124gr+p or 147gr Federal HST?

[PLCedeno]

Which to pick out of a Glock 17 for personal/home defense. What are the differences?

[Marcus L.]

Either are good loads, but for most practical purposes I like the 124gr+P load better.

The 147gr load has less felt recoil and performs better in FBI protocol testing. This means it will shoot through a window/windshield, a sofa, a wall, heavy clothing, or other commonly encountered barriers better and still have good terminal effects on the badguy behind them.

The 124gr+P has more recoil, but that additional recoil helps to ensure reliable weapon cycling if it is dirty or poorly maintained. The 124gr+P also does better with punching through hard barriers such as sheet metal. The additional velocity of this load also helps to ensure good expansion under less than ideal conditions. Basically, the 124gr+P is a good all around workhorse.

Here are some Winchester Ranger Talons which are very similar in performance to the HST:

All testing is done in accordance with the standardized FBI protocols. The bare gel test involves 10% ballistic gel calibrated to mimic human muscle tissue. The other tests involve placing various materials in front of the bare gel to demonstrate what it would be like to shoot someone through such materials. After the bullet punches through these barriers it may become damaged /deformed or plugged with material(wood/cloth) which will reduce its expansion capabilities. When a hollow point expands it acts like a parachute reducing penetration. If it is damaged or plugged it may not expand very well which results in deeper penetration with less expansion. The FBI has done continued testing of ammunition for two decades and they take into account the results of actual street shootings and how that ammunition behaved against an actual person and/or barrier. With that knowledge, they still recommend that you use ammunition that achieves a minimum penetration depth of 12” in bare gel. They also conclude that good penetration is always more important than expansion, but as long as 12” of penetration can be maintained every bit of expansion improves terminal damage effects.

FBI Test Protocol:
Bare Gelatin = covered with T-shirt, Shot at 10ft
Denim = 4 layers shot at 10ft
Heavy Clothing = shot at 10ft
Steel = 2 pieces of 20 gauge, shot at 10ft
Wallboard = 2 pieces of 1/2" gypsum board, shot at 10ft
Plywood = 1 piece of 3/4" AA fir plywood, shot at 10ft
Automobile Glass = 1 piece of 1/4" laminated safety glass set at a 45 degree angle with an offset of 15 degrees, shot at 10ft


9mm+P 124gr(1180fps): (Penetration/Expansion)
Bare Gel: 12.2”/.66”
Through Denim: 13.9”/.67”
Through Heavy Cloth: 13.3”/.68”
Through Wallboard: 14”/.66”
Through Plywood: 13.1”/.65”
Through Steel: 18.9”/.40”
Through Auto Glass: 10.6”/.48”

9mm 147gr(990fps): (Penetration/Expansion)
Bare Gel: 13.9”/.65”
Through Denim: 14.5”/.66”
Through Heavy Cloth: 14”/.66”
Through Wallboard: 15”/.67”
Through Plywood: 14.8”/.62”
Through Steel: 17”/.45”
Through Auto Glass: 10.8”/.52”

[Biggy]

I believe which ever is the most reliable and then accurate in (your) pistol. The characteristics of both weight bullets are very close . Take your pick.

[Robb Jensen]

Here's what I carry in 9mm:


Glock 17 and 19 = Winchester 127+P+ Ranger

[Zhukov]

Like DocGKR says: Both are on the recommended list, pick one and be done with it, then make sure you know how to use it.

[PLCedeno]

What about standard velocity 124 gr HST out of a Glock 17? Should it be considered?

[Marcus L.]

What about standard velocity 124 gr HST out of a Glock 17? Should it be considered?

The standard pressure 124gr HST is also a fine load, especially out of a G17. Since almost all 9mm manufacturers design their loads around the 4" barrel, the extra barrel length on the G17 will help keep the velocity of the bullet well within the desired expansion limits.

124gr+P is slightly better than standard pressure 124gr, but not by much. I would also consider standard pressure 147gr to be better than standard pressure 124gr.

[DocHolliday01]

Here's what I carry in 9mm:


Glock 17 and 19 = Winchester 127+P+ Ranger

+1 I carry the T-series in my 19.

[ElyasWolff]

What about standard velocity 124 gr HST out of a Glock 17? Should it be considered?

One would think that the standard pressure load would not penetrate as deeply. The HST is a great expander, and in theory the expanded round acts like a parachute, but a parachute with a higher velocity would fight the drag and penetrate farther.