I don’t have a lot of experience reloading with many different powers and bullets. I have used Unique and HS-6 with 125gr LRN. Best load so far is 4gr. Unique at 1.165 OAL in an H & K USP 9mm. Good groups at 20 yards have not checked past that.

How 'bout factory ammo? I personally plink with Remington UMC 115gr FMJs. I don't have huge amounts of experience with various loads, but UMC is relatively inexpensive and fires very cleanly (a thin film of soot, as opposed to a lot of rough grit). Winchester White Box is dirtier when fired, but other than that is comparable in most respects to the Remington. Blazer is dirtier still, but it's cheap stuff (aluminum casing is cheaper than brass). My defense loads are Federal 124gr HydraShoks. The kick from them is a little stronger and snappier than the plinking rounds but very manageable, and the report is deeper.

My Ruger P95 will feed just about anything; the only failure I've ever had was a failure to lock back, and that was my fault (my off-hand thumb was on the slide release). It's going on 1000 rounds, mostly of UMC with a couple hundred WWBs and a few dozen Federals, and it's never had a bullet-related problem, so I think I've found my loads.

My Favorite load is a 115 Gr. Plated Berry's Flat Point Bullet over 3.9 Grains of Clays Powder. It's accurate & the recoilt is mild, very pleasant to shoot.

I think the most effective self defense load in 9mm is Corbon's DPX. Unfortunately it's pretty expensive. I think the Gold Dots are outstanding also. Gold Dot is the issued round of the NYPD.

I was in Baghdad the end of '03 on some contract work, and our PSD's carried 9mm Federal HydraShoks. Now, these guys were all ex-Delta Force, and could have any sidearm their black little hearts desired, so I figure if it's good enough for them THERE it's good enough for me HERE.

I like double tap ammo's 124gr +p Gold Dot load. It's a standard +p loading that offers the highest ballistic performance of any 9mm hollow point on the market in that weight. Using the Gold Dot bullet from speer too which is renound for being good. For standard practice ammo, anything will do that is cheap. my P30 shoots anything.

Originally Posted by Dredd

I like double tap ammo's 124gr +p Gold Dot load. It's a standard +p loading that offers the highest ballistic performance of any 9mm hollow point on the market in that weight. Using the Gold Dot bullet from speer too which is renound for being good. For standard practice ammo, anything will do that is cheap. my P30 shoots anything.

How is Double Tap's different than the factory Speer? Their website has a 50-round box at $25.95, which is cheaper than Speer (20-round box is $18.95).

Originally Posted by fivehourfrenzy

How is Double Tap's different than the factory Speer?

Loaded hotter for higher velocity and energy. It's noticeable when you shoot them, but not uncontrollable. I like them because they use the same Gold Dot bullet, but with more power behind it.

Compare the numbers between them and you'll see the differences.

BTW: tactical Defense Solutions sells Speer Gold Dot 124gr +p for $23.00 per box of 50. They're sold out atm though.

Originally Posted by Dredd

Loaded hotter for higher velocity and energy. It's noticeable when you shoot them, but not uncontrollable. I like them because they use the same Gold Dot bullet, but with more power behind it.

Compare the numbers between them and you'll see the differences.

BTW: tactical Defense Solutions sells Speer Gold Dot 124gr +p for $23.00 per box of 50. They're sold out atm though.

So are Double Tap's ammunition just reloaded versions of other brand's of ammo?

Originally Posted by fivehourfrenzy

So are Double Tap's ammunition just reloaded versions of other brand's of ammo?

well, they use their own nickle coated brass with their name and markings on the cartridge. They just buy speer's gold dot bullets when they load them. So yes you could call it a factory reload. However, it's the same bullet just their own casing with hotter loadings. I tried them, liked them, and kept using them. They feed reliably, shoot accurately, are controllable for me, and I have never found a dud. I could just as easily buy Winchester Ranger, Hornady, Federal hydrashock or Tactical ammo, Cor Bon (which is a factory reload too using Barnes' bullets), or Speer made PD ammo. I just have had good luck with Double Tap and they use a thoroughly tested bullet in the gold dot.

Interestingly enough Speer is owned by Federal which make two different products that almost compete against eachother.

Originally Posted by Dredd

well, they use their own nickle coated brass with their name and markings on the cartridge. They just buy speer's gold dot bullets when they load them. So yes you could call it a factory reload. However, it's the same bullet just their own casing with hotter loadings. I tried them, liked them, and kept using them. They feed reliably, shoot accurately, are controllable for me, and I have never found a dud. I could just as easily buy Winchester Ranger, Hornady, Federal hydrashock or Tactical ammo, Cor Bon (which is a factory reload too using Barnes' bullets), or Speer made PD ammo. I just have had good luck with Double Tap and they use a thoroughly tested bullet in the gold dot.

Interestingly enough Speer is owned by Federal which make two different products that almost compete against eachother.

Well I just ordered a box of 50...124gr +P Gold Dots. That's interesting that Speer is owned by Federal. A lot of times it's Federal versus Speer.

Originally Posted by fivehourfrenzy

Well I just ordered a box of 50...124gr +P Gold Dots. That's interesting that Speer is owned by Federal. A lot of times it's Federal versus Speer.

I suppose it was just a buyout or merger of some type between the two and they decided to keep the two product lines because they both do so well but then, I don't really know what the deal with it is.

3.5 Tight Group

Zero 125 JHP

Shot very well in my Glock 23 with the LW 9mm
convertion barrel

I guess they figured both lines have a ton of diehard users with brand loyalty. Like if GM bought Ford...they'd keep the Ford product lines open so they could still sell to the Ford fans. Also, if Federal or Speer have any usage contracts with any LE agencies or such, it would make things less complicated to keep both.

Originally Posted by fivehourfrenzy

I guess they figured both lines have a ton of diehard users with brand loyalty. Like if GM bought Ford...they'd keep the Ford product lines open so they could still sell to the Ford fans. Also, if Federal or Speer have any usage contracts with any LE agencies or such, it would make things less complicated to keep both.

The New York police department exclusively uses Speer Gold Dot 124gr +p ammo in their Glock 19s. that is AFAIK.

If it's good enough for the NYPD, it's good enough for me.

Originally Posted by fivehourfrenzy

If it's good enough for the NYPD, it's good enough for me.

Don't be too sure! They carry a good load now, but until fairly recently, they issued solids like lead SWCs for .38, and round-nose ball (!!) for 9mm. Equipment selection at NYPD is heavily influenced by politics.

Originally Posted by Mike Barham

Don't be too sure! They carry a good load now, but until fairly recently, they issued solids like lead SWCs for .38, and round-nose ball (!!) for 9mm. Equipment selection at NYPD is heavily influenced by politics.

That's dumb...ball ammo in 9mm? Wow. Well, I think we'll all agree that Gold Dots are one of the best out there.

Originally Posted by Mike Barham

Originally Posted by fivehourfrenzy

If it's good enough for the NYPD, it's good enough for me.

Don't be too sure! They carry a good load now, but until fairly recently, they issued solids like lead SWCs for .38, and round-nose ball (!!) for 9mm. Equipment selection at NYPD is heavily influenced by politics.

I've read several articles by Ayoob suggesting modelling your SD weapon choices after LE is a good idea when you need to testify in a SD shooting.

Expanding bullets and large wound channels might not be considered humane by the politically correct. So I can understand why the politicos would limit LE and military to ball ammo.

On the other hand assholes who threaten my life and/or those of my family are not deserving of humane treatment.

After reading good reports about the Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P around HGF I made the switch. Just received 4 boxes of the LE version, which is the same round but packed in 50 instead of 20.

For anyone that's interested I got them from Ammo-to-go for $24.95 a box(50). Shipping was reasonable, $9.50 from TX to CA. They currently have it in stock. Here's the link:

http://ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/i...a&filter_id=24

Originally Posted by submoa

I've read several articles by Ayoob suggesting modelling your SD weapon choices after LE is a good idea when you need to testify in a SD shooting.

Expanding bullets and large wound channels might not be considered humane by the politically correct. So I can understand why the politicos would limit LE and military to ball ammo.

On the other hand assholes who threaten my life and/or those of my family are not deserving of humane treatment.

Most agencies around the country use Hollow Points for duty weapons. Two popular choices are Winchester ranger T 127gr +p+ and Speer Gold Dot 124gr +p. It's no secret that a JHP round will have a greater chance to put down a BG than FMJ.

Originally Posted by fivehourfrenzy

That's dumb...ball ammo in 9mm? Wow. Well, I think we'll all agree that Gold Dots are one of the best out there.

Ball ammo is what the military uses in their Beretta 92FS issue sidearms. They load up a 124gr FMJ to just below +p standards. NATO loadings are typically hotter than your standard practice FMJ, but not as hot as the +p JHP rounds.

I guess a lot of the democrats who oppose the use of guns think that a bullet that is intended to incapacitate a BG as quickly as possible is designed to kill him.

I get a lot of flak for wanting a shotgun for HD. I assure people that a BG coming up the steps won't feel a thing.

Originally Posted by fivehourfrenzy

I guess a lot of the democrats who oppose the use of guns think that a bullet that is intended to incapacitate a BG as quickly as possible is designed to kill him.

I get a lot of flak for wanting a shotgun for HD. I assure people that a BG coming up the steps won't feel a thing.

Actually the Geneva Convention stated that a military force should not impose unnecessary pain and suffering on any enemy combatant. That includes using expending bullet technology. That way of thinking is starting to change a bit, but it's a long and hard process to get the word from the mid-east streets up to the guys who can make the change happen. Lots of guys are calling for a better loading than 9mm if they can't use JHP ammo. Maybe go back to the .45? I've heard some rumors of the SEAL teams trying to get the USP .40 into service with them. They used to issue the USP from HK, but it became expensive to keep in service compared to Sig and HK lost the contract. The SEALs currently use the Sig p226 as far as I know, which is 9mm.

I'm not sure if groups like Blackwater are under the same restraints. Since they are private contractors, I'd guess they could carry whatever they wanted.