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M&P9 Ammo

belladonna

belladonna

Hellcat
Okay, I'm gonna ask the question because I'm not afraid of appearing uneducated (I won't call myself stupid unless I deserve it, lol). I have been mixing up different brands of ammo, and different grains (FMJ and JHP) to see what runs best, and maybe it's me and I'm not as in tune with my guns yet, but I don't feel much difference except when I run the higher grain.

You guys who shoot M&P9, what do you shoot? What do your pistols seem to prefer? I buy ammo on sale, but I am also careful and do my research into what the pistol is tested with. So far I have been running:

Magtech 115gr FMJ
Federal American Eagle 115 and 124gr FMJ
Remington Range 115gr FMJ (Got lots of this...they had a big sale)
Federal Punch 124gr JHP
Hornady Critical Defense 115gr JHP
Sellier & Bellot 115gr JHP (This is new - haven't shot this brand yet)

So, what do you run? Thank you in advance for your input and advice! :)
 
belladonna said:
Okay, I'm gonna ask the question because I'm not afraid of appearing uneducated (I won't call myself stupid unless I deserve it, lol). I have been mixing up different brands of ammo, and different grains (FMJ and JHP) to see what runs best, and maybe it's me and I'm not as in tune with my guns yet, but I don't feel much difference except when I run the higher grain.

You guys who shoot M&P9, what do you shoot? What do your pistols seem to prefer? I buy ammo on sale, but I am also careful and do my research into what the pistol is tested with. So far I have been running:

Magtech 115gr FMJ
Federal American Eagle 115 and 124gr FMJ
Remington Range 115gr FMJ (Got lots of this...they had a big sale)
Federal Punch 124gr JHP
Hornady Critical Defense 115gr JHP
Sellier & Bellot 115gr JHP (This is new - haven't shot this brand yet)

So, what do you run? Thank you in advance for your input and advice! :)
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While I don’t have any M&P’s, I run the same first 3 you mentioned plus Fiocchi, all in 115gr FMJ
 
I prefer Speer Gold Dots and Federal HST, both in 147 grain. I still have several boxes of DoubleTap 147 gr Speer gold Dots. Advertised velocity is 1125 fps from 4.5" barrel. I haven't chronographed them but that's probably close. Choices for defensive ammo are all over the place, not saying my choice is better than others. The ammunition store sales Fed 147 gr, flat point fmj's for around 15 bucks for box of 50. I prefer my handloads but at this price it costs more to reload. Forgot to add, usually carry M&P's. I have an old Browning High power and after some work on the feed ramp it handles jhp's.
 
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belladonna said:
Okay, I'm gonna ask the question because I'm not afraid of appearing uneducated (I won't call myself stupid unless I deserve it, lol). I have been mixing up different brands of ammo, and different grains (FMJ and JHP) to see what runs best, and maybe it's me and I'm not as in tune with my guns yet, but I don't feel much difference except when I run the higher grain.

You guys who shoot M&P9, what do you shoot? What do your pistols seem to prefer? I buy ammo on sale, but I am also careful and do my research into what the pistol is tested with. So far I have been running:

Magtech 115gr FMJ
Federal American Eagle 115 and 124gr FMJ
Remington Range 115gr FMJ (Got lots of this...they had a big sale)
Federal Punch 124gr JHP
Hornady Critical Defense 115gr JHP
Sellier & Bellot 115gr JHP (This is new - haven't shot this brand yet)

So, what do you run? Thank you in advance for your input and advice! :)
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My M&P takes anything I throw at it, including Tula ammo. Not a single issue with anything, although some ammo are dirtier than others, Fiocchi 115gr for instance is very dirty and requires twice as much cleaning as others sometimes... I've happily shot Sig, CCI, Ammo Inc, Remington, Fiocchi, norma (including frangible) training rounds with no failure of any kind. That's probably 1,500 rounds combined.

As far as defensive rounds, Sig V-Crown, norma MHP, Hornady Critical Defense & Critical Duty, Liberty Civil Defense, all great. Maybe 500+ rounds as these are more expensive to train with. Some +P some not, either way works great.
 
I've always preferred heavy for caliber bullets, primarily for deeper penetration. I also understand depending on the construction of a bullet, lighter bullets also give good penetration. In my humble opinion a well constructed heavier bullet adds more insurance. My examples are Speer gold Dots, Federal HST's and Hornady XTP's. I'm sure there are many others, these are just my picks. Should have added my picks are all 147 grains.
 
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Lots of factors when it comes to defense. Range, clothing, placement, barriers and velocity for starters. My preference is at least 1 mag of fmj's unless you have a more powerful gun. 115's are matched greatly for 9mils, but 124's are good also. Gold Dots are a beast compared to XTP's and other HP's. I reload, so I shoot 5 different HP's. Nosler in 9's has been long gone in my cabinet, but good for 40, 10, 44 and 45. Try Sierra if you can? Monarch is the ONLY brand that doesn't like my 1.0 I've tested so far. As long as it feeds reliably you're in the spot!
 
belladonna said:
So 115gr is perfectly fine for defense? Does the grain affect accuracy or is it just the power behind it?
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The heavier the bullet, the more recoil (depending on powder) it will have. Felt or not! A local person that has a kid in the same grade as 2 of mine uses an xd40. I have a similar gun (xdm40) and talked about which ammo is used in that gun. 180's was what was used. I asked about recoil? Reply was, "It's snappy". So here's what I did. I loaded 10x10 different loads consisting of 135, 150, 155, 165's. 135's were Nosler & Sierras (no longer produced), 150's @ Sierra and Nosler, 155's @ Hornady, Speer & Sierra, and 165's @ Sierra, Speer. There was a mix of HP and FMJ to complete 10x10 (10 rounds of each for 100 founds). Loads were @ ~same muzzle energy. Instructions were to shoot 3 from each slowly and take notes afterwards, shoot 3 more, but faster and last 3 was for accuracy (I know it equals 9 as I tested 1 of each before handing it over). Favorite load was the Sierra 135's no longer in production. SHE was bummed out as I was also on Sierra discontinuing the 135's.
 
for me when i buy and use factory new ammo, either 115 or 124 grain.

always round nose, always FMJ, never hollow point, cuz that ammo is for target practice, not self defense.

when i practice strictly for self defense, as in my Hellcat, then Federal HST 147 grain hollow point.

right now, my reloaded ammo stands at 124 grain Lead round nose.

when you buy and try ammo, you will see what works best for YOUR gun, as i have found not all ammo works for all guns.


Federal, S&B, Fiocchi, Remington, Norma, Magtech, have been the general name brands that my LGS has, that i will buy and shoot.

i stopped long ago, using Wolf and Tulammo.

i try NOT to buy as much Magtech, that dang stuff is smokier than Remington white box. hell Magtech is even smokier than my reloads.
 
belladonna said:
Okay, I'm gonna ask the question because I'm not afraid of appearing uneducated (I won't call myself stupid unless I deserve it, lol). I have been mixing up different brands of ammo, and different grains (FMJ and JHP) to see what runs best, and maybe it's me and I'm not as in tune with my guns yet, but I don't feel much difference except when I run the higher grain.

You guys who shoot M&P9, what do you shoot? What do your pistols seem to prefer? I buy ammo on sale, but I am also careful and do my research into what the pistol is tested with. So far I have been running:

Magtech 115gr FMJ
Federal American Eagle 115 and 124gr FMJ
Remington Range 115gr FMJ (Got lots of this...they had a big sale)
Federal Punch 124gr JHP
Hornady Critical Defense 115gr JHP
Sellier & Bellot 115gr JHP (This is new - haven't shot this brand yet)

So, what do you run? Thank you in advance for your input and advice! :)
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I use whatever is on sale. I’ve run 115, 124 and 147 grain fmj and haven’t had a failure that wasn’t my fault. I regularly use 115 fmj from 2a warehouse or freedom munitions for range visits.
At home i have 2 mags loaded with federal law enforcement hst 147 grain. I have had 0 failures with that. This is my nightstand gun.
image.jpg
 
USMC6094 said:
I run Speer 115 grain Gold Dot JHPs as the usual carry load in my M&P Compact.
It seems to like it, so I've stuck with it.
It'll run, and shoot everything I've ever fed it.
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different caliber i know...but Lawman does not run in a few of my 45's......and those would be either my CZ 97 B, or some of my 1911's....

so as a general rule, i stay away from that brand, in any caliber.
 
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