammunition. The salesman said that they had recently started to get more in. This is what they had:

1. Federal 9mm Luger 115gr FMJ RN Box of 50 for $9.47
   
2. Winchester 9mm Luger 115gr FMJ Box of 50 for $13.47
   
3. Winchester 9mm Luger 115gr FMJ Box of 100 for $23.97
   
4. RWS 9mm Luger 124gr FMJ Box of 50 for $12.97

I thought Federal was a good brand, but that seems to be awfully cheap.

The Winchester 115gr FMJ 100/box looks like a good deal. I will probably get a box or two of these. I may wait until after I get my G17 and the SD ammo to decide.

I have never heard of RWS. I'm not sure if it's a quality ammunition or not. It does come in 124gr that might match my future SD ammo. I'll have to wait and see.

 

[KeithD]

when i buy from walmart i usually get the Winchester. mine for some reason never hsa federal instock. if they did id get that . its cheaper and is going to make no difference.

you are correct on POA/POI

 

[__jb]

I picked up my new Glock 17 and some ammo today. Unfortunately, it was raining like cats and dogs, so I did't go to the range. I got the Speers Gold Dot today at the gun shop, and the rest yesterday at Walmart:

40 rounds of Speer Gold Dot 9mm 124gr GDHP (personal protection)

100 rounds of Federal 9mm 115gr FMJ RN (not sure what the RN stands for)

200 rounds of Winchester 9mm 115gr FMJ (target pracctice)

Hopefully the weather will clear up tomorrow and I can go to the range in the afternoon.

 

[sfguard]

I picked up my new Glock 17 and some ammo today. Unfortunately, it was raining like cats and dogs, so I did't go to the range. I got the Speers Gold Dot today at the gun shop, and the rest yesterday at Walmart:

40 rounds of Speer Gold Dot 9mm 124gr GDHP (personal protection)

100 rounds of Federal 9mm 115gr FMJ RN (not sure what the RN stands for)

200 rounds of Winchester 9mm 115gr FMJ (target pracctice)

Hopefully the weather will clear up tomorrow and I can go to the range in the afternoon.

In this case it don't mean Registered Nurse. LOL That was a bad attempt at a joke.
It means round nose. Sounds like a fine choice of ammo good luck with the weather. Be sure to let us know how your new pistol does