9mm Luger Personal Defense Ammunition Testing

Published: April 13, 2023

Walther PDP F 23 — The Walther PDP-F test gun provided good accuracy and faultless reliability.

After more than 115 years on the scene, the 9mm Luger is America’s favored handgun caliber, being chambered in subcompact, compact, service-size, and long-slide 9mm handguns. Today, there are 9mm Luger loads offering an excellent balance of expansion and penetration, and we got to test a bunch of them in a Walther PDP 9mm pistol with a 4-inch barrel. We fired for accuracy at 15 yards. Read on for our test results.

Norma MHP 108-Grain Monolithic Hollow Point 9mm Luger 299740020, $15.55/20

Monolithic simply means the projectile is manufactured from a single piece of copper. This was the lightest projectile tested at 108 grains. The company claims more than 1300 fps velocity. Actual recorded velocity was 1198 fps average. The Norma load was accurate enough, but it was not the most accurate load in the test. Felt recoil was subjectively lightest of the test. Penetration was adequate at 16 inches. Expansion was the greatest at 0.95 inch.

Our Team Said: We were impressed by the Norma 108-Grain Monolithic Hollow Point’s performance. It offers a combination of light recoil, acceptable accuracy, and a fast-opening bullet.

Gun Tests Grade: A

Norma’s monolithic bullet looks closed at the nose, but it opens into a nicely expanded bullet at 0.95 inch in width.

Norma’s MHP bullet exhibited good expansion.

Barnes TAC-XPD 115-Grain X Bullet 9mm Luger 21551, $26.99/20

The Barnes all-copper hollow point was once pricey compared to other loads. Now it is in line with what other 20-round boxes cost. The all-copper bullet is long for the bullet weight and cannot be loaded as hot as a conventional cup-and-core bullet because the bullet base extends further into the cartridge case. Just the same, the velocity of 1143 fps makes for easy control. This bullet offers very consistent penetration of 18 inches in water and expands to 0.73 inch.

Our Team Said: Felt recoil was mild and accuracy good.

Gun Tests Grade: A

The Barnes X bullet offers good performance with modest recoil.

Considering the Barnes X bullet’s low recoil, but good balance of expansion and penetration, this is a credible defense loading.

Sierra Sports Master 115-Grain Jacketed Hollow Point 9mm Luger A81100120, $9.99/20

Felt recoil was light due to a velocity of only 1114 fps. Expansion was a modest 0.52 inch. This load was reliable and accurate, but it was below the curve in energy and expansion.

Our Team Said: We think there are better choices.

Gun Tests Grade: B-

The Sierra JHP exhibited modest expansion.

Sierra’s 115-grain JHP is slower than most other loads with this bullet weight. Energy is the lowest of the test.

Federal Premium Law Enforcement 124-Grain Hydra-Shok Jacketed Hollow Point 9mm Luger P9HS1G1, $35/50

In testing, the load clocked 1104 fps. Penetration was 16.5 inches of water. Expansion was 0.59 inch, with weight retention of 122.5 grains. Interestingly, decade-old testing of this round shows 1090 fps average velocity, the same penetration, and 0.55 inch expansion.

Our Team Said: The modern Hydra-Shok is an improved cartridge and one with a proven track record.

Gun Tests Grade: A

When the Federal Premium LE 124g Hydra-Shok traveled through the water jugs, it excised a part of the jug during its travel.

Federal’s Federal Premium LE 124g Hydra-Shok offers consistent expansion.

Federal Premium Law Enforcement 124-Grain HST Jacketed Hollow Point 9mm Luger P9HST1, $35/50

The HST bullet is a modern development that offers a choice over the Hydra-Shok. There is no center post in the HST, and its expansion is different. Velocity was 1153 fps. Penetration was 17 inches in water and expansion 0.65 inches. Recovered weight was 124 grains.

Our Team Said: The HST offers slightly better performance than the Hydra Shock. We would take either.

Gun Tests Grade: A

Federal’s Federal Premium LE 124g HST offers good accuracy and a balance between expansion and penetration.

The Federal Premium LE 124g HST offers excellent expansion.

Speer Gold Dot 124-Grain Jacketed Hollow Point 9mm Luger 23618GD, $28.49/20

The Gold Dot is designed to offer excellent light cover and barrier penetration. This means a great deal in law enforcement, but not so much in civilian personal defense. The Gold Dot bullet breaks 1124 fps out of the Walther PDP. Penetration in water was 18 inches, and expansion was a solid 0.64 inch.

Our Team Said: We like the accuracy and reliable expansion of this loading.

Gun Tests Grade: A

We liked the quality control of the Speer Gold Dot 124g JHP.

The Speer Gold Dot 124g JHP is a consistent performer.

Winchester USA Ready Defense 124-Grain Hex-Vent Jacketed Hollow Point 9mm Luger +P RED9HP (20), $25.49/20

This new loading uses something called Hex-Vent technology. A polymer ball in the nose instigates expansion. This load breaks 1207 fps, making it the most energetic 124-grain load tested. The bullet stayed together and expanded well as it penetrated 16 inches of water. We measured the lead mushroom at a healthy, plump 0.76 inch of expansion. Had we included in the expansion measurement the single piece of jacket that was attached to the center, the reading would have been well over an inch. One of the bullets of three tested in water slipped its jacket, a mark of a high-velocity bullets.

Our Team Said: This is outstanding performance by any standard. We had a good bit of discussion about this load. It appears to transfer its energy quickly. All agreed it would be formidable.

Gun Tests Grade: A+ Our Pick

Winchester’s 124-grain Ready Defense round is the only load that separated from its jacket.

Winchester’s 124-grain Ready Defense load offered the highest energy of any load tested.

Hornady Critical Duty 135-Grain FlexLock 9mm Luger +P 90226, $33.99/25

This is the load that won the FBI contract. Barrier penetration and reliability is unquestioned. The Hornady 135-grain load breaks 1055 fps out of the Walther PDP pistol. Penetration was a long 24 inches in water. The bullet expanded to 0.52 inch. Most civilian shooters do not need this level of penetration. If you do, this is a fine load and the most accurate of the test.

Our Team Said: For civilian self-defense use, we rated the load down a half grade based on its lengthy penetration in water.

Gun Tests Grade A-

Hornady’s Critical Duty 135g FlexLock is a very consistent loading.

Hornady’s Critical Duty 135g FlexLock loading was chosen by the FBI after rigorous testing. It might be a bit much for most civilian use.

Remington Golden Saber Bonded 147-Grain Jacketed Hollow Point 9mm Luger 29343, $40.99/20

This bullet doesn’t quite look like the Golden Saber bullets tested in the past. These bullets used more of the bullet jacket as a wounding mechanism. The bane of 147-grain loads has been low velocity and expansion. The Remington bonded load breaks a solid 1012 fps, marginally faster than the 147-grain Winchester load. Penetration was 20 inches, and expansion was an average of 0.58 inch.

Our Team Said: If you need deeper penetration and prefer a 147-grain bullet, Remington has provided an answer.

Gun Tests Grade: A

The Remington 147g JHP is a big chunk of lead with a lot of frontal area.

Remington’s 147g Golden Saber bonded load offered penetration on the long end that some prefer.

All Remington 147-grain Golden Saber bullets were very consistent.

Winchester Silvertip 147-Grain Jacketed Hollow Point 9mm Luger W9MMST2 (20), $19.99/20

Winchester’s 115-grain Silvertip has been a staple for personal defense for decades. The 147-grain version is intended to offer more penetration and offer an alternative to bonded-core police-type loads. Velocity was 980 fps, penetration 18 inches, and expansion 0.61 inches. For a heavyweight bullet, we feel the Silvertip offers good performance.

Our Team Said: Compared to the Golden Saber from Remington, the Silvertip expands slightly more and penetrates slightly less. We would be pleased with either.

Gun Tests Grade: A

Winchester’s 147-grain Silvertip builds on the “crease fold design” of the original Silvertip.

The Silvertip offers a good balance of expansion and penetration with a plump and heavy bullet.

The Bottom Line

Personal preference plays a part. Some prefer one bullet weight to the other. We think the best balance of expansion and penetration was in the 124-grain defense loads. Of the four 124-grain loads tested, we find little to no difference in real performance between the Federal Hydra-Shok, Federal HST, and Speer Gold Dot. The rapidly expanding Winchester load penetrates less but offers excellent expansion. If no light cover is involved, then a rapidly expanding bullet may do more damage, given good penetration, which this load has. While the 135- and 147-grain loads offer good tactical penetration, for concealed carry and home defense we don’t think they are needed. Regardless of your choice, be certain the handgun on your hip feeds the round you choose properly and fires to the point of aim in your carry gun.