First Session with Personal Defense Ammo

[oldfella]

Yesterday was my first chance to shoot my MK9 with other than practice ammo - I burned a box of each Federal 135 Grain Personal Defense Hydra-Shok JHP and Cor-Bon +P 125 Gr JHP. The muzzle velocity shown on the box is 1050 for the Hydr-Shok and 1250 for the Cor-Bon - energy 330 and 434 ft/lbs respectively. The accuracy with the Hydra-Shok was better than the practice ammo, and better still than the Cor-Bon. I experienced a "noticeable" but manageable recoil with the Cor-Bon, especially the sparks shooting out of the short barrel - that surprised me. I had no problems at all, this little jewel performed very well…it's a keeper. I am still undecided on which ammo to use for self defense… any suggestions?

[Michigun]

Lot’s of good ammo choices out there!

I’m REALLY starting to like some of these newer 147-grain 9mm rounds out there for these little Kahrs! Low recoil, low noise, good expansion & deep penetration… they beat out some of the lighter & faster 9mm rounds now.

[NJ3]

Originally posted by oldfella
I am still undecided on which ammo to use for self defense… any suggestions?

I found the Cor-Bon Pow´Rball to be too hot for me, so right now I'm using Remington 124g +P Golden Sabers.

Originally posted by Michigun
I’m REALLY starting to like some of these newer 147-grain 9mm rounds out there for these little Kahrs! Low recoil, low noise, good expansion & deep penetration… they beat out some of the lighter & faster 9mm rounds now.

Which ones?

[oldfella]

Thanks, NJ3...That was going to be my question to Michigun - he did not explain.

[Catbird]

CorBon 115 grain +P JHPs used to be my ammo of choice. After using it extensively, I noticed a lot of inconsistencies in the same ammo from the same box while shooting it from the same gun. While some of the rounds seemed to shoot normally, others seemed to have a powder overload evidenced by a large fireball flash and much greater recoil. Every now and then (not very often), I would experience a primer that would fail to ignite.

I still use CorBon .380 ammo in my Kel-Tec P3AT because it doesn't suffer from the same problems as the 9mm stuff.

In most of my longer barrelled 9mm handguns, I use Winchester Ranger "T" series 127 grain +P+ (RA9TA). In my Kahr PM9, I prefer the Winchester Ranger "T" series 147 grain ammo (RA9T). Recoil is modest and accuracy and reliability are very good.

[oldfella]

Thanks, Catbird - I'm not planning to shoot too much "Premium" ammo routinely, too expensive - that is why I'm asking those who have tried various brands, weights, velocities, etc. to give me some ideas. Again, thanks.

[Michigun]

Originally posted by Catbird
In most of my longer barrelled 9mm handguns, I use Winchester Ranger "T" series 127 grain +P+ (RA9TA). In my Kahr PM9, I prefer the Winchester Ranger "T" series 147 grain ammo (RA9T). Recoil is modest and accuracy and reliability are very good.

Exact same here! ^c

Sorry for not being more clear guys!

It also sounds & looks like the 147-grain Gold-Dot & Golden-Saber wouldn’t be a bad choice either.

I’ve also been impressed with Federal’s newer 124-grain +p EFMJ… I’ve shot a bunch of that out of my PM9.

[ewayte]

My PM9 doesn't like the CorBon 115gr +Ps. After shooting around 60 rounds of WWB 115gr and 40 rounds of PowRBall 100gr, the 115s failed to feed. Once I could get them to feed, the slide failed to go into battery twice.

I tried a box of Remington Golden Saber 124gr +P and the PM9 ate them like candy. I'm definitely going to run some more through my gun as this looks like the round for me. Great accuracy and the recoil is manageable. Also, the Remingtons don't spit fire and sparks like the CorBons (either variety).

Federal 135gr also works in my gun, but wasn't as accurate as the WWB or the Remington.