CC ammunition for CM9?

[Snowbird]

I'm at that stage where I just don't think I'll be shooting as much as I used to, maybe once every month or two from a draw at the local gravel pit, doing some mag changes, etc. Basically, verifying I can hit something fast at assorted ranges and verifying the reliability of my pair of CM9s with hollow points.

Therefore, I don't see myself going through a lot of ammo and wondered if there was any ammunition that might cause problems. I'm currently loading up with Federal HST 124-grain standard pressure, but my supplies are a bit limited. I have some pretty good supplies of Hornady 124-grain XTP +P rounds and quite a bit of Federal HST 147-grain standard pressure. All of these are hollow points, of course.

Thanks for the input.

[berettabone]

IMHO..........As long as you stay away from Fiocchi, I think you'll be good.

[DavidR]

The 147 grain HST should be fine. The Hornady is fine too but I wouldn’t run plus P in my CM9.

[Bawanna]

I don't know why and lack a solid reason but while I usually lean towards heavy for caliber, in the 9 I always prefer the 124 gr stuff.

[getsome]

My personal carry ammo in my PM9 is Sig Sauer V-Crown 124 grain 9mm standard pressure non +p which shoots great, never had a jam and is accurate…….I have also used Hornady Critical Defence standard pressure 124 grain and they also cycle fine and are equally accurate at self defense distances and either one would do you well….….I would not recommend +p ammo in your CM9 because it’s hard on the gun and not necessary in a short barrel pistol which will have more muzzle flash and recoil but not much more realistic performance…….While expensive it’s a good idea is to try several different SD rounds to be sure they work in your gun and see where they print at 10 yards or so and then stick to them and then practice with the same bullet weight range ammo and you will be good to go…….

[Snowbird]

Excellent advice. Thanks to you all.

[Charlie98]

I've run quite a variety of HP ammos through my CW9's... and my CM9/PM9's for that matter... and never had a problem. I agree with the others to stay away from +P.

I used to be a big 'heavy for caliber' guy, and ran 147's in my carry pistol... but I don't anymore. 147's are fine in a standard (5") pistol, where the extra barrel length will get that bullet moving fast enough to usually allow expansion, but I have come to the conclusion that might be a little iffy in the shorter CW9, and the definitely shorter CM/PM9 barrel... so I've moved to either 124grn, or Hornady's excellent 135grn HP ammos. Just my .02 worth.

[guido4198]

I've had no problems with Federal HST 124 gn loads. Just to add another one, I've also had no issues with Sig "V-Crown" 115 gn. JHP rounds, "optimized for CCW". (per Sig)

[SlimLawson]

I have carried the Federal 150 gr Micro HST for a number of years in my PM9. It has functioned without hiccup and is accurate in my gun. Here is some data to look at.

Handgun Self-Defense Ammunition - Ballistic Testing Data (luckygunner.com) (https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/#9mm)

[iWander]

I've carried Speer Gold Dot 124 grain in all my 9mms since the early 2000s without issue. I tried +P for a while, but I agree with everyone else. More recoil and flash and, according to the numbers, not much more performance.
I do not recommend Cor-Bon in the little polymers! It feels like shooting a Desert Eagle!

[Snowbird]

Thanks to you all. I think I've got it covered now.

[djd100]

I'll be the contrarian, in that I use 124 gr +P Hornady XTP in my PM9, as I believe velocity aids expansion, and expansion not only helps to guard against over penetration, it also can hit harder with larger wound channels, so more is better in a 3.1" barrel IMO.

I use standard pressure rounds in my modified CZ SP01 with it's 5" barrel, as the longer barrel aids velocity etc, and I shoot it out to longer distances.

That said, there certainly is more recoil and flash etc, so only use +P if you can handle it semi-comfortably, and be accurate with it out to 10 yds or so IMO.

[Snowbird]

Good advice. Thanks to you all. Wish I wasn't sitting on a bunch of 147 grain HPs, but that's my reality at the moment. Perhaps I can do a trade at the next gun show. For the time being, if the 147 grain (HST and Winchester Ranger) cycles well, I'll use it.

[weemsf50]

My department issues us 124 grain Speer Gold Dots.

[Bawanna]

My department issues us 124 grain Speer Gold Dots.

That's a good round. My old dept when they foolishly went from 45's back to 9's carried 124 gr which is my preference. Originally we had Gold Dots, I think now they have gone to Federal but not certain. Did a whole circle, started with 9's, went to 40's and finally after 10 years of nagging by me 45's. Just before I retired they got back on the more is better school of thought and went back to 9's. No longer my problem.

[Barth]

I have carried the Federal 150 gr Micro HST for a number of years in my PM9. It has functioned without hiccup and is accurate in my gun. Here is some data to look at.

Handgun Self-Defense Ammunition - Ballistic Testing Data (luckygunner.com) (https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/#9mm)

No PM9, but I really like Federal 150 gr Micro HST for my micro 9mm guns.
Standard go to in all 9mm guns - Federal HST 147 standard pressure.

[djd100]

I have carried the Federal 150 gr Micro HST for a number of years in my PM9. It has functioned without hiccup and is accurate in my gun. Here is some data to look at.

Handgun Self-Defense Ammunition - Ballistic Testing Data (luckygunner.com) (https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/#9mm)

Note that the M&P Compact used in the Lucky Gunner tests has a 4" barrel, vs 3.1" for our CM/PM 9's, which is near a 25% increase etc, so velocity is improved to some degree via the longer barrel.

[Bawanna]

I seriously doubt 1'' of barrel especially in the under 4'' category makes a lot of difference but you are correct.

[Scott321]

I seriously doubt 1'' of barrel especially in the under 4'' category makes a lot of difference but you are correct.

IIRC, at the time of the test the M&PC was around 3.5." I don't think they had the 4" until the M2.0 came out. So the difference is even less, but I'm not a 9mm fan so I'm already biased. I do think that HP expansion might suffer as the barrel length/velocity descreases for most rounds/calibers.

From LG website:
https://labscdn2.luckygunner.com/labs/media/test-guns.jpg

To the OP, although times have have changed, as well as ammo prices and availability for different brands/versions of ammo, before the pandemic I settled on Rem 115gr +P HTP. Lackluster specs, but with performance from a shorter barrel I am OK with, a price I could practice with, and good local availability (again, pre-pandemic). It kicks less than the NATO loadings, and I had no issues in the CM9 nor K9. However, I don't carry my 9's much.

ShootingTheBull410 has some interesting videos on 3" 9mm ammo performance. I don't agree with some of his opinions, but there's a lot of interesting tests of 9mm and 9mm +P in 115gr-147gr options.

https://www.youtube.com/user/ShootingTheBull410

[djd100]

I seriously doubt 1'' of barrel especially in the under 4'' category makes a lot of difference but you are correct.

The delta seems to be between 50 - 100 FPS on average, with the lighter bullet weights seeing a bigger change (between 3" and 4" for 9mm).

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/9luger.html

[Bawanna]

Well I'll be dipped in goose slobber, didn't think it would be even that much.

[topgun1953]

change in velocity = (Force x time)/mass :Amflag2:

[djd100]

Well I'll be dipped in goose slobber, didn't think it would be even that much.

Ha, sounds messy Bawanna LOL!

The +P ammo picks up around 200 FPS +- over the standard pressure for a given weight which is a usable/sizable increase, which should also translate into increased and more reliable expansion for 9mm out of a 3.1" barrel IMO.

[Barth]

The delta seems to be between 50 - 100 FPS on average, with the lighter bullet weights seeing a bigger change (between 3" and 4" for 9mm).

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/9luger.html

Not crazy about BS by the inch.
Truth is all barrels are unique.
There have been many cases of shorter barrels running faster that longer ones through a chronograph.
Only way to really know is test your particular gun and ammo :)

I'd be a lot more concerned about accuracy and recoil than FPS...

[djd100]

Here's a vid showing gel tests for a short barrel 9mm using 115gr +P copper HP's...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHqNA_UBggs

..."perfect" LOL!

This is similar to what I use for defense in my 3.1" PM9, except 124gr.